Summer Nelson, 28-Year-Old Babysitter, Arrested For Sex With 14-Year-Old Boy (VIDEO)

A 28-year-old woman, Summer Nelson, has been arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old boy who she was babysitting. Nelson claimed to be in love with the teen, and told his siblings that she was "in love" with their brother. She even went so far as to ask the boy's mother for her blessing so they could be "together as a couple."

According to KXLY.com, Sergeant Dave Beck, a detective with the Post Falls Police Department, said,

She'd be holding his hand, she'd have her hands on his side, when they'd sit together she'd have her hand on his knee, they'd sneak away together and she'd put her sole attention on the oldest child, this boy.

Watch this video report from CNN below.

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Comments

[The Ghost]

09:06 PM on 07/16/2009

Black and white thinking is symptomatic of severe mental illness.

[daedelus]

09:53 PM on 07/16/2009

Right. And nothing says mental health quite like an adult and a middle-schooler having sex.

[The Ghost]

10:04 PM on 07/16/2009

Don't be mad 'cause no one picked you.

[Bub]

01:19 AM on 07/16/2009

Not all 14 year olds are at the same stage of development. One of my friends hit puberty in the 4th grade. He was shaving in 6th grade. On the other hand, I didn't hit puberty until 15 years old. At 14 I was obviously not ready. At the age of 14 my friend was at a much different stage of development than I, and probably most 14 year olds. I didn't have a love relationship until I was 29 and when it ended before I was ready I was devastated for years - I blamed myself for not having that relationship at the age of 16 or 17 like most people do... I think people are actually more equipped at that age - just like we are better to equiped to learn languages at an early age.

People project their own conditions on to others. I don't think that necessary brings accuracy.

I've read that in the Netherlands sex upon puberty is quite common. By the time they are 22 they are much more mature than the average 22 year old American. In Korea, it's just the opposite. 20 year old boys and girls are like Americans still in high school. And farther down thread a Brazilian said that 14 year olds have the right of consent to sex.

Different physiology, different cultures, different levels of development: Keep in mind, it's nature that determines are physiological stage of development.

[Crickettedog]

02:41 PM on 07/16/2009

Sensible reply. Thank you. The TV host acts like he knows all there is to know about sex. He probably doesn't know how to think for himself when it comes to sex. Differen t cultures have different laws. Americans are just as prudish now as they were when they came to the US from England. Puritanical in other words.

[RTIII]

01:17 AM on 07/16/2009

I've read many of the comments and have debated whether to post. I'm one who has some first hand experience as "the victim."

Before my story: The vast majority of adults in the United States treat young people without respect and as if they were !diots and I think it contributes to the immaturity of the young... ...When respect is shown and maturity is expected, young people are much more likely to be responsible in their actions. It saddens me to hear such vociferous and patently rude remarks by adults about 14 year olds here, as if _all_ of them are incompetent - these negative remarks coming especially from the most prudish among us.

DA.MN the 250 word limit! ... End part 1.
.

[RTIII]

01:19 AM on 07/16/2009

Part II

In my own case, I was a latch key kid - my father said I raised myself, and there's much truth in it....I began puberty just after my 12th birthday and completed the process about a year later, and along the way, a girl I knew (about a year or two older) and I figured out how to "do it" - my first GF. About a year after that, the summer I was 13, I went on a several week road trip with my father as he worked to help establish the EPA and do related environmental law, and we ended up in the Florida Panhandle at a meeting of Attorneys General who were meeting to discuss the (new) Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and what to do about them, and I went sailing every day in my own "Sunflower". Somehow or other I managed to convince a beautiful young paralegal (whatever her title) to go sailing with me. Long story short, she taught me a few things about sexuality, and how to do it in a boat - she was 32. There's No Way, this woman was any kind of pedophile, I was just incredibly charming! Etc. Really, if there were any "predator" here, it was me being seductive in just the right way... After all, she was HOT and I had all those hormones...

OK... Now to part III!
.

[RTIII]

01:20 AM on 07/16/2009

Part II

In my own case, I was a latch key kid - my father said I raised myself, and there's much truth in it....I began pub.erty just after my 12th birthday and completed the process about a year later, and along the way, a girl I knew (about a year or two older) and I figured out how to "do it" - my first GF. About a year after that, the summer I was 13, I went on a several week road trip with my father as he worked to help establish the EPA and do related environmental law, and we ended up in the Florida Panhandle at a meeting of Attorneys General who were meeting to discuss the (new) Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and what to do about them, and I went sailing every day in my own "Sunflower". Somehow or other I managed to convince a beautiful young paralegal (whatever her title) to go sailing with me. Long story short, she taught me a few things about se.xu.ality, and how to do it in a boat - she was 32. There's No Way, this woman was any kind of ped.o.phile, I was just incredibly charming! Etc. Really, if there were any "pred.ator" here, it was me being seductive in just the right way... After all, she was HOT and I had all those hormones...

OK... Now to part III!.

[SadVoter]

08:41 PM on 07/15/2009

If you think it was a good thing for this 28 year old adult to have sex with a 14 year old boy, would your opinion change if it had been a 28 year old man seducing a 14 year old boy who was confused about his sexual identity (as many 14 year old boys are)?

[alexis d]

08:00 AM on 07/16/2009

First of all, I don't KNOW if it was a good thing in this case; there's not enough info in the hyperventilating story to tell. I do think it's more likely that it was perfectly fine or no worse than any other bad experience than that it was a horrible, evil, brutal crime, as they ridiculously portray it.

Second of all, no, my opinion wouldn't change in that case, hypothetically speaking.

Third of all, I really think these large-age-difference cases which keep cropping up are best evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

[FaceReality2]

06:16 PM on 07/16/2009

"I really think these large-age-difference cases which keep cropping up are best evaluated on a case-by-case basis."

This is the wisest opinion on this whole board.

This is why the age of consent here historically was quite young (13-14 in some southern states until very recently) and why most countries still have a significantly lower age of consent than we do now. A lower age of consent allows inquiry in individual cases to determine whether or not consent was in fact freely given. If not, then juries and judges can rule accordingly under general rape statutes. The law as we have it now allows prosecutors in many states to put willing teenagers in prison for statutory rape and on life-long sex offender lists for having sex with their boyfriends/girlfriends. One size does not fit all.

[Trueheart]

08:25 PM on 07/15/2009

Well, I've read so many comments from men who think this 14-year old is fortunate, that I've got a crick in my neck from shaking my head so much.

Here's a question for all you men who would gladly let a 28 year old woman have sex with your underaged sons. What if the woman becomes pregnant? Has a child. Your grandchild. And your 14-15-16 year old son suddenly becomes a father. Wouldn't that be a thrill. Then you'd be in the same boat as Sarah Palin.

I am asking this question because it seems that there is very little recognition of the fact that sexual intercourse creates children. And when children are making babies, it's not a fair deal for anyone. Not for the child-parent, not for the grandparents, and especially not for an innocent, unwanted baby.

[JShankel]

08:32 PM on 07/15/2009

But the kid wanted it, therefore there's nothing wrong. The parents have nothing to say about it. The standard we apply is that anything 14 year olds want to do should be legal.

[slaxx]

08:40 PM on 07/15/2009

"anything 14 year olds want to do should be legal."

yeah, right.

[Trueheart]

08:50 PM on 07/15/2009

Don't think you are answering the question I asked.

[jessicadevyn]

08:38 PM on 07/15/2009

True. All this was fine when most people barely lived past their third decade and most people had all the skills they would ever need to survive sometime between the ages of 10-14. It's not such a thrill now.

Not to mention there are many more STDs than there ever were before including several that will kill you.

[Trueheart]

08:53 PM on 07/15/2009

I didn't think of venereal diseases, but you're right. Another serious consideration if you are willing to let your 14-year old son "Go for it" with a sexually mature adult.

[Boxjob]

07:19 PM on 07/15/2009

Any adult male or female that doesn't have the common decency and common sense not to sleep with someone who is known to be 14 years old should be prossecuted. That is why they are referred to as jail bait. It is immaterial whetehr the victim enjoyed the episode or not. That's just such a breach od societal norms that it can't go unpunished. No sleeping with the kids. Sorry. Just not tollerated.

[raymondjiii]

08:30 PM on 07/15/2009

When I was 14 I would have tolerated it quite perfectly, thank you!

[JShankel]

08:34 PM on 07/15/2009

Because that's the standard we should always apply: anything a minor enjoys is okay.

[JShankel]

07:14 PM on 07/15/2009

So, why the "necessary double standard?"

If the standard we're applying is "he wanted it, so it's okay," shouldn't we apply that standard to ALL teenagers, whether male or female, and all relationships, whether straight or gay?

If we want to say that relations between adult women and minor boys are acceptable because in most cases the boys want it, well, should we afford the same rights to girls, even if fewer of them want it? Even if it's only one girl in ten, why should she be denied rights that are granted to boys?

And if we have a standard for girls that says that even though you may have consented, we can still prosecute if retrospectively you decided that you "didn't want" the relationship, shouldn't we afford the same opportunity to boys? Even if only 1 in 10 would ever find themselves in that position?

And what about parents? Since the minors involved are not emancipated, the parents have legal responsibility for them. Should parents be allowed to veto sexual relationships between their children and adults or other children? Keeping in mind that a parent can veto a child driving a car or leaving the house?

If not, should parents be relieved of their parental responsibilities?

In other words, should parents have any recourse whatsoever if their child is involved sexually with an adult? Or is it legally the responsibility of the child?

[alexis d]

08:32 AM on 07/16/2009

These are all very good questions. The answers aren't easy, but I definitely think we need a more nuanced understanding of the meaning of these "large-age-difference" relationships. They keep cropping up, each case is different, and the broad legal brush we paint them with does more harm than good.

[soral]

07:12 PM on 07/15/2009

She claims she is in love with the boy.

As a boy I was abused by an older babysitter. The fact that the victim is male is no reason to assume he cannot be a victim.

The problem is, we don't choose who we are attracted to. I'm attracted to adult women, for the record. But for those attracted to minors, be they older women or older men, I imagine there is an incredibly difficult daily experience of desire.

For those that condemn the very attraction - well, there's little anyone can do about that. You can castrate the men and murder the women, and that would stop them from desiring. Otherwise, there are still those who become lightheaded, and get butterflies in their stomach, and smile with rosy cheeks around minors.

At the same time, a rape is a rape.

[jessicadevyn]

08:40 PM on 07/15/2009

Maybe castrating is taking things too far, I grant you.

But people still can't have sex with every single person that they are sexually attracted to. Most heterosexual men are attracted to a large quantity of females of child bearing age but that doesn't make it ok for them to have sex with us just because they want to.

If I knew I was a pedophile, I wouldn't become a teacher/coach/babysitter. I would seek therapy.

[BLBass]

03:06 AM on 07/21/2009

This comment got me spitting mad, I have to tell you. Mostly because it was well-framed and frustratingly hard to argue against. :)

I'm not advocating "civil rights for pedophiles" or any other NAMBLA talking-points. I do think it's reprehensible to condemn people to sexual lives devoid of attraction, though there will inevitably be some cases where that's the only resolution. It's certainly not something we should feel righteously good about forcing people into, as this jerk of an anchor emphatically does. And just thinking of logistics, avoiding children is a pretty difficult thing to do in regular daily life; as soral says it would only magnify the difficulty if sexual attraction conflicted.

But I think the reason I got incensed, besides the unquestioning use of the 18-year age cutoff and dismissal of the young man's capacity to at least have an inkling of what he's doing, is the assumption made that this instance of attraction to an adolescent must necessarily be a case of pedophilia. And I don't think it's at all reasonable, given the facts as presented, to say the babysitter went ahead with a sexual relationship just because she wanted to. If it weren't mutual, just on the most basic level, how stupid would she have to be to go to his mother about the affair?

[xstevejx]

07:04 PM on 07/15/2009

Yeah, these stories often seem odd to hear...since they are usually dreams come true for the 'victim.' Yes, the older person should have the self-control (at least) to NO engage in these kinda things, but I remember in my teens just about EVERY guy wanted to get something on with a 20-30yo.

[JShankel]

07:07 PM on 07/15/2009

Are you also okay with 14 year old girls hooking up with older men?

Despite what posters here are saying, there are a great many teenage girls who enjoy dating older men.

[PAposter]

07:08 PM on 07/15/2009

That's why they're called children.

[Trueheart]

08:11 PM on 07/15/2009

Dating? or Mating?

[KarateKid]

06:54 PM on 07/15/2009

Where were these women when I was 14???

[JShankel]

07:01 PM on 07/15/2009

Why? Did you fantasize about getting married and having sex with one, and only one, woman for your entire life when you were 14?

[The Ghost]

07:08 PM on 07/15/2009

Jesus Vooddoo is not a legitimate basis for law.

[KarateKid]

07:36 PM on 07/15/2009

Nope. I grew up normally, as opposed to someone, say, like you.

[peacechants]

06:42 PM on 07/15/2009

The woman was charged with a crime, not convicted. The tone of disgust and presumptive comments by the reporter are tantamount to a summary conviction by media. Public outrage is further inflamed by the psychologist's allusion to the dearth of available therapies [notwithstanding her role as a therapist]. She further alludes available "treatments" involving chemicals and castration.

No one condones child abuse, yet it has become a sensationalistic topic enabling a corportatist media to manipulate public fear and anger into a vigilante mentality. Once again, hyped concerns surrounding a public safety issue are fanned to point where the accused has been deprived of her right to a presumption of innocence and a trial by a jury of her peers. That jury pool will have been thoroughly tainted by this report.

[JShankel]

07:01 PM on 07/15/2009

Too true. All comments here presume the facts are as alleged. The reality may be quite different.

[BLBass]

12:23 PM on 07/21/2009

I'm glad you accept that difference. The question is, do we rush to judgment assuming the facts as alleged are the entirety of the case or do we take the chance to reexamine our laws and mores? Most of us advocating a more permissive reading of the statutes are really suggesting that a law so difficult to enforce fairly contains inherent problems and should be considered only on a case-by-case basis. That's why, despite the acknowledged fact that the sitter broke the law as written, many think she doesn't deserve the legally sanctioned punishment.

[BLBass]

03:36 AM on 07/21/2009

on the money

That anchor guy made me want to puke, he was such an obnoxious sermonizer, and his "experts" were little better.

[seted]

06:33 PM on 07/15/2009

When was 14 I lost my virginity to a 28 yr old. Best 20 seconds of my life.

[KarateKid]

06:55 PM on 07/15/2009

Left, or right, hand?

[JoeGdr]

07:21 PM on 07/15/2009

What was her name? Palmela Handerson?

[seted]

06:54 PM on 07/17/2009

hah!

[databaze]

06:26 PM on 07/15/2009

It is awesome to be in Brazil since consensual age is 14! U americunts are just silly, u make laws that are ridiculous. Have fun with your rapes and else...

[JShankel]

07:42 PM on 07/15/2009

Have fun with your child prostitution!

[The Ghost]

07:46 PM on 07/15/2009

Have fun with your dysphoria.

[daedelus]

08:11 PM on 07/15/2009

How's the sex tourism and rampant AIDS thing working out for all you fun-loving hedonists?

[The Ghost]

11:53 PM on 07/15/2009

How are things in the Great State of Delusion?

[The Ghost]

06:20 PM on 07/15/2009

The same people who think 14 is too young for a man to give sexual consent have no problem charging that same 14 year old with murder as an adult.

[PAposter]

06:23 PM on 07/15/2009

I have a problem with charging children as adults.

[The Ghost]

07:09 PM on 07/15/2009

Its obviously not your only problem.

[XCITIZEN]

06:16 PM on 07/15/2009

Hey, if Mary Kay LeTourneau can get her own TV movie for doing this, why shouldn't any woman? Women can abuse male children and are held to a completely different standard - they are not considered pedohiles - in fact, they are celebrated - in American culture.

[KarateKid]

06:56 PM on 07/15/2009

Cougar Power.....