Man charged for having sex with 14-year-old wife - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Bill O'Rights · 07-27-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Nebraska charges man for having sex with 14-year-old wife

LINCOLN - Matthew Koso thought he had done the responsible thing by marrying his girlfriend after getting her pregnant, according to his attorney.

It didn't stop Attorney General Jon Bruning from filing first-degree sexual assault charges against the 22-year-old Falls City man.

The charges are based on Koso's sexual relationship with the 13-year-old girl he later wed.

"They are married, but it doesn't matter to our effort to file charges," Bruning said. "I will not stand idly by while a grown man engages in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old child."

Koso was charged under a law that makes it a crime for anyone age 19 or older to have sex with anyone age 15 or younger. The penalty ranges from 1 year to 50 years in prison.

Koso was 21 at the time of the alleged offense. The girl, who was 13 at the time, has since turned 14.

But Koso's attorney, Willis Yoesel of Falls City, called the charges "silly" and unwarranted.

"What is the objective of the prosecution?" he asked. "It's not going to benefit her. It's not going to benefit their child, it's not going to benefit anyone."

Yoesel acknowledged that Koso did the wrong thing by having sex with a 13-year-old. But he said the young man stepped up and took responsibility when she became pregnant.

The two talked with their parents, as well with Yoesel and the judge in Hiawatha, Kan., who wound up marrying them May 2.

Kansas law allows people under age 18 to marry with the consent of their parents. The statute sets no minimum age, but case law has established 12 as the minimum.

Bruning criticized that law.

But Yoesel said Bruning acted without knowing the couple involved or the specifics of the case.

"Not only was he (Koso) not a predator, he had no prior sexual experience," the attorney said. "The problem is we have two young adults, both with limited capacity. . . . (They and their parents) decided this was the best thing they could do."

Yoesel said Koso, a former special education student, has a job at AirLanco, a local manufacturing firm. The girl, who is in special education, finished eighth grade this year and is expected to be back in school this fall, after the expected August birth of their child.

The two live with his parents but hope to get their own place soon.

A woman who answered the phone at the Koso home referred calls to Yoesel.

Bruning said his office learned about the situation from Falls City residents "who were sickened by it. Everybody in town knew this 14-year-old was in a sexual relationship with a 22-year-old."

Koso was released Monday on bail. A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 17 in Richardson County Court.

Bruning said he will act on any case of adult men having sex with underage girls that is brought to his attention.

Earlier this year, his office filed sexual assault charges against a former deputy Cheyenne County attorney. Greg Lauby, 57, pleaded guilty last month to having sex with a 13-year-old Colorado girl whom he met on a telephone chat line.

Lancaster County attorneys charged two Iraqi men in 1997 with first-degree sexual assault based on having sexual relations with the 13- and 14-year-old girls they had married. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to two to six years in prison.

"This is important," Bruning said. "This is about how we treat our children. These kids have a problem that they're going to have to live with for the rest of their lives."

OK...so, hurray...he married her. It's still statutory rape, is it not? One thing that I noticed is that there is not much said of the parents that gave their consent for their daughter to trapse across the border, to Kansas, in order to take advantage of a legal quirk in their law. It sounds to me as though the "kids" aren't the only ones suffering from "limited capacity".

maleficent · 07-27-2005, 10:14 AM

Well let's all have a drink and celebrate the marriage.... (arent there some middle eastern countries where if the rapist marries the victim, no crime occurs? )

I'm not sure that prosecution is the best course of action in the case of statutory rape, but if she's in special ed and a child, did she really give consent? Isnt' that nice though, they are going to get their own place...

No good can possibly come out of this situation... the poor child that will be born next month...

kutulu · 07-27-2005, 10:23 AM

I saw this on fark but I missed the part about them both being retarded. Great. Lock that fucker up.

Gilda · 07-27-2005, 10:23 AM

Heck, if you go back far enough in the US, marriage used to be a legal defense to forcible rape.

It's a really sad state of affairs.

I wonder why they're dancing around the word "retarded"? That is what they seem to be saying about both the man and the girl with phrases such as "limited capacity" and the frequent references to special education.

Charlatan · 07-27-2005, 10:39 AM

limited capacity = retarded in PC speak.

I'm not convinced this is a cut and dry issue. If they are *both* limited in capacity who's to say at what age this 21 year old is funtioning?

According to the law it is defininately cut and dry. He's guilty. But the law wasn't made with people like this in mind. It was made with people function with full mental capabilities.

I just think a closer look is needed is all.

World's King · 07-27-2005, 10:53 AM

Wow... stuff like this never happens in Nebraska...

I'm reminded of the Dead Milkmen song "Takin' Retards to the Zoo"

Ustwo · 07-27-2005, 02:51 PM

He broke the law, he needs to go to trial.

Its up to a jury to decide if the circumstances are such that he should be guilty or not guilty.

Psycho Dad · 07-27-2005, 03:19 PM

My wife worked a case like this (in Kansas as well) where he was (I belive 18 and she 14) It was decided that the boy would have to register as a sex offender even though he married the girl as well. Somehow I guess he dodged the registering as a sex offender and after their divorce the girl ironically wound up moving in with a registered sex offender.

As in that case, I doubt the being married to each other after the fact will serve any purpose to make it any better as far as how the baby will raised. Look at how well the parents of this girl did. Were a legal adult let alone someone in their 20s molesting my 13 year old niece that way her father and I would be rendering his sexual organs useless.

OFKU0 · 07-27-2005, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

limited capacity = retarded in PC speak.

I'm not convinced this is a cut and dry issue. If they are *both* limited in capacity who's to say at what age this 21 year old is funtioning?

I just think a closer look is needed is all.

Great point. Or what age the 14 year old is functioning at also. It's impossible for anyone without that deficiency to fully understand or accept the frame of mind of these two. I'll leave the judgement calls to all the experts.

fightnight · 07-28-2005, 07:37 AM

Can you even charge someone who's mentally retarded with something like this? Can a person without full mental capacity be held responsible in a court of law, or am I just thinking of them not being able to be convicted of murder??? This whole thing is just strange.

mystmarimatt · 07-28-2005, 08:23 AM

The repetition of "Special Education" struck me as odd, too.

I agree with Charlatan.

Gilda · 07-28-2005, 09:39 AM

I raised the special education reference for a reason. There are many reasons why a child might be in a special education program. These are generally split into three broad categories: behavior disorders (BD), learning disabilities (LD), and mental handicaps (MH). The vast majority of students in special education are in it because of a learning disability, and learning disabilities are entirely separate from overall mental ability. You can have, for example, difficulty reading while still having intelligence in the normal range. Indeed, a child cannot be classified as learning disabled if they have a low IQ.

It's only in conjunction with "limited capacity", and that description comes from a defense attorney with a vested interest in having his client be legally of that status, that we get the implication that these two are retarded. Even then it it's only hinted at. We can't really know what their mental capacity was based on this article.

Charlatan · 07-28-2005, 09:43 AM

No we can't... that's why I would choose to reserve judgment until it is looked into further.

In the end, Ustwo is right, "He broke the law, and needs to go to trial."

We just don't need to jump the gun and have the guy castrated or shot as some would suggest, without further examination.

Kubz18 · 07-28-2005, 12:09 PM

he should for sure go to trial...but he really cant plead not guilty...

what will happen is he will probably go to trail(if the charges dont get dropped,which seems possible) and i dont think you will get a judge or 12 juriors to agree that this is worth sending him away and he'll be out with probably a guilty verdict but a sentece of time served....plus if you get even one woman on the jury(if he decided to have a jury trial) the sympatatic woman wont want to see a mom without a father....(im not trying to generilize women)

i dont think he would make it in a prison either....from what i see at work inmates that are rapist or sex offenders are the most targeted in prison..

finally are county attourny's that bored that they have to go out and find stupid laws to enforce....maybe instead of dealing with this he could do more work on putting real criminals away for *real* crimes

Bill O'Rights · 07-28-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubz18

finally are county attourny's that bored that they have to go out and find stupid laws to enforce....maybe instead of dealing with this he could do more work on putting real criminals away for *real* crimes

A. It's the State's Attorney General, not the county. I doubt that the county has the funds to prosecute. I don't think that Richardson County ever recovered, financialy, from the Teena Brandon (Boy's Don't Cry) fiasco. Same town. A very depressed farm community in extreme southern Nebraska. Damn near in Kansas.

B. I don't know if I would consider first degree sexual assault to be a "stupid" law.

C. I would say that Matthew Koso IS a real criminal.

shesus · 07-28-2005, 12:56 PM

I admit that I do not know much about the legal system. However, I think that this case is really screwed up for a few reasons.

1. Why would they have a law that would allow teenagers to get married if they are going to turn around and charge them for a sex crime?

2. If the parents consented to her getting married, they most likely did not have a problem with her having sex. If they gave consent for sex, would it be a crime?

3. They seem to be playing the special ed card a lot. Is their slant for sympathy or to get people enraged?

I don't think that enough was said about the parents. Obviously children are going to make their own decisions. However, the parents had to know that she was seeing an older man. If not, then they should be tried for neglect. I mean if cases are going to be brought up, the parents should be looked at also. The thing that really makes me mad is that taxpayers are going to have to pay for this child because she is too young to get a job and most likely won't finish school. If he is special ed, he is probably working minimum wage depending on the extent of his learning disablilty. Of course, the court case is also coming from tax money. I know that the law needs to be followed, but in this case it seems like a waste of money. If the parents were outraged I would be more likely to support it. However, it doesn't seem like anyone, but the residents are outraged.

yellowchef · 07-28-2005, 01:29 PM

I agree not enough is said about the opinions and wishes of the parents. I can only guess that they do not mind the situation and they do not consider him a criminal. It seems that they had to go to Kansas with the girl to approve her marriage to this man and they are ok with it. I dont know enough about this case to form a better opinion.. but from what I have read the parents are ok with it. If another source says the parents have made objections to their daughter marrying this man or the source says that the parents of the girl forbade the 2 of them from seeing one another then I would say hes a criminal. Right now hes just a gross man who under the umbrella of "limited capacity" may or may not be functioning at the level of a normal 22 year old. Same for the 14 year old.

If they are after this man why arent they after the parents as well? They permitted their child to marry this man. If its statutory rape would their permission of allowing their child to marry this man AND going to another state to do it not be child endangerment?

I really want to know more about the status of the parents. If they are also retards then Id like to see the state prove that the parents are fit. If they are fit to be parents then I would have to say its a shitty situation and the man is totally disgusting but thats their life. If they are unfit I would like to see the case go to trial and the man and parents punnished for the rape charges.

I dont agree with the situation. I think its VERY nasty. I think the parents are terribly wrong in their choice but it is their choice. Im sure you have done things or thought about doing things that others disagree with, do not approve of and you have done them anyway. We just must remeber that it is not our life and we should not tell others what is right or wrong if they are fully functioning adults that are making the decision.

You may not like how others live their lives.. but if they chose to allow their retarded daughter to marry a retarded man and have a retarded child so be it.

Bill O'Rights · 07-29-2005, 11:46 AM

To add a little more to the background...

Quote:

Mothers tried to keep man and girl, 13, apart
FALLS CITY, Neb. - Matthew Koso's mother warned him about prison, pregnancy and the other possible consequences of dating a 13-year-old girl.

The girl's mother says she tried everything she could think of - even a protection order - to keep her daughter away from the 21-year-old family friend.

Nothing worked.

Thursday, the women sat together in the Kosos' photo-lined living room to defend themselves and their children against a prying world.

"Both (the girl) and Matt are very strong-minded," said Peggy Koso. "When you take two young people who love each other . . . ."

"I've tried anything a mother would do, but I can only do so much," added Cecilia Guyer.

Koso and Guyer have shared a bond since the children got married - Matthew in jeans and a polo shirt, the girl wearing a red Huskers top - in Hiawatha, Kan., in May.

They are looking forward to the late August birth of a grandchild, who will be named either Samarra Ann or Dalton Bryce.

The women share another bond now that Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning has filed first-degree sexual assault charges against Matthew based on his relationship with Guyer's daughter.

Nebraska law makes it a crime for people age 19 and older to have sex with people age 15 and younger. Matthew Koso is 22 now. The girl is 14.

Bruning said the law makes no exceptions for people who are married.

"I will not stand idly by while a grown man engages in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old child," he said.

Mary Larsen, director of the Omaha YWCA's Women Against Violence program, supports the charges. Nebraska law was designed to protect children because they do not have as much knowledge and education about the world, she said.

"Because of the huge age difference, there's something of concern going on here," she said. "When you have sex with somebody who's underage, that's rape."

Peggy Koso said people are judging her son and his bride without knowing them. If people knew them, they would realize the two are good together, that they have fun together, she said.

"The kids love each other and they want to be together and they want people to leave them alone," she said. "They want to be married; they want to be a family."

Guyer said Matthew Koso and her daughter have known each other for several years. Matthew often drove a relative to Kansas to visit the family. Later, he helped Guyer and her daughters move back to Falls City.

"They've been friends for a long time," Peggy Koso said.

The mothers first realized the relationship had moved beyond friendship last fall. "I was frantic because (my daughter) always made a promise to me it wouldn't happen until she graduated from high school," Guyer said.

She obtained a protection order against Matthew Koso, saying in an affidavit that he "needs to hang around girls and boys his own age group" and that "he is too old for early teens."

Guyer said she didn't realize for some time that the two were sneaking around to see each other.

Peggy Koso said she thought the order had been dismissed when the girl accompanied them on an out-of-town trip at Thanksgiving. It was not dismissed until May 5, after the couple were married.

"Quite honestly, can you tell me any parent who knows where their children are all the time?" Koso asked.

Guyer said she learned to accept the situation when it became clear the relationship was continuing. She said she tried to convince her daughter to use birth control. By then it was too late. In April, when Guyer took her daughter to buy a dress for an eighth-grade dance, she realized the girl was pregnant.

The couple were married a couple of weeks later.

It's not the ideal situation, both mothers agreed. But they said they don't see the sense in criminal charges either, which could send Matthew Koso to prison for up to 50 years and force his wife onto welfare.

Matthew Koso is a former special education student and has a job at a local manufacturing firm, according to his attorney. The girl, who is in special education, is expected to be back in school this fall.

"We're just being supportive parents," Guyer said. "They deserve this chance to prove themselves."

Coppertop · 07-29-2005, 12:04 PM

"What is the objective of the prosecution?" he asked. "It's not going to benefit her. It's not going to benefit their child, it's not going to benefit anyone."

I think that says it all.

yellowchef · 07-29-2005, 02:32 PM

ok now that I know more hes definately a criminal. In the first article not enough was stated about the parents, it just said they went to KS where marriage of a minor is legal with parental consent. So I only guessed they had no problems.

Now that I see the girls family objected as smart parents should the charges are valid now. I know they approved of the marriage but it was a last resort type of thing.

for sheesus

1. Why would they have a law that would allow teenagers to get married if they are going to turn around and charge them for a sex crime?

Nebraska doesnt have a law allowing teens to get married. They went to Kansas where the law is different. Now that we've seen proof that the parents have disapproved of this relationship I agree with the State of Nebraska for deciding to press charges.

2. If the parents consented to her getting married, they most likely did not have a problem with her having sex. If they gave consent for sex, would it be a crime?

I think this was a poor parenting judgement. They realized the baby needed a stable environment however they were not smart enough to see adoption as that environment. The parents might have thought the girl would lash out if she was unable to marry this man so in their minds they did the right thing.

Now that Ive seen more on the parents wishes the man is a criminal and should be brought to trial.

yellowchef · 07-29-2005, 02:50 PM

it may not benefit the couple but it will definately benefit the public. Not punnishing someone for an event that was clearly objected to by the girls parents only allows room for similar situations to go unpunnished. The 2 families seem to care about the child and while having to explain that "daddy is in jail" I dont know that this kind of act can go unpunnished.

I dont know the legal system but it seems like plea bargins are made a lot so maybe one can be made for this situation. That way he wont have to spend 50 years in jail but it wont go unpunnished.

Ustwo · 07-29-2005, 02:54 PM

Despite the banjo's I hear playing in the backround, he NEEDS to be prosecuted.

He CLEARLY broke the law.

If a JURY decides that all is fine and good then so be it, but it would be wrong for a member of law enforcement to 'let this slide'.

shesus · 07-29-2005, 04:57 PM

Yellow, thanks for the answers.

Now for comments on article 2. First of all, a 13 year old doesn't know what love is. Also, a lot of people have fun together. That doesn't mean that they have underaged sex and get pregnant. I'm stopping now because I am going to go on my 'tax payers picking up the bill' speech. But I will add that the girl was only 13 and there are ways to keep tabs on kids. That is a feable and lazy excuse.

yellowchef · 07-29-2005, 06:00 PM

Exactly, and shes MR so its a really good idea to keep an extra close watch on her.

Charlatan · 07-29-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

Despite the banjo's I hear playing in the backround, he NEEDS to be prosecuted.

He CLEARLY broke the law.

If a JURY decides that all is fine and good then so be it, but it would be wrong for a member of law enforcement to 'let this slide'.

I agree... but there is also a good chance that the judge could dismiss it during the pre-trial on many of the grounds listed above...

analog · 07-29-2005, 08:01 PM

That's what trials are for, to determine guilt and innocence- not parents, not ham-handed $0.02 opinions in newspaper columns or web forums (not that the opinions in here are cheap) and it makes no sense for all these people to pretend to interpret law for themselves.

That being said, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to have a feeling in my head that this guy is trying to make a name for himself by latching onto an easy voter-friendly issue and squeezing it for all the popularity points it's worth.

Again, not that it isn't an issue to be handled in court.

pattycakes · 07-30-2005, 05:48 AM

if the parents were ok with it end of story this turns ino a lets make news and punish the fuck out of this guy story

Charlatan · 07-30-2005, 06:04 AM

I don't think it is up to the parents to decide this sort of thing...

Let's assume for a moment that we have a 13-year-old girl and a 21-year-old guy with no hint of mental retardation in the picture.

The 21-year-old is clearly guilty of statutory rape. If the parents come along and say, "Hey, no problem". We don't have any issue with our 13-year-old having sex with a 21-year-old. It isn't up to them. It is up to the law.

Let's stretch this a little more. What if it were an 11-year-old and a 30-year-old and the parents gave their consent?

The law makers have drawn a particular line in the sand and legality is on one side of this line and illegality on the other. It is not up to the parents to make this call. End of story.

The *only* thing that makes this story worth of a second look, IMO, is the fact that *both* the man and the girl appear to be functioning with "limited capacity". Unfortunately the story offers nothing more than these two words and the open term, "special education". As I have indicated, these terms suggest that the authorities should look a little closer as it does not appear to be a cut and dry case.

OFKU0 · 07-30-2005, 06:00 PM

Let's just get to the Movie of the Week concerning these two and then move on.

Next.

Scorps · 07-30-2005, 08:55 PM

Let him go....thats all I gotta say, I had my daughter at 17 and it was hard....imagin having a kid at 14 and your husband/father of child not being there!

Like if I wasn't there for my GF she would have lost it!

darealdeal21 · 07-31-2005, 01:59 PM

WTF? Freken sicko

raeanna74 · 07-31-2005, 06:01 PM

Where were the parents when this "limited capacity" 13 yr old was getting pregnant?

If she has limited capacity she is probably functioning at 12 or under. I would not be leaving a 12 yr old (or younger) alone with a teenage boy. I realize you cannot watch kids 24/7 but for pity's sake - you can teach a 10 yr old to abstain - at least until they are physically able to handle a pregnancy or the emotional ramifications of sexual intercourse.

I believe there does need to be a trial. I am hoping the boy does not recieve the maximum penalty. I also hope that the newborn is placed with more able parents. IF as people are saying - the boy is acting at a young enough age that he didn't know what he was doing - then how is he going to be able to care for an infant.

This is a sad situation. I am glad I am not a responsible concerned party. It would be difficult to be playing any role in this drama. I hope that the judges are fair and that the boy, girl, and parents stand up and take proper responsibility.

rat · 08-02-2005, 02:37 AM

wow. sheer idiocy. so according to the attorney general of nebraska, in the theoretical case that two willing people, with consent got married, with one being 19 and 13, prior to them having intercourse, they would be unable to consummate their marriage for a minimum of 2 years? what a maroon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowchef

Nebraska doesnt have a law allowing teens to get married. They went to Kansas where the law is different. Now that we've seen proof that the parents have disapproved of this relationship I agree with the State of Nebraska for deciding to press charges.

U.S. Constitution: Article IV
Article Text | Annotations
Section 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/constitution/article04/

Constitutionally, Nebraska is legally obligated to honor a marriage license from Kansas. Pretty clear cut.

yellowchef · 08-02-2005, 08:24 PM

I think they are, but they obviously had sex prior to marrige since she was pregnant before she was married. I never said the marrige was illegal, I just said Nebraska has no laws reguarding teen marriage. If they had waited till marriage to have intercourse this whole thing would be a little less in the grey area.

However the parents objected to the relationship and they had sex prior to their marriage. This is where statutory rape comes in to play. This is why I agree with the state of Nebraska. I also think they should get the parents on child endangerment or something because if your child is handicapped or not, at 13 a child should not be pregnant. The reason they get pregnant is irresponsible parents and lack of supervision.

Nimetic · 08-31-2005, 03:43 PM

Quote:

"Not only was he (Koso) not a predator, he had no prior sexual experience," the attorney said. "The problem is we have two young adults, both with limited capacity. . . . (They and their parents) decided this was the best thing they could do."

Do they mean limited financial capacity - or mental capacity.

Overall, I dunno. Maybe it's best that there be charges in order to set a precedent. However - dependant on the circumstances, or if the guy is truly intellectually below par (which I don't know to be the case) then I'd certainly support a reduced sentence. Or just a non-custodial sentence... ie where the guy doesn't go to jail.

With all the recent cases, I just don't think there's a one size fits all fix to this crime... Ha. If you will pardon the very bad pun.

Psycho Dad · 09-14-2005, 02:52 PM

Another newer article on this
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1121138&page=1

Quote:

Man Weds Pregnant 14-Year-Old, Is Charged With Rape
Charged With Statutory Rape in Nebraska After Marrying Pregnant 14-Year-Old Girlfriend in Kansas

Sep. 13, 2005 - In May, Matthew Koso married his girlfriend, Crystal, who was pregnant with their child. But the new father and husband may soon be separated from his family and sent to prison. His crime? Koso is 22; Crystal is 14.

Koso is charged with first-degree sexual assault in his home state of Nebraska and faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted. The couple married in Kansas, where the wedding was legal, with their parents' blessing.

"I'm so scared that I am going to lose both of them, and I don't want to," Matthew Koso said through tears. "Right now there isn't anything that I love more than my wife and my daughter."

Right or Wrong?

Matthew first met Crystal through her half-brother when she was 8, and they began dating in the fall of 2003 when he was 20 and she was 12.

Crystal's mother, Cecilia Guyer, filed a restraining order against Matthew Koso on Sept. 17, 2004.

"He needs to hang around girls and boys his own age group," Guyer wrote in the complaint. "He needs to seek counseling. He has a history of the same, similar with other young girls, and he needs to be stopped here and now."

Matthew and Crystal continued to see each other, and Crystal became pregnant. The couple hid the pregnancy until Guyer discovered Crystal's stretch marks during a shopping trip, according to The New York Times.

"At that time, our options were limited," Matthew's mother, Peggy Koso, said today on "Good Morning America." "It was either abortion, which was well past due; adoption, which was out of the question; and then it was to marry her, which we thought was the right thing to do."

Matthew and Crystal were married on May 3, in Kansas, one of the few states that allows children as young as 12 to marry with parental consent. Guyer filed to revoke the restraining order on May 5, 2005, citing her reason as, "Matthew and Crystal Guyer are married now."

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning learned about the relationship from several residents of Falls City, Neb., the couple's hometown, in July, and charged Matthew Koso with first-degree sexual assault.

"We cannot allow grown men to have sex with children even if the parents think it is right, because the grown man thinks it is right and the child thinks it is right," Bruning said. "Society doesn't think it is right."

Peggy Koso said she would not have approved of the marriage if Crystal was not pregnant.

"But you have to know Crystal," she said. "Kids are maturing at a very fast pace today, so in her case, I think she knows what she wants and she can make up her mind about it. What people don't realize, too, is that Matt is not emotionally 22. He's not mature like other young men his age are, so he is really at the same level of maturity as Crystal even though there are those years between them."

Matthew Koso, who has attention deficit disorder and other learning disabilities, pleaded not guilty to the first-degree sexual assault charge, and his trial is set to begin in November. He was released on $5,000 bond in time for the birth of his daughter, Samara, on Aug. 24.

A Community Divided

Residents of Falls City have sent hundreds of letters and gifts in support of Matthew and Crystal.

Regan Anson, spokeswoman for the Nebraska attorney general's office, said that as of Sept. 2 her office had received 283 out-of-state e-mails and letters with 72 percent supporting the Koso family's position. Of the 56 in-state letters and e-mails, 56 percent supported the family.

She said that following the story about the Kosos today on "Good Morning America," the office received about 50 calls in the first two working hours of the day.

Matthew Koso's supporters say he is trying to do the right thing and is being unfairly singled out.

One in five teenagers has sex before turning 15, and about 150,000 babies are born each year to a minor parent. In Nebraska, there were 25 births to mothers under 15 in 2002, the latest year for which those statistics are available. In Kansas, five girls under 15 were married in 2003, three in 2002 and six in 2001.

In Nebraska, sex between an adult and a person younger than 16 is considered statutory rape, whether the couple is married or not.

Matthew Koso could face further charges for two to three additional relationships with girls between the ages of 12 and 14 when he was 20, according Anson.

Matthew Koso's lawyer would not allow him to comment, but Peggy Koso has said her son has dated only one other girl under 16, and they did not have sex.

Determined to Move Forward

"I am ready to raise this child and I know I can," Crystal said.

Falls City is a town of 4,600 about 100 miles south of Omaha. Crystal described it as a place of few opportunities.

"Here in Falls City you have two choices: go get drunk or high and die in a car accident or of an overdose, or go get pregnant," she said. "So which is the wrong choice?"

Crystal's father left when she was a baby, and her mother is on disability. She said she had to fend for herself as a child. Currently she is living with Matthew and Samara in Matthew's parents' basement, and says she wants to focus on her new family and on finishing high school. She recently started her freshman year.

"The people judging, like the attorney general, don't know me," Crystal said. "I can make these decisions. I know what I want, and if I'm willing to take the consequences, then I should be able to decide what I want."

She added that if Samara starts dating a 20-year-old when she is 12, she will "send her to her room."

Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

I pasted the "printer friendly" version of the story. The version in the link has some other information. Such as more on other girls this young fellow dated.

By these accounts, he has a history of seeing young girls. I also have to wonder why the restraining order against him was not enforced. If I had to guess I would think perhaps the girl's mother thought simply having a restraining order issued was as effective as sending her to her room as her daughter is planning on perhaps doing one day.

JustJess · 09-15-2005, 06:41 AM

Quote:

"We cannot allow grown men to have sex with children even if the parents think it is right, because the grown man thinks it is right and the child thinks it is right," Bruning said. "Society doesn't think it is right."

While I don't think 22 yo men and 14 yo girls should be getting together in this way... If she, he, and the parents are all okay with this and doing what they need to to survive and perhaps even prosper... then so be it. This is one of the most obnoxious quotes I've read. This may actually be a case of the government sticking their nose into someone's private business unnecessarily.

raeanna74 · 09-15-2005, 10:54 AM

"Matthew Koso, who has attention deficit disorder and other learning disabilities,..."

I have taught ADD children and in most cases it does not hold them back emotionally so much that a person would not be considered capable of acting their age. It affects their ability to learn book knowledge, read, and do math. Yes it can affect behavior as well but not to the extent that is suggested in this article. I am curious what the OTHER learning disabilities are.

""At that time, our options were limited," Matthew's mother, Peggy Koso, said today on "Good Morning America." "It was either abortion, which was well past due; adoption, which was out of the question; and then it was to marry her, which we thought was the right thing to do.""

Raising the child in a single parent home or in the grandparents home is not an option??

""But you have to know Crystal," she said. "Kids are maturing at a very fast pace today, so in her case, I think she knows what she wants and she can make up her mind about it.""

They said in the first article that this girl had a limited capacity. So - yeah the BOY with limited capacity is too immature emotionally to recognize what he did as wrong and yet the GIRL with limited capacity is MORE mature?? This is screwed up justification for what happened.

""Here in Falls City you have two choices: go get drunk or high and die in a car accident or of an overdose, or go get pregnant," she said. "So which is the wrong choice?""

How are either of these a legit choice?? You can't stay home and out of trouble?? You can't go get a job? If you can't get a job, you can't go volunteer somewhere?? If this girl believes these were her choices before then what kind of life is she going to give her daughter?? That child should be adopted out if the picture is truely as corrupted as I see here.

Bill O'Rights · 09-15-2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

""Here in Falls City you have two choices: go get drunk or high and die in a car accident or of an overdose, or go get pregnant," she said. "So which is the wrong choice?""

How are either of these a legit choice?? You can't stay home and out of trouble?? You can't go get a job? If you can't get a job, you can't go volunteer somewhere?? If this girl believes these were her choices before then what kind of life is she going to give her daughter?? That child should be adopted out if the picture is truely as corrupted as I see here.

You'd have to actually see Falls City, to fully appreciate her statement. Ever see "Boy's Don't Cry"? That was Falls City. On a clear night...you can almost hear the banjos playing, from here. Seriously though, Richardson County is every negative redneck stereotype that you can think of, all rolled into one geographical location. Thing is...Falls City is in Nebraska. Yet, they really do speak with a thick southern drawl. Now, where does that come from?

07-27-2005, 10:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Well let's all have a drink and celebrate the marriage.... (arent there some middle eastern countries where if the rapist marries the victim, no crime occurs? ) I'm not sure that prosecution is the best course of action in the case of statutory rape, but if she's in special ed and a child, did she really give consent? Isnt' that nice though, they are going to get their own place... No good can possibly come out of this situation... the poor child that will be born next month... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

07-27-2005, 10:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Heck, if you go back far enough in the US, marriage used to be a legal defense to forcible rape. It's a really sad state of affairs. I wonder why they're dancing around the word "retarded"? That is what they seem to be saying about both the man and the girl with phrases such as "limited capacity" and the frequent references to special education. __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert

07-27-2005, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	limited capacity = retarded in PC speak. I'm not convinced this is a cut and dry issue. If they are both limited in capacity who's to say at what age this 21 year old is funtioning? According to the law it is defininately cut and dry. He's guilty. But the law wasn't made with people like this in mind. It was made with people function with full mental capabilities. I just think a closer look is needed is all. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-27-2005, 10:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Wow... stuff like this never happens in Nebraska... I'm reminded of the Dead Milkmen song "Takin' Retards to the Zoo" __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

07-27-2005, 02:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	He broke the law, he needs to go to trial. Its up to a jury to decide if the circumstances are such that he should be guilty or not guilty. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

07-27-2005, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	I saw this on fark but I missed the part about them both being retarded. Great. Lock that fucker up.

07-27-2005, 03:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	My wife worked a case like this (in Kansas as well) where he was (I belive 18 and she 14) It was decided that the boy would have to register as a sex offender even though he married the girl as well. Somehow I guess he dodged the registering as a sex offender and after their divorce the girl ironically wound up moving in with a registered sex offender. As in that case, I doubt the being married to each other after the fact will serve any purpose to make it any better as far as how the baby will raised. Look at how well the parents of this girl did. Were a legal adult let alone someone in their 20s molesting my 13 year old niece that way her father and I would be rendering his sexual organs useless. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

07-28-2005, 07:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
fightnight Insane Location: The lovely Northeast	Can you even charge someone who's mentally retarded with something like this? Can a person without full mental capacity be held responsible in a court of law, or am I just thinking of them not being able to be convicted of murder??? This whole thing is just strange.

07-28-2005, 08:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
mystmarimatt Omnipotent Ruler Of The Tiny Universe In My Mind Location: Oreegawn	The repetition of "Special Education" struck me as odd, too. I agree with Charlatan. __________________ Words of Wisdom: If you could really get to know someone and know that they weren't lying to you, then you would know the world was real. Because you could agree on things, you could compare notes. That must be why people get married or make Art. So they'll be able to really know something and not go insane.

07-28-2005, 09:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	I raised the special education reference for a reason. There are many reasons why a child might be in a special education program. These are generally split into three broad categories: behavior disorders (BD), learning disabilities (LD), and mental handicaps (MH). The vast majority of students in special education are in it because of a learning disability, and learning disabilities are entirely separate from overall mental ability. You can have, for example, difficulty reading while still having intelligence in the normal range. Indeed, a child cannot be classified as learning disabled if they have a low IQ. It's only in conjunction with "limited capacity", and that description comes from a defense attorney with a vested interest in having his client be legally of that status, that we get the implication that these two are retarded. Even then it it's only hinted at. We can't really know what their mental capacity was based on this article. __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert

07-28-2005, 09:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	No we can't... that's why I would choose to reserve judgment until it is looked into further. In the end, Ustwo is right, "He broke the law, and needs to go to trial." We just don't need to jump the gun and have the guy castrated or shot as some would suggest, without further examination. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-28-2005, 12:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Kubz18 Crazy Location: Austin....Austin, Massachusetts	he should for sure go to trial...but he really cant plead not guilty... what will happen is he will probably go to trail(if the charges dont get dropped,which seems possible) and i dont think you will get a judge or 12 juriors to agree that this is worth sending him away and he'll be out with probably a guilty verdict but a sentece of time served....plus if you get even one woman on the jury(if he decided to have a jury trial) the sympatatic woman wont want to see a mom without a father....(im not trying to generilize women) i dont think he would make it in a prison either....from what i see at work inmates that are rapist or sex offenders are the most targeted in prison.. finally are county attourny's that bored that they have to go out and find stupid laws to enforce....maybe instead of dealing with this he could do more work on putting real criminals away for real crimes __________________ "I have no idea whats going on"

07-28-2005, 12:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
shesus Fancy Location: Chicago	I admit that I do not know much about the legal system. However, I think that this case is really screwed up for a few reasons. 1. Why would they have a law that would allow teenagers to get married if they are going to turn around and charge them for a sex crime? 2. If the parents consented to her getting married, they most likely did not have a problem with her having sex. If they gave consent for sex, would it be a crime? 3. They seem to be playing the special ed card a lot. Is their slant for sympathy or to get people enraged? I don't think that enough was said about the parents. Obviously children are going to make their own decisions. However, the parents had to know that she was seeing an older man. If not, then they should be tried for neglect. I mean if cases are going to be brought up, the parents should be looked at also. The thing that really makes me mad is that taxpayers are going to have to pay for this child because she is too young to get a job and most likely won't finish school. If he is special ed, he is probably working minimum wage depending on the extent of his learning disablilty. Of course, the court case is also coming from tax money. I know that the law needs to be followed, but in this case it seems like a waste of money. If the parents were outraged I would be more likely to support it. However, it doesn't seem like anyone, but the residents are outraged. __________________ Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

07-28-2005, 01:29 PM	#17 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	I agree not enough is said about the opinions and wishes of the parents. I can only guess that they do not mind the situation and they do not consider him a criminal. It seems that they had to go to Kansas with the girl to approve her marriage to this man and they are ok with it. I dont know enough about this case to form a better opinion.. but from what I have read the parents are ok with it. If another source says the parents have made objections to their daughter marrying this man or the source says that the parents of the girl forbade the 2 of them from seeing one another then I would say hes a criminal. Right now hes just a gross man who under the umbrella of "limited capacity" may or may not be functioning at the level of a normal 22 year old. Same for the 14 year old. If they are after this man why arent they after the parents as well? They permitted their child to marry this man. If its statutory rape would their permission of allowing their child to marry this man AND going to another state to do it not be child endangerment? I really want to know more about the status of the parents. If they are also retards then Id like to see the state prove that the parents are fit. If they are fit to be parents then I would have to say its a shitty situation and the man is totally disgusting but thats their life. If they are unfit I would like to see the case go to trial and the man and parents punnished for the rape charges. I dont agree with the situation. I think its VERY nasty. I think the parents are terribly wrong in their choice but it is their choice. Im sure you have done things or thought about doing things that others disagree with, do not approve of and you have done them anyway. We just must remeber that it is not our life and we should not tell others what is right or wrong if they are fully functioning adults that are making the decision. You may not like how others live their lives.. but if they chose to allow their retarded daughter to marry a retarded man and have a retarded child so be it. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

07-29-2005, 12:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
Coppertop Getting Medieval on your ass Location: 13th century Europe	"What is the objective of the prosecution?" he asked. "It's not going to benefit her. It's not going to benefit their child, it's not going to benefit anyone." I think that says it all.

07-29-2005, 02:32 PM	#20 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	ok now that I know more hes definately a criminal. In the first article not enough was stated about the parents, it just said they went to KS where marriage of a minor is legal with parental consent. So I only guessed they had no problems. Now that I see the girls family objected as smart parents should the charges are valid now. I know they approved of the marriage but it was a last resort type of thing. for sheesus 1. Why would they have a law that would allow teenagers to get married if they are going to turn around and charge them for a sex crime? Nebraska doesnt have a law allowing teens to get married. They went to Kansas where the law is different. Now that we've seen proof that the parents have disapproved of this relationship I agree with the State of Nebraska for deciding to press charges. 2. If the parents consented to her getting married, they most likely did not have a problem with her having sex. If they gave consent for sex, would it be a crime? I think this was a poor parenting judgement. They realized the baby needed a stable environment however they were not smart enough to see adoption as that environment. The parents might have thought the girl would lash out if she was unable to marry this man so in their minds they did the right thing. Now that Ive seen more on the parents wishes the man is a criminal and should be brought to trial. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

07-29-2005, 02:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	it may not benefit the couple but it will definately benefit the public. Not punnishing someone for an event that was clearly objected to by the girls parents only allows room for similar situations to go unpunnished. The 2 families seem to care about the child and while having to explain that "daddy is in jail" I dont know that this kind of act can go unpunnished. I dont know the legal system but it seems like plea bargins are made a lot so maybe one can be made for this situation. That way he wont have to spend 50 years in jail but it wont go unpunnished. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

07-29-2005, 02:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	Despite the banjo's I hear playing in the backround, he NEEDS to be prosecuted. He CLEARLY broke the law. If a JURY decides that all is fine and good then so be it, but it would be wrong for a member of law enforcement to 'let this slide'. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

07-29-2005, 04:57 PM	#23 (permalink)
shesus Fancy Location: Chicago	Yellow, thanks for the answers. Now for comments on article 2. First of all, a 13 year old doesn't know what love is. Also, a lot of people have fun together. That doesn't mean that they have underaged sex and get pregnant. I'm stopping now because I am going to go on my 'tax payers picking up the bill' speech. But I will add that the girl was only 13 and there are ways to keep tabs on kids. That is a feable and lazy excuse. __________________ Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

07-29-2005, 06:00 PM	#24 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	Exactly, and shes MR so its a really good idea to keep an extra close watch on her. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

07-29-2005, 08:01 PM	#26 (permalink)
analog Banned	That's what trials are for, to determine guilt and innocence- not parents, not ham-handed $0.02 opinions in newspaper columns or web forums (not that the opinions in here are cheap) and it makes no sense for all these people to pretend to interpret law for themselves. That being said, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to have a feeling in my head that this guy is trying to make a name for himself by latching onto an easy voter-friendly issue and squeezing it for all the popularity points it's worth. Again, not that it isn't an issue to be handled in court.

07-30-2005, 06:04 AM	#28 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I don't think it is up to the parents to decide this sort of thing... Let's assume for a moment that we have a 13-year-old girl and a 21-year-old guy with no hint of mental retardation in the picture. The 21-year-old is clearly guilty of statutory rape. If the parents come along and say, "Hey, no problem". We don't have any issue with our 13-year-old having sex with a 21-year-old. It isn't up to them. It is up to the law. Let's stretch this a little more. What if it were an 11-year-old and a 30-year-old and the parents gave their consent? The law makers have drawn a particular line in the sand and legality is on one side of this line and illegality on the other. It is not up to the parents to make this call. End of story. The only thing that makes this story worth of a second look, IMO, is the fact that both the man and the girl appear to be functioning with "limited capacity". Unfortunately the story offers nothing more than these two words and the open term, "special education". As I have indicated, these terms suggest that the authorities should look a little closer as it does not appear to be a cut and dry case. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-30-2005, 06:00 PM	#29 (permalink)
OFKU0 Junk	Let's just get to the Movie of the Week concerning these two and then move on. Next. __________________ " In Canada, you can tell the most blatant lie in a calm voice, and people will believe you over someone who's a little passionate about the truth." David Warren, Western Standard.

07-30-2005, 08:55 PM	#30 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	Let him go....thats all I gotta say, I had my daughter at 17 and it was hard....imagin having a kid at 14 and your husband/father of child not being there! Like if I wasn't there for my GF she would have lost it!

07-31-2005, 01:59 PM	#31 (permalink)
darealdeal21 Upright	WTF? Freken sicko

07-31-2005, 06:01 PM	#32 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Where were the parents when this "limited capacity" 13 yr old was getting pregnant? If she has limited capacity she is probably functioning at 12 or under. I would not be leaving a 12 yr old (or younger) alone with a teenage boy. I realize you cannot watch kids 24/7 but for pity's sake - you can teach a 10 yr old to abstain - at least until they are physically able to handle a pregnancy or the emotional ramifications of sexual intercourse. I believe there does need to be a trial. I am hoping the boy does not recieve the maximum penalty. I also hope that the newborn is placed with more able parents. IF as people are saying - the boy is acting at a young enough age that he didn't know what he was doing - then how is he going to be able to care for an infant. This is a sad situation. I am glad I am not a responsible concerned party. It would be difficult to be playing any role in this drama. I hope that the judges are fair and that the boy, girl, and parents stand up and take proper responsibility. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

08-02-2005, 08:24 PM	#34 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	I think they are, but they obviously had sex prior to marrige since she was pregnant before she was married. I never said the marrige was illegal, I just said Nebraska has no laws reguarding teen marriage. If they had waited till marriage to have intercourse this whole thing would be a little less in the grey area. However the parents objected to the relationship and they had sex prior to their marriage. This is where statutory rape comes in to play. This is why I agree with the state of Nebraska. I also think they should get the parents on child endangerment or something because if your child is handicapped or not, at 13 a child should not be pregnant. The reason they get pregnant is irresponsible parents and lack of supervision. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

09-15-2005, 10:54 AM	#38 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	"Matthew Koso, who has attention deficit disorder and other learning disabilities,..." I have taught ADD children and in most cases it does not hold them back emotionally so much that a person would not be considered capable of acting their age. It affects their ability to learn book knowledge, read, and do math. Yes it can affect behavior as well but not to the extent that is suggested in this article. I am curious what the OTHER learning disabilities are. ""At that time, our options were limited," Matthew's mother, Peggy Koso, said today on "Good Morning America." "It was either abortion, which was well past due; adoption, which was out of the question; and then it was to marry her, which we thought was the right thing to do."" Raising the child in a single parent home or in the grandparents home is not an option?? ""But you have to know Crystal," she said. "Kids are maturing at a very fast pace today, so in her case, I think she knows what she wants and she can make up her mind about it."" They said in the first article that this girl had a limited capacity. So - yeah the BOY with limited capacity is too immature emotionally to recognize what he did as wrong and yet the GIRL with limited capacity is MORE mature?? This is screwed up justification for what happened. ""Here in Falls City you have two choices: go get drunk or high and die in a car accident or of an overdose, or go get pregnant," she said. "So which is the wrong choice?"" How are either of these a legit choice?? You can't stay home and out of trouble?? You can't go get a job? If you can't get a job, you can't go volunteer somewhere?? If this girl believes these were her choices before then what kind of life is she going to give her daughter?? That child should be adopted out if the picture is truely as corrupted as I see here. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.