Mich. Senator Wants Teacher-Student Sex Illegal
DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan Senator Rick Jones is pushing for a Michigan law that would make it illegal for a teacher to have sex with a school student, regardless of their age.
In December 2010, a 28-year-old male Ionia High School teacher took a student to a Kalamazoo hotel for sex the day after her 18th birthday. Despite being 18, the student was not set to graduate until June 2011.
Jones said a loophole in state law allows unscrupulous teachers to take advantage of students.
"The age of consent in Michigan is 16," said Jones. "However, a teacher may not have sex with a student or they are committing criminal sexual conduct. However, the law was written years ago. At age 18, they are no longer considered a student."
An investigation was conducted by the Michigan State Police. Although, Jones said he was flabbergasted to find out that no charges could be filed against the teacher, calling it a "violation of trust."
"Parents who send their children to school think they are going to be in a protected atmosphere and a school where they are going to learn things and be educated, not be subjected to a teacher removing them from the class taking them to a Kalamazoo Motel Room and having sex with them," said Jones. "It's outrageous."
Jones said he thinks he has the support to close a loophole in the law.
