Hearing the term ‘sex offender’ is enough to conjure images of monsters who prey on the weak, all for the satisfaction of their abnormal sexual desires. Knowing that a person is a sex offender is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. And yet, here comes Cormega Copening, a 17-year-old North Carolinian who was charged in September 2015 of sexual exploitation of a minor. Who’s that minor, you may ask? It’s no other than Cormega Copening himself.
The state of North Carolina charged Copening for sharing nude pictures of himself with his girlfriend. Copening was eligible to receive prison time but eventually plead guilty to avoid prison and receive a probationary sentence.
Progress in Colorado
North Carolina isn’t the only one with such ridiculous laws. In Colorado, for instance, teenagers who engage in sexting with their peers—exactly what Copening is accused of—can be charged with a felony that requires registering as a sex offender (just like NC). The good news is that there are some in the Centennial State who have proposed to reduce the felony charge to a class two misdemeanor. Ultimately, the bill proposed by these individuals suggests that once the minor reaches adulthood, the case can be sealed from the public.
Though the bill has its fair share of critics, it does shed a light on an issue that deserves plenty of attention. Did you known that in N.C., two 17-year-olds can legally have sex, but if each sends the other a naked pic, they are both guilty of child exploitation? North Carolina desperately needs to revamp its laws as well.
Are you in need of a sex crimes lawyer?
To have your child accused of being a sex offender is easily one of the most terrifying things that you can endure. The ordeals that you have to go through as a family when faced with such a situation can literally suck the life out of you for a long time. Teenagers lack the ability to see the consequences of their actions, and they may not even realize that they did anything wrong. If convicted, your child’s reputation can be tarnished forever.
The future of your child and your family is on the line, so don’t take any chances. Consult with a Raleigh sex crimes attorney with Kurtz & Blum to secure the vigorous defense that you need for your child’s case.
Source:
- Why proposed sexting law is facing pushback in Colorado, CBSNews.com
