A teenager in Everett, Pennsylvanian is in deep trouble after shoving his crotch into the face of Jesus.
The unnamed 14-year-old recently posed for photos of himself simulating oral sex with a Jesus statue then posted the pictures to his Facebook account. The photos were then discovered by the district attorney’s office and forwarded to state police.
The statue, which belongs to Love in the Name of Christ, a Christian organization with a branch in Everett, was not damaged during the stunt. Still, the teen was charged under a 1972 law that criminalizes “defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action.”
Bev Patten, a spokesperson for Love in the Name of Christ, said the organization does not believe legal action should be taken against the juvenile, asking only “for prayer for the young man.”
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Gay rights activists, naturally, are outraged at the decision by the D.A.’s office to give a boy a criminal record for what they see as an expression of his First Amendment rights.
“This is a blasphemy law, pure and simple, and it is in clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution,” Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, said. “If the kid had destroyed or damaged the statue, he would clearly deserve to face consequences. But taking a picture that offends somebody’s religious sensibilities? This is not Russia or Iran; this is the United States, where we’re supposed to value freedom of speech. Pennsylvania should be ashamed of itself for so clearly violating this kid’s constitutional rights.”
If convicted, the teen could face up to two years in juvenile detention.
queenrosered
Bill Maher needs to see this one! Seriously, how is what the law is proposing to do to this kid any different than the Islamic Jihadists who go apeshit over any “disrespect” shown to Mohammad? SEPARATION OF CHURCH and STATE you dipwads! Jesus Effing Christ! (I think the photo is funny and no, I am not 12, lol)
I hope they DO try to make a “Federal case” of it. Then I hope the kid’s attorneys WIN and the law is changed or amended. At least this part “outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action”…Because we all know that there is ALWAYS going to be someone “outraged” at everything.
I say we start by passing a law that makes it a misdemeanor to NOT have a sense of humor.
Cam
We have a “Blasphemy” law? Is this Taliban controlled Afghanistan? Is this Iran? Was the statue damaged?
Hmm, well it is against my “Beliefs” for people to file a complaint against this student, so I guess that means that the members of the church and the DA prosecuting it should also be arrested.
Ron Jackson
Jesus should be so lucky.
Bear Aspirin
Jesus loves me…but only if he uses protection.
onthemark
Jesus was arrested too, for having sex with a minor, and He said: “Hey, the kid came on to Me… and he looked so much older than 14!”
SteveDenver
“The photos were then discovered by the district attorney’s office and forwarded to state police.”
That idiot D.A. needs to be thumped for wasting time and resources. What is he doing on a 14-year-old’s FB page, anyway?
I don’t often side with religious organizations, but the church to which the statue belongs doesn’t want prosecution, they just want to pray for the kid.
SteveDenver
@Bear Aspirin: Jesus love you lo-o-o-o-ong time!
Liam
More Xtian idiocy.
Badger88
The Jesus statue is on private property, and I very much doubt the religious organization would’ve consented to the boy coming onto their land for a blowjob from their Lord. So the kid’s at least guilty of trespassing, not to mention being an immature douche.
Having said that, if the owners don’t want to press charges, the D.A. should just drop the case.
Dakotahgeo
I look forward to the day this case goes to Court and the DA loses his case resoundingly! Should be worth 1-2 million to get him through High School and College quite nicely! Such Christian idiocy!
bobmister250
This sounds like a blasphemy law which is clearly unconstitutional.
Alan down in Florida
@Badger88: If being an immature douche was a crime than probably 60-70% of Americans would be in jail. Maybe that’s why we keep building new prisons.
Lvng1tor
@Badger88: and so then anytime you walk onto private property and do no actual harm just behave in a way that the people who own it don’t like then you could be jailed? Seriously this is a bullSh!t case of people having no f’n common sense….OH NO A TEENAGER ACTED LIKE……A TEENAGER!
If this had been a girl pressing her breasts to the face of inanimate object (without leaving a trace…photo withstanding) then it would have just been a funny sexy pic the prosecutor sent with sexist remarks to all of his buds!
This is our BS legal system at work for our persecuted *cough* *cough* christian would be overlords.
Lvng1tor
is my pic no longer showing? I don’t know why I can’t see it anymore.
AtticusBennett
He should have just shot an unarmed black teen or got drunk and killed 4 people in a fancy sports car. after all, doing those things doesn’t mean jail time in America…
Dakotahgeo
@AtticusBennett: But…but… BUT… the scene is not complete! The young man is not wearing a police uniform! Violence is only reserved for the boyzzz in bleu!!! Disgusting display of LEO/DA power gone wild!
Black Pegasus
@AtticusBennett: I see what you did here lol..
Dawson
What does it mean “polluting” in this context? This is a pretty broad brush to give religion wing nuts. O.K.———Sorry I find it funny. Wish I would have done the same. It is a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will always say that the two groups with NO SENSE OF HUMOR ARE———Republican’s and people who follow organize religion. So quick to point fingers at anyone but themselves. I am sure Jesus would find it funny. Did Jesus ever have a girl friend————-hummmmm. So anyone wearing a nun outfit as a costume is in trouble, I guess. They might want to go after all the costumes stores with October around the corner. Maybe a work action in religious costumes at the D.A.’s office might be fun.
Chris
Once again the question rises what would Jesus do.
Billy Budd
Blond. Semi-naked. Muscular. Strapped to a cross. Jesus is sexy as hell. I’ve often masturbated thinking of an encounter with a hot Jesus.
Desert Boy
I love white trash boys.
Xzamilio
Jesus didn’t seem to mind… besides, thousands of people are servicing Jesus right now, patiently waiting until he comes… turnabout’s fair play.
Spoiler alert: It’s all mythology. Grow up, kids.
Xzamilio
Did I say thousands? I meant billions… now it’s even more pathetic
cflekken
The DA’s office CLEARLY doesn’t have more important cases to try. WTH is wrong with our society anymore?
jmmartin
As an attorney, I believe such an ordinance is unconstitutional on more than one ground. First Amendment rights are involved for one. For another, the statute is vague. For another, it is too broad. It would not put a person on notice that doing what he did (which I find amusing) was illegal.
MacAdvisor
“If convicted, the teen could face up to two years in juvenile detention.”
No, if convicted, the teen will appeal the conviction and win at every Federal court level. The actions are clearly covered by the First Amendment and, once the case is over and the teen has one, the teen should sue the DA under 42 U.S. Code § 1985, conspiracy to interfere with civil rights. Let’s just see how much the DA likes the shoe on the other foot.
Dakotahgeo
@MacAdvisor: Father, forgive me, but… AMEN!!!
Chris
An immature prank gets someone in trouble with the police? Gads, what happened to someone (parents? busy-body aunt? grandfatherly figure from “On Golden Pond?”) just having a talk with the kid.
Bob LaBlah
What that kid needs is his butt slapped, kissed and licked. Line up behind me girls. We’ll teach him a thing or two about being blasphemous, won’t we?
DarkZephyr
@Cam: The church has stated that they *don’t* want legal action taken against him.
DistingueTraces
@Billy Budd: “Blond”?
NateOcean
Yet, if instead of being a *statue* of Jesus, that had been an *actual* priest, what would have happened?
Probably transfer the priest to another parish, and give the teen some hush money.
Dawson
Don’t religious people say “Jesus is coming”? hummmmmmmmmm.
Cobalt Blue
Congratulations to the Pennsylvanian law staff for doing the right thing. This redneck deserves a time in cage to think about what he did.
Dakotahgeo
@Cobalt Blue: You haven’t visited your therapist lately or had your scripts refilled, have you? Best step to it before they bring you in against your will!
Cobalt Blue
@Dakotahgeo: LOL.
SportGuy
@Cobalt Blue:
He would just hump the cage. No use in trying to help these kind of people. Just stick them all in Alabama and let them live there.