Boise, Idaho News, Weather and Traffic - KTRV Fox 12 - Experts Weigh in on Increase in Female Predator Cases
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Boise, Idaho-- Some Idaho prosecutors are seeing an increase in the number of cases involving adult women having inappropriate sexual contact with teens.
Recently, there have been two local cases of adult women accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with teens.
Last week, a Fruitland mom, 35-year-old Sheryl Nawahine, was charged with sending sexually-related text messages to a male high school student.
And earlier this year, 22-year-old softball coach Lauren Palmer was accused of sexual battery involving a female student.
One reason we might be hearing more about female predators is because victims are actually coming forward.
While in the past, this type of crime was glamorized by Hollywood.
"Well like from the movie 'The Graduate', I think it was fairly eroticised," said Ben Swanson, a licensed psychologist.
Swanson says starting with the case of Mary K. Letourneau, society's become more aware about female-driven sex crimes.
"I think the perception of defining that as abuse is really changing. I don't think there was much prosecution around those," said Swanson.
But now there is and an Ada County deputy prosecutor says it doesn't matter which gender is committing the crime. It's just as damaging and taken just as seriously in the eyes of the law.
"They are just as compelling cases to prosecute women offenders who are doing this to boys," said Jean Fisher, an Ada County deputy prosecutor.
According to Fisher, the conviction rate when women are on trial is the same as for men. But she says the reason women prey on underage kids is different.
"You might see it more in post traumatic stress, or depression, or the increase of bi-polar activity," said Fisher.
But even with those differences, just as in the case of Mary K. Letourneau, the penalties can be just as harsh.
Nawahine has been indicted by a grand jury on three counts of sexual battery of a minor child 16 or 17 years of age.
Palmer avoided jail time by pleading guilty to a lesser charge -- felony injury to a child -- and is now on probation.
