So the laws of the state of Kansas--or any other state--don't matter according to the Nebraska AG. I'm sure he'll be re-elected.
M Terry L Parker wrote: >Man Charged for Having Sex With Teen Wife - Yahoo! News >Posted: Tuesday July 26,2005 - 05:14:08 pm > >By KEVIN O'HANLON, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 26, 8:14 PM ET > >LINCOLN, Neb. - A 22-year-old man faces criminal charges in Nebraska >for having sex with an underage 13-year-old girl, although he >legally married her in Kansas after she became pregnant. >The man's lawyer said the couple, with their families' >support, "made a responsible decision to try to cope with the >problem." > >Matthew Koso, 22, was charged Monday with first-degree sexual >assault, punishable by up to 50 years in prison. He was released on >$7,500 bail pending an Aug. 17 preliminary hearing. > >After the girl became pregnant, her mother gave permission in May >for Koso to take the young woman to Kansas, which allows minors to >get married with parental consent. The girl is now 14 and seven >months pregnant. > >"The idea ... is repugnant to me," said Nebraska Attorney General >Jon Bruning. "These people made the decision to send their ... 14- >year-old daughter to Kansas to marry a pedophile." > >He said the marriage is valid, thanks to the "ridiculous" Kansas >law, "but it doesn't matter. I'm not going to stand by while a grown >man ... has a relationship with a 13-year-old — now 14-year-old — >girl." > >Bruning, who has said he will seek a second term in 2006, has >aggressively prosecuted sex crimes against children since he was >elected in 2002 > >The couple were married in May by a judge in Hiawatha, Kan., just >across the state line from Falls City. > >Nebraska requires people to be at least 17 before they can marry. > >Kansas law, however, sets no minimum marriage age, although case law >sets the minimum age at 14 for boys and 12 for girls. The marriage >must be approved by both parents or guardian, or by a district court >judge, said Whitney Watson, spokesman for Kansas Attorney General >Phill Kline. A judge also must approve if only one parent approves. > >Koso's lawyer, Willis Yoesel, said the girl's mother and Koso's >parents approved of the marriage. He said the girl's father has not >lived with the family for some time. > >"It seems to me like they, as much as they could, made a responsible >decision to try to cope with the problem," Yoesel said. > >"The families are all united in this effort," Yoesel said. "I don't >know who is complaining. ... What benefit is there to anybody in the >prosecution of this young man?" > >There was no comment from Koso, who does not have a listed telephone >number. > >___ > >On the Net: > >Nebraska Attorney General: http://www.ago.state.ne.us/ > > > > > > > > >ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
