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Ignorance of age not valid defense in sex cases, expert says Page I of 3
Cara PRINTTH IS
PalmBeachPost.com
Ignorance of age not valid defense in sex cases,
expert says
By Larry Keller
Browse
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Specials
& Deals
From Local
Friday, August 04, 2006
Dealerships
Even if Palm Beach money manager Jeffrey Epstein didn't know that girls who
Autos
police say gave him sexual massages at his Intracoastal home were under the legal
age, that alone wouldn't have exempted him from criminal charges of sexual activity
PalmBeachPosicom
with minors.
"Ignorance is not a valid defense," said Bob Dekle, a legal skills professor who was a Lake City
prosecutor for nearly 30 years, half of that time specializing in sex crimes against children.
Jeffrey Epstein "There is no knowledge element as far as
the age is concerned," Dekle said.
-- Billionaire
financier
After an 11-month investigation, Palm
Jeffrey
Beach police said there was probable cause
Epstein has
to charge Epstein, 53, with unlawful sex
been indicted
acts with a minor and lewd and lascivious
for felony solicitation of
molestation. They contend that Epstein —
prostitution by a grand
friend of the rich and famous and financial
jury following
patron of Democratic Party organizations
accusations by teen girls.
and candidates — committed those acts
• Past headlines
with five underage girls.
In the past week, New York Attorney
More crime coverage
General and gubernatorial candidate Eliot
Most recent headlines
Spitzer has returned about $50,000 in
Fugitives I Sex offenders campaign contributions he received from
Epstein, and Mark Green, a candidate to
BehincIttlit177:=:,:),•;;;;;;4„
replace Spitzer in his current job, has
The Yellow Tape Post
returned $10,000 to him because of the
crime blog
Palm Beach scandal, the New York Daily
More local news News has reported.
http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.corn/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Ignorance+of+age+... 1/2/2008
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