When the Law Fails

A ruling was recently handed down on June 28, 2005 by the Appellate Court of Illinois convicting a man of being a sex offender. What did he do? He grabbed a 14 year old girl's arm while lecturing her about walking out in front of his moving car. The report goes that he swerved to not hit her, called her over to lecture her and, while doing so, grabbed her arm. She broke free and reported him and he was charged with unlawful restraint of a minor- a sexual offense. Now he must register as a sex offender.

The Cook County state's attorney spokesman said the offender should have to register "because of the proclivity of offenders who restrain children to also commit sex acts or other crimes against them." So, really, if two kids get into a fight (in Illinois) one had better be careful about breaking it up.

Sure, making forceful contact with anyone should be carefully measured. Even more so with children. Was the man wrong for applying unwarranted restraint? Yes. But he was acquitted of kidnapping and child abduction yet still convicted as a pervert.

It strikes me as not only a failure of the state's law and but also the court's complete failure to apply common sense. Most likely they weren't able to get a conviction on the other more appropriate charges.

I'd bet the girl will look both ways before she crosses the street for the rest of her life.