At the risk of sounding like a total pervert...

[Christian Taylor]

The Sydney Morning Herald published this story today about a couple who were sentenced to prison for having sex infront of their daughter:

Couple sentenced for having sex in front of child
A US mother and her boyfriend who had sex in front of the woman's nine-year-old daughter to teach the girl about the act were sentenced to three years probation today.

During an investigation by the state child welfare authorities, David Prata, 33, said he and Rebecca Arnold, 36, had sex "all the time" in front of the child and that "we don't believe in hiding anything".

He told an investigator they did not force the girl to watch.

They had pleaded no contest to a felony child neglect charge

The judge said he wanted to spare the girl, now 11, from testifying, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for state Attorney General Patrick Lynch.

The allegations surfaced in December 2004 after the girl went to live with her father. A teacher called a child abuse hotline to report that the girl said her mother and her boyfriend had sex in front of her.

Now I don't know about you, but is this really something you can go to jail for? I mean, some people are really relaxed about sex. Does that mean that they are guilty of 'neglect'?

I would say 'no'. Sure, it's not something I would do, but as they said, they didn't force the child to watch... What do people think? Sure, it might seem odd - but is it something they should be punished for?

Keep in mind that while sex in the US can land you on probation, guns are okay.

[hazyinseptember]

i agree they are not guilty of child abuse..

but really? a nine year old?..

im pretty relaxed but i think thats a little twisted.. what are we talking about here too?

" hey sally.. come watch while mommy gives daddy a blowjob"????

sorry but thats not for any child to see...

[mistybear]

Maybe not child abuse but close enough, that's an image a 9 year old won't be getting out of her head any time soon.
I just think that her mother is misguided in thinking that being open means that having sex in front of her daughter is a positive.
Kids need to be kids for as long as they can, they shouldn't be dealing with adult stuff at that age.

[alison87]

I think there's degrees of abuse, and knowingly exposing your kid to "adult" things at a time when they're not ready to deal with it is certainly neglect if nothing else. Seeing your parents go at it is something that can be hard to deal with even when you're older, so i reckon fair enough if these guys got punished for it.

[meezon04]

Not really much different to turning on the TV late at night and watching 'Big Brother Up Late' :D

[hazyinseptember]

hmmm.. forced to watch my parents having sex or "big brother up late"..

wow.. thats a tough one.. cant i get another option??

[Christian Taylor]

" hey sally.. come watch while mommy gives daddy a blowjob"????

sorry but thats not for any child to see...

ESPECIALLY WHEN MY PARENTS ARE INVOLVED.
as far as i am concerned my parents just have FLAT PANELS OF SKIN DOWNSTAIRS - like GI Joe dolls.

[ap_bcd]

I don't know about being forced, but I walked in on my parents having sex more than once as a child when i couldn't slepp and wanted them to tell me another story, or get a drink or somethign kid like. After the 2nd time they learnt to do it UNDER the sheets not on top.