Matt Deatherage (was Very Sad, but...)

[David A Lyons <dlyons@apple.com>]

In article <tolsenCo2I66.DqC@netcom.com> Terry R. Olsen,
tolsen@netcom.com writes:
>   Oh jeez!!!!!  Cmon people, the guy MOLESTED a kid!  You want to
protect 
> his privacy??? I don't care WHO he is and how much he "gave" to the
GS,
> the fact of the matter is that he is a CHILD MOLESTER and should be
treated
> as such.  [...]

I have known Matt for five years.  He's a good person.

There is a difference between being guilty of having sex with a minor,
and being a child molester.  Matt's position is that what happened was
not against the minor's will at all; that it was all arranged; and
that the minor knew a word to stop the activities at any time, and did
not choose to use it.  Legally, however, a minor does not have the
right to consent to sex.

I think it's significant to note the following, from various news
reports:  (1) the minor did not go to police, one of the parents did,
when they found out; (2) the minor lied to his parents about where he
was going.

A further statement of Matt's side of the story should be forthcoming
in the next week or so.  I think it would only be fair to keep an open
mind until more information is available.

Dave Lyons, dlyons@apple.com
Mr Tangent

My opinions are my own, not Apple's.