I saw an interview last week on the Today Show with the lawyer for Debra Lafave, the 23 school teacher in Florida accused of sexual assault of a 14 year old male student. Her lawyer is seeking an insanity defense because what she did is obviously insane. He felt that because she’s so attractive, putting her in prison (a hell hole) would be like throwing raw meat to lions and he was not sure she would survive.
My first reaction was to agree with him. But then I thought that approach is mainly going to piss people off. When you look at her picture and hear the facts you immediately think, “That’s crazy”.
Then you see another teacher in Tennessee, Pamela Turner, is accused of sexual assault of a 13 year old.
What could possibly cause these two women to show such poor judgment? Do they have a legitimate insanity defense? Recently Mary Kay Letourneau, the Washington teacher who was charged for sexual assault of a 13 year old student, got out of prison after 7 years and married her ex-student. They have 2 kids together, 7 and 8 years old. He’s now 22 and she’s 43. Can these relationships really work out?
I have spent the last few days researching the laws relating to age of consent for sex and the use of the insanity defense. I have also thought about the possible psychiatric disorders that could be involved and tried to understand how the biology of love could go so awry as it appears to have done. In the case of the 2 current teachers, their behavior is clearly crazy but not legally insane. They’re both toast. What a waste.
3 thoughts on “Crazy But Not Insane”
This is truly one of the more interesting topics I have read about in the news! I would imagine in caveman days this was not such an issue, since continuance of the species was the primal drive. Sex between largely disparate age groups and/or incestual liaisons were probably not considered reasons to ban someone from the group. Of course, I am not an expert in neanderthals, so I am making a logical guess. But take me, for example! I am 50 and find 25 year-old women attractive. That is a 25 year age gap. Am I crazy (probably), or normal? If I was 30 years old and a girl I was attracted to was 5, I would be a child molester, etc. (and should be locked up). But the important question is: where is the line of demarcation? It is not at all uncommon today to read about male celebrities in their 60’s and 70’s fathering children with women half their age (or even younger). So when is the age differential pathological?
Personally, I think it is all about total “self” centeredness and the thrill of conquest. The females want to prove to themdselves that they are sdeductive and desired by young “men” and the students want to feel “manly” by knowing they can be desirable to a “woman”. Both are actually children, either uninterested or incapable of controling their instant and momentary desires. They’re sure enough crazy, but not in the common sense of the word.
Is it possible for Debra Lafave to be in love with me? If jail would be too rough on her…she can stay at my place…..:) Good article Wayne….thx….jb