Court: Teacher-Student Sex Now Legal

(Atlanta, Georgia) The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that teachers can legally engage in sex with students who have reached the age of consent. The age of consent in Georgia is 16. According to Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears:

“Generally speaking, it is not a crime in Georgia to have physical sexual contact with a willing participant who is 16 years of age or older.”

The ruling came in an appeal of the conviction in the case of Melissa Lee Chase, 30, who was sentenced in 2007 to 10 years in prison for sexual assault of a 16-year-old high school girl.

Chase is a former teacher and softball coach at Harlem (GA) High School and the female victim had been her student.

I suggest that the ruling will prompt appeals of other cases and renewed vigor on the part of teachers who want to have sex with adolescent students. As the court ruled, if the student is at least 16 years old and consenting, teachers should feel free to get a room.

Therefore, despite the fact that the teachers are in positions of authority and responsibility over the immature students, youths can be groomed to clack erasers, euphemistically speaking, with adults enjoying impunity. This is not right.

Companion post at EdWatch.