Maryville teen allegedly raped by football player

[Skyy God]

And wasn't prosecuted (probably) because the rapist's family was politically connected. There's no excuse for at least statutory under the facts as presented. Also. dude should probably avoid saying rape-y things on social media if he's still within the statute of limitations.

Here's a depressing story that will bring back memories of the Steubenville rape case. It begins with a 14-year-old drunk girl getting dumped on her porch by the high school football player who had just allegedly raped her, and it ends with her family being driven out of town by an unsupportive community.

A horrifying story out of Missouri: A mother was run out of a small town after her daughter blacked out at a party filled with older high school athletes and was left, with clear marks of rape, on the front lawn of her home in freezing weather.

The Kansas City Star details how the small town of Maryville turned against a newly-arrived family after 14-year-old Daisy Coleman reported that an older athlete had sex with her while another older male videotaped, after she was given an alcoholic drink at a party that left her barely able to stand. Her friend, a 13-year-old, was also made to have non-consensual sex.

After a thorough investigation by the local police however, clearly implicating 17-year-old Matthew Barnett in the sexual assault, charges were inexplicably dropped by the prosecuting attorney. Barnett, coincidentally, is the grandson of a prominent former Missouri state representative.

Star reporter Dugan Arnett writes,

Sexual assault cases can be difficult to build because of factors such as a lack of physical evidence or inconsistent statements by witnesses. But by the time his department had concluded its investigation, Sheriff Darren White felt confident the office had put together a case that would “absolutely” result in prosecutions.

“Within four hours, we had obtained a search warrant for the house and executed that,” White told The Star. “We had all of the suspects in custody and had audio/video confessions.

“I would defy the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department to do what we did and get it wrapped up as nicely as we did in that amount of time.”

But no prosecutions ever came. The charges were dropped by the prosecuting attorney who didn't believe the evidence was strong enough. He dismissed any idea that political influence had anything to do with his decision.

In the meantime, the town had already begun to turn on the Coleman family. Threatening phone calls and online threats were directed at the family. Melinda Coleman had moved to the town with her four children after her husband, a physician, had died in a car accident. She was easily targeted by the community for being an outsider.
The parent of one of the teens at the Barnett house that night was the only one to comment briefly to The Star: “Our boys deserve an apology, and they haven’t gotten it yet.”

In a later interview, Rice [the prosecuting attorney] called it a case of “incorrigible teenagers” drinking alcohol and having sex. “They were doing what they wanted to do, and there weren’t any consequences. And it’s reprehensible. But is it criminal? No.”

Robert Sundell, who represented Barnett, echoed that sentiment: “Just because we don’t like the way teenagers act doesn’t necessarily make it a crime.”

After the charges were dropped, things just got worse for Melinda and Daisy Coleman. Daisy has struggled with depression and attempted suicide. Melinda had to move away from Maryville and back to the town she had lived in with her now-deceased husband. In April, the house in Maryville she still owned burned down under mysterious circumstances.

And Matthew Barnett, the young man accused by Coleman of raping her? He's attending the University of Central Missouri and apparently having a great time:

In a recent retweet, he expressed his views on women — and their desire for his sexual attentions — this way:

“If her name begins with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, she wants the D."

http://gawker.com/family-gets-driven...23656/@Tom_Ley

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by oh_snap

Not saying rape is okay. It clearly is not. But what the hell is a 14 year old doing at a party, and why the hell did she get black out drunk? We can talk peer pressure, but no one made her get drunk (unless we're talking roofie drunk).

Back in college, I can remember false calls of rape happening a lot. Girls get drunk, sleep with someone they wouldn't normally sleep with, then cry rape the day after. Happened to a mate of mine. Nearly ruined his life as well. Then the girls story unraveled and she admitted finally that it was consensual.

Anyways, clearly a 14 year old shouldn't be out partying and drinking and getting drunk. You're just asking for trouble. Strong parenting.

Originally Posted by oh_snap

You can prosecute the parents with a fine of some sort for their kids drinking underage. But I honestly think our laws are too leniant on minors. You make a dumb decision as a "minor", you should face the same consequences as if you were an adult.

Is murder any lesser of a crime because the person who murdered was under the age of 18? If you do the crime, you face the same punishment regardless of your age. That is the way it should be anyways.

I'm sure that you led a responsible, thoughtful and squeaky-clean life when you were a young teenager. Not. She was at a party because she's a teenage girl who wants to make friends and appear cool to her peers. She got blackout drunk because she has no idea how to drink responsibly yet.

It's scientific fact that people of that age haven't fully developed emotionally, mentally or physically, so I don't see the logic in expecting them to act as if they have.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by oh_snap

Not saying rape is okay. It clearly is not. But what the hell is a 14 year old doing at a party, and why the hell did she get black out drunk? We can talk peer pressure, but no one made her get drunk (unless we're talking roofie drunk).

Back in college, I can remember false calls of rape happening a lot. Girls get drunk, sleep with someone they wouldn't normally sleep with, then cry rape the day after. Happened to a mate of mine. Nearly ruined his life as well. Then the girls story unraveled and she admitted finally that it was consensual.

Anyways, clearly a 14 year old shouldn't be out partying and drinking and getting drunk. You're just asking for trouble. Strong parenting.

Read the article.

1. She was dumped off on her front lawn in freezing weather. That doesn't scream consensual anything.

2. They confessed.

I like how you make it all about her though. Those poor guys... they're the REAL victims huh?

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

And your point is????

that when the rape allegedly happened the perp was 17 years of age or younger right? He was possibly 16? So he was under the age of 18 which is when a minor becomes a major or am I wrong?

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by oh_snap

You can prosecute the parents with a fine of some sort for their kids drinking underage. But I honestly think our laws are too leniant on minors. You make a dumb decision as a "minor", you should face the same consequences as if you were an adult.

Is murder any lesser of a crime because the person who murdered was under the age of 18? If you do the crime, you face the same punishment regardless of your age. That is the way it should be anyways.

Holding children as accountable as adults is the 2nd dumbest thing you've posted on this thread.

I think I've figured out the problem.

It's you.

[Tombstone RJ]

PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS,PROSECUTE THE PARENTS, PROSECUTE THE PARENTS

[warpaint*]

Originally Posted by oh_snap

Not saying rape is okay. It clearly is not. But what the hell is a 14 year old doing at a party, and why the hell did she get black out drunk? We can talk peer pressure, but no one made her get drunk (unless we're talking roofie drunk).

Back in college, I can remember false calls of rape happening a lot. Girls get drunk, sleep with someone they wouldn't normally sleep with, then cry rape the day after. Happened to a mate of mine. Nearly ruined his life as well. Then the girls story unraveled and she admitted finally that it was consensual.

Anyways, clearly a 14 year old shouldn't be out partying and drinking and getting drunk. You're just asking for trouble. Strong parenting.

I don't anybody would claim she didn't use poor judgement in terms of putting herself in a bad situation but that's aside to a bunch of kids from well connected families potentially getting away w/ multiple felonies.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

that when the rape allegedly happened the perp was 17 years of age or younger right? He was possibly 16? So he was under the age of 18 which is when a minor becomes a major or am I wrong?

Star article said he was 17. Not only was he above the age of consent, there's nothing in the MO statute (that I'm aware of) preventing a minor from being prosecuted for statutory. It's probably exceedingly rare, though.

[Tombstone RJ]

So tired of arguing this point, so very tired of it...

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Star article said he was 17. Not only was he above the age of consent, there's nothing in the MO statute (that I'm aware of) preventing a minor from being prosecuted for statutory. It's probably exceedingly rare, though.

But he was below the age of being able to legally drink? MO is stupid.

[tooge]

there is wrong all over this deal. However, if I'm the mother of rapist boy, hes getting his ball shot off at some point

[Iowanian]

At the very least making or possessing a video tape of a 13 or 14 year old girl having sex would be child pornography. High School seniors have no business banging 13 year old girls.

[Skyy God]

Small town values, amirite!! They need to Dresden that town.

At a dance competition, Melinda Coleman says, a girl arrived wearing a homemade shirt: Matt 1, Daisy 0.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

The girl may be a little void of strong parenting, but not necessarily due to neglect. Unless I'm confusing two stories, my wife told me her dad was a doctor who died not too long ago in a car wreck. This is so sad.

[warpaint*]

Ya the article mentions that.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by IA_Chiefs_fan

The girl may be a little void of strong parenting, but not necessarily due to neglect. Unless I'm confusing two stories, my wife told me her dad was a doctor who died not too long ago in a car wreck. This is so sad.

And her mother was a vet. It's not like she came from an obviously dysfunctional family background.