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Kaine’s sexual-assault initiatives move forward
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Richmond (Map, News) - Virginia’s House and Senate approved two reforms of the state’s sexual-assault laws Wednesday, both of which were proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine.
The General Assembly moved to close a loophole in state law that allows a man who sexually assaults girls between the ages of 14 to 16 to avoid prosecution if he offers to marry the victim.
The other measure would require the state, not the victim, to pay for a forensic medical examination after an attack.
The bills, first backed by Kaine in January, passed the House and Senate unanimously after seeing no real opposition as they made their way through the legislature.
Under existing law, a prosecutor can agree to compensate a victim for the test, which can cost up to $800, only if the victim decides to pursue a prosecution within 48 hours of the exam.
That requirement no longer will be legal next year under the federal Violence Against Women Act of 2005, which mandates that no state will “require a victim of sexual violence to participate in the criminal justice system or cooperate with law enforcement in order to be provided a forensic medical exam or to be reimbursed for charges incurred on account of such an exam.”
Kaine also supports repealing regulations that require rape victims to submit to polygraph testing as a condition for an investigation, which also was made illegal under federal law.
wflook@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
I think that is the term psychologists use to classify different kinds of rapists. I know it sounds crazy but when I took abnormal psych in college were taught about the different kinds. Of course a rapist isn't a gentleman.
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Examiner Reader said:
I cannot believe this guy described a rapist as a "gentleman"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is NO and I mean NO such thing as a rapist who is a GENTLEMAN! HOW DARE HE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
I danced at this studio all through my childhood until I was a teenager. I grew up with him and his kids he was like an uncle to me. He had never been this way with me. These allegations are really hard to believe. People can change and by that I mean they could be true but I do not believe they are at all.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I danced at the studio for three years. During my time there, Joseph Malone became a great role model of mine. He was confident, kind, and like said before, ALWAYS a gentleman. These terrible allegations cannot be true, they are not true. What has our world come to if we seek revenge on others by destoying their world?
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I would just like to add - being my 8 years of being at in the studio, that all of the people involved in the allegations are ADULTS. There are no MINORS involved.
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i completely agree with you. So unfortunate...even if he is proven innocent , that dark cloud will be wtih him and his family for years. SOOO sad.
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I have known Joey for over 20 years and he has never been anything but a complete gentlemen, both with friends and students. It is so sad because in this publicity filled culture of ours, no matter what the truth is, he and his family will now have been irreparably harmed. I hope everyone will keep an open and compassionate mind.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
so sorry to hear such a disturbing story. I hope that joey and his family can find some peace through this troubling and trying time in their life. I can't say who is telling the truth,because i am not the person(s) involved. Noone can, we can all hope and wish that it isn't true,but that is all we can do.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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PAC student said:
I am one of his students Now and everyone dancing at pAC is shocked and we all agree These claims are false!!!! At PAC it has been dredful everyone is crying and news people are everywhere. All I wish is the best of luck for joey and his family.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
many of great people that had the world in the palm of their hands have lost it all with ONE bad choice...it happens all the time..if you have ever seen the tv show to face a predator, you know exactly what i mean.
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I also have to agree that joey malone has been a prominent figure in the dance community. He has given and shared his gift with many of dancers....but...and i say but, to insinuate that these girls are lying would be an injustment to them. let alone the fact that you would be revictimizing them. I hope that it isn't true, but i have learned in life that sometimes people aren't necessarily who they claim to be and People do change. Place no judgement on either and let the investigation unfold itself. I am a dance instructor, and travel the country teaching tons of kids. I am appauled at what i see from grown adults that seek sexual relationships with MINORS. I Keep saying it's only a matter of time before their lives will be in shambles. Men hooking up with boys and girls.it truly disgusts me and people turn their back because they think that these people are gods of dance I hope for Joey that it is not true,but if it is true, it's about time that someone makes a stand for what's R
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I must agree with the comments below. Although I haven't seen Joey in many years, I was a young female student, and he was nothing short of a gentleman. My jaw was on the floor when I saw the news report, and immediately thought, this can't be true, there is much more to this, I'm sure.
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't say wether this is true or not but I can say that it is completely alarming because Joey Sheck has been one of the most loved dancers in our dance community for more than 30 years. I'm inclined to believe that these girls are making false reports possibly because they are not talented enough to get into the professional dance world. Or perhaps its like Doctor patient relationships when the patient misplaces love onto their therapist. Such could possibly be with Joey because they couldn't get their fantasies fulfilled by him. This is not uncommon in the exagerated life of hollywood. I do believe the truth will be revealed. Joey has been teaching and choreographing young children through adulthood for many many years. It doesn't make sense that with all the opportunity he had to behave in this most awful manner that he would all of a sudden start now. Its most difficult in the professional dance community to believe that there is even a thread of truth to any of this.
12 agree | 5 disagree
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