LOS ANGELES — A woman who claims Justin Bieber fathered her baby in a backstage bathroom could be investigated for having sex with a minor because the singer was 16 at the time.
While no crime has been reported, Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith told The Associated Press on Thursday that the department could investigate after Mariah Yeater filed the paternity suit against the teen heartthrob in San Diego Superior Court.
"If it's brought to our attention, of course we'll look into it," Smith said.
Yeater had just turned 19 when she says she and Bieber, then 16, had a brief sexual encounter after one of the singer's concerts at Staples Center. She said she gave birth to a boy in July and believes Bieber is the father because there were no other possible men she had sex with at that time.
She is asking a judge for child support and a paternity test. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Bieber's camp has denied he is the child's father.
It's illegal in California to have sex with someone under age 18. If the other person is not more than three years older, it is a misdemeanor, which carries up to a one-year jail sentence.
"The issue of statutory rape, even if she's guilty, hypothetically, that has no bearing on the duties to provide child support," said one of Yeater's lawyers, Matthew Pare. "It's a totally separate issue."
Pare said he and his client have not been contacted by authorities or anyone representing Bieber. He said Yeater is a stay-at-home mother who is looking for adequate child support if a paternity test determines Bieber is the father.
"The most important thing for our client is letting her baby know who his father is," Pare said.
Yeater has not received any money from media outlets about her allegations, despite receiving public assistance, Pare added.
Bieber, 17, has been dating 19-year-old actress-singer Selena Gomez. Rumors about the couple's relationship began about December 2010, two months after the alleged incident with Yeater.
Emails sent to Bieber's and Gomez's representatives seeking comment were not immediately returned Thursday.
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Musician Justin Bieber visits the Nintendo World Store on September 1, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Justin Bieber performs on ABC's Good Morning America' at ABC News' Good Morning America Times Square Studio on November 15, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/WireImage)
NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: Justin Bieber attends the Z100s Jingle Ball 2009 presented by H&M at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage for Clear Channel Radio)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Singer Justin Bieber poses after his free performance presented by KIIS-FM at Nokia Plaza L.A. Live on February 13, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Justin Bieber promotes his new book 'First Step 2 Forever' at Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on November 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 15: Justin Bieber attends KIIS FM's 2010 Wango Tango Concert at Staples Center on May 15, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Teen idol Justin Bieber arrives on the red carpet for the 68th annual Golden Globe awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 16, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Valerie MACON (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Justin Bieber attends the 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' premiere at the O2 Cineworld on February 16, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Jon Furniss/WireImage)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Singer Justin Bieber poses in the press room with the Digital Artist of the Year award during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 08: Justin Bieber attends the 2011 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 8, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Singer Justin Bieber attends the 2011 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (FilmMagic)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 07: Singer Justin Bieber arrives at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 7, 2011 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Singer Justin Bieber arrives at the The 28th Annual MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Justin Bieber attends the Dolce & Gabbana Boutique on September 8, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Dolce & Gabbana)
Singer Justin Bieber poses in the press room at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 17: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Musician and 2011 Horizon Award Recipien Justin Bieber poses backstage at the 33rd Annual Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Awards at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on September 17, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Rose/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES — A woman who claims Justin Bieber fathered her baby in a backstage bathroom could be investigated for having sex with a minor because the singer was 16 at the time.
While no crime ...
LOS ANGELES — A woman who claims Justin Bieber fathered her baby in a backstage bathroom could be investigated for having sex with a minor because the singer was 16 at the time.
While no crime ...
Selena Gomez has broken up with boyfriend Justin Bieber following allegations by Mariah Yeater that he is the father to her infant child, Radar Online...
After being slapped with a paternity lawsuit earlier this week from an alleged one-night stand, 17-year-old heartthrob Justin Bieber's squeaky bubblegum image is being called...
The kid does not even hav a slight of Justin him, She's just lik i wanna be famous so ima say Justin BUT the fame she is getting she prob does not want.
fans_of_fans: The kid does not even hav a slight of Justin
Lets get this straight..Selena Gomez is 19 and he's only 17 if they are sexually involved is that cxonsidered having sex with a mnior too? Or is this rule just for non-celebrities"
sungodess72: Lets get this straight..Selena Gomez is 19 and he's only
Correct. According to California law, if Justin and Selena have sex before Justin turns 18, she could be tried for a statutory rape charge, however, only a misdemeanor since she is less than 3 years older than him, and face a one year prison sentence. However, would she actually go to prison, given her celebrity status? Not likely, if Lindsay Lohan is still able to walk free.
Brighton_Rose: Correct. According to California law, if Justin and Selena have
Where does it say that Selena and Justin are having sex? The authorities said if something were called to their attention. Did Justin and Selena put out an announcement.
wilray: Where does it say that Selena and Justin are having
I'm your friend on myspace Justin and I believe your not the Father.. I think they are after money hoping you would settle out of court by giving money to her...
joe4u2lv: I'm your friend on myspace Justin and I believe your
I'm sorry forgot to say thanks for your comment.. I stand behind Justin and support him on this. Tell him thanks for taking the time to say thanks great job in his music Keep up The Great Job.. You Take Care
Joe Hayes
joe4u2lv: I'm sorry forgot to say thanks for your comment.. I
Aside from written law, when are we going to approach the fact that teens are no longer innocent victims in the game of sex? This kid Beiber, yes, I admit he's a kid but he's subjected to more sexual innuendo at this stage of his life than ten other adult men have their entire life combined. He's a very intelligent & articulate young person capable of understanding & demanding millions in payment for his musical services. So with all of this, the courts still insist he's an innocent bystander? This works both ways for young girls as well & age specifically has very little bearing on promiscuity. The world is changing significantly in our internet world but laws are virtually standing still. I'm not for one moment advocating young people be taken advantage of but merely pointing out someone turning a certain age overnight does not prove/disprove their capacity to deal with the repercussions of their actions equally. Age is becoming less & less a significant factor in life altering cases
destin023: Aside from written law, when are we going to approach
Couldn't have said it better, he's no innocent and he knew what he was doing..had he committed a serious crime and he wasn't Justin Bieber, he would be held to the law just like everyone else..stop the hypocrisy people young men his age are impregnanting young women all the time...
sungodess72: Couldn't have said it better, he's no innocent and he
I hate to bust your bubble, but teens have been having sex since the dawn of time. In fact, as reccently as 100 years ago, it was normal for a 14-15 year old to already have a husband and child(ren). Pre-marital sex among teens has always existed. Pre-marital sex amongs teens today has nothing to do with today's society, or the internet, or any other factor. It only seems like a more significant issue because today we have more media outlets to report that it's happening than there existed in the past.
Brighton_Rose: I hate to bust your bubble, but teens have been
I don't think she is looking for money, I just think she is obsessed with Justin and in her mind she wants him to be the father. Now, the question is as Maury always say "Justin, you ............the father"
theresa_hill: I don't think she is looking for money, I just
So, even if Yeater is convicted of statutory rape, her lawyers claim Beiber still may be held responsible to pay child support? I think they are wishful thinking! It seems they didn't do their homework before filing suit! All they saw was dollar signs.
joynoise: So, even if Yeater is convicted of statutory rape, her
If Justin IS the father, OF COURSE he will be held responsible for child support, IF the mother files for it. Why would you think he wouldn't be? She didn't hold him down and force him to have sex with her, if he did. Personally, I doubt he did. But, on the slight chance she's telling the truth, and she asks for child support, he will be ordered to pay by the court.
Brighton_Rose: If Justin IS the father, OF COURSE he will be
Statutory rape is rape in the eyes of the law, regardless if the adult perpetrator held and forced the child or not. If she broke the law, she has no rights to child support from the minor that she raped. That would be rewarding her for her crime. If nothing else, the judge would award custody to Justin (if he wants the baby -- I can't imagine a young boy wanting a baby) or someone else while sending Yeater to jail.
joynoise: Statutory rape is rape in the eyes of the law,
Bieber, 17, has been dating 19-year-old actress-singer Selena Gomez. Rumors about the couple's relationship began about December 2010, two months after the alleged incident with Yeater.
i guess that if anything is charged against mariah then selena will be next
i' m sure the will be fair that way.
@@
nawseeya: Bieber, 17, has been dating 19-year-old actress-singer Selena Gomez. Rumors
Now people are assuming that Gomez and Bieber are having a sexual relationship. Maybe they are - maybe they aren't - hard to prove either way. If a paternity proves Bieber is the father - then there is proof that Ms. Yeater is a child molester.
JustDandy1: Now people are assuming that Gomez and Bieber are having
First there would have to be a formal complaint by one of the parties involved! The police nor the court cannot act on an assumption that would be an invalid conclusion without proof of validity! Try something else...
In the eyes of the law, ignorance is no excuse!
Gerio: First there would have to be a formal complaint by
I think Justin and Mariah would make a cute couple.Perhaps when all of the lawsuit and trial madness is over they can settle down and raise a family :)
Edward_Gordon: I think Justin and Mariah would make a cute couple.Perhaps
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GREG RISLING 11/ 3/11 09:40 PM ET Associated Press