Missouri- A Florissant woman faces a long list of sex charges. Police say Judith Zweifel repeatedly had sex with a boy from her neighborhood. She is 37 years old. He is 11.
Florissant Police Chief William Karabas says, "She became infatuated with this young boy." Zweifel lived with her husband and children. Police say the sexual encounters happened at her house, and went on between December of 2004 and August of 2005.
Eventually the boy's family became suspicious and he reportedly told them what had happened. Now a Grand Jury has indicted Zweifel on 30 criminal counts, including statutory sodomy, statutory rape, and child molestation.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch says, "It is rare that we have a situation in which it is a female preying upon a young boy."
But in recent years, several such cases have gained national attention. Mary Kay Letourneau, a Washington teacher, initially received a six month sentence and three years psychiatric treatment for her affair with a sixth grader.
And a Florida teacher, Debra Lafave, received house arrest and probation for having sex with a 14 year old.McCulloch says, "I think generally speaking yeah you look at it and you think if that were a man he'd be going to the penitentiary. Why isn't the woman going?"
McCulloch says there seems to be an unfair double standard when it comes to punishing female sex offenses. He adds, "It's the same crime. The punishment ought to be roughly the same."
As for Judith Zweifel, he calls this a grave charge, one that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. McCulloch says, "It's a very, very serious matter. The bond is half a million dollars in this particular case. And we will proceed without regard for the gender of the parties involved."
Zweifel's next court appearance is scheduled for the end of the January.
