The Zoo over Ambuscade Street

Cellphone = missing. Great.

Courtesy of chorazin, we have a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Like whoa.

Tougher Sex Crime Bill Lowers Consent Age

The new law that allows prosecutors to seek a death penalty for repeat child sex offenders also lowers the age of consent in some cases.

Prosecutors can seek a death sentence for a repeat sex offender when the victim is under age eleven. But it also allows people age 18 and under to avoid maximum penalties if the other person is 14, down from 16. The provision was added to avoid severe penalties for young people experimenting with sex.

Prosecutors are concerned about a second change called the "mistake of age" defense. That allows adults accused of having sex with those under 16 to tell the jury they thought the person was at least 16.

Sumter Representative Murrell Smith says he expects the law to be cleaned up when lawmakers meet in January.

So, "but I thought she was sixteen!" is now a valid legal defense?