2/ theirs and everybody else’s. But most kids usually also learn very young that touching other kids “there” is not acceptable. By 6 or 7 that kind of behavior is usually self-regulated and not an issue. For whatever reason, this boy (considerably older than his victim) never stopped, even
4/ when it *must* have been obvious that he was causing her pain. There was no innocence in his behavior. He showed knowledge that it was wrong, but no evidence of empathy for his victim because he never stopped until he was forced to. This is extremely troubling, particularly in a child. In many
4/ ways it’s classic bullying behavior, but the sexual component and the time component point to his willingness to harm others to gratify himself, over time. Which is predator territory. He said he’s “getting counseling”, but in LDS Land I’m not sure he’s seeing someone who really gets what
5/ they’re dealing with. Between having more than 5 years of practice and then basically being rewarded for his performative “good boy” persona and penitence, he’s learned that there are no penalties for his behavior. While sex offenders are never really deterred by incarceration, no penalty at all
6/ is the worst possible outcome. It is so painfully obvious that no one but the victim and her family really understand how dangerous this man is. No sex predator ever has just 1 victim. They’re like serial arsonists. Sooner or later they’ll have to do it again and they will. It’s not clear that
7/ he would choose another child victim. This girl was available and easy for an older boy to intimidate. But a tween or young teen might be his preferred victim. No matter what though, if he’s getting “counseling” from an elder in the church, unless they’re trained to deal with people like him
8/ what he’ll actually get is training in deception appropriate to the LDS culture. Wow. This got really long. Sorry—I’m just really mad and the dogs got bored and went to bed. Peace to you and yours.
Magic sky Daddy will forgive him? As told by a boy f@#$%r in a black robe. 7 years of dates with Lucille seem appropriate.