There can be no authentic consent when there is an imbalance of power between individuals.
In the case of John Laroche and the 16-year-old girl in the Police Explorer Program, we have several examples of abuse of power: Laroche had power over the girl initially by being several years older, then in his position as a law officer. He compounded that by being the Canterbury Police Chief and then even more egregious by being the girl’s mentor in the Police Explorer Program.
Clearly more education for community members is needed to protect children from child sexual abuse. A teenage girl is no match for an adult male in a position of authority that also represents the future occupation of the girl.
And jury members, when a victim exhibits the classic symptoms of child sexual abuse, believe her.
Child sexual abuse is defined as when any sexual act is imposed upon a child who lacks emotional, maturational and cognitive development.
Paula Czech Lesmerises
Concord