# of Words: 410

An Anthem, AZ man was arrested after a mother called the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office stating a man, who was looking for a baby-sitter, had come on to her 12-year-old daughter. Michael Whitlow, 26, was arrested on charges of kidnapping and luring a minor for sexual exploitation. In addition, he faces a number of drug charges.

According to Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Paul Chagolla, after the girl's stepfather dropped her off, Whitlow took the girl inside and locked the doors. The girl said she felt trapped and frightened. She stated Whitlow told her he could hardly keep his hands off her. He permitted her to leave without assaulting her, the Sheriff's Office stated.

Chagolla said Whitlow has admitted attempting to engage her as a sensual partner. The 12-year older girl's stepfather made a deadly mistake when he fell his own 12-year old step daughter off in Whitlow's home. It's astonishing that an adult would drop a child off in an unknown person's home for whatever reason. Although, Whitlow did not assault her, the emotional damage as a result of her feeling trapped and frightened is unknown and might not be known for years. His announcement, ".hardly keep my hands off you, you are extremely attractive; do not let your parents." is abuse.

In addition, she feared for her existence that is abuse. Although, most adults would not consider this episode sexual abuse, the truth Whitlow made sexual announcements toward her matches the standards for sexual abuse. "If the experience has sexual meaning for another person, in lieu of a nurturing purpose for the benefit of the child, it is abuse. If it is unwanted or inappropriate for her age or the relationship, it is abuse. Incest [sexual abuse] can occur through words, sounds, or even exposure of the child to sights or acts that are sexual, but do not involve her. If she's made to see what she does not wish to see, for example, by an exhibitionist, it is abuse.

If a child is forced into an experience that is sexual in content or overtone that is abuse. As long as the child is induced into sexual activity with someone who's at a position of greater power, whether this power has been derived via the perpetrator's age, size, status, or relationship, the act is abusive. A child who cannot refuse, or who believes she or he cannot refuse, is a child who has been violated." -E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors.

Related Papers

Child Abuse and Poverty

I have always been a supporter of a woman's right to select. It is not simply that I am a supporter of abortion. I have never had an abortion and don't think I could. But, I must have the right to make that decision myself not have it forced on me. My position on abortion is really very easy it needs to be legal, safe and rare. The main reason for my belief that abortion should be legal and safe is very closely tied to women's rights. A society which controls and shackles women's freedom cannot......Read More

Child Abuse in America

A couple of days ago TLC had an exceptional documentary entitled "Breaking the Silence" in which five individuals told the stories of how they had been sexually abuse as children. The perpetrators were not strangers, but individuals who the children and their families knew and trusted. Statistics indicate that this is the for most cases as over 90% of children know their abusers. Because of shame and fear children don't tell anyone about what is happening to them. Some fear that they will not be......Read More

An Analysis of the Child Abuse

The first response the vast majority of individuals type when hearing of sex abuse or incest is denial: "I do not need to be concerned about that in my area." "That would never happen in my family. ".The unbelievable reality is that a person who sexually abuses children may seem very average and ordinary to the world. He/she may be a leader in the church, in the community or in business, a sports coach, scout leader, or celebrity. Sex offenders do not fit a classic stereotype and are not......Read More

Related Topics