Sickening indeed, and yet...

I would defend him if I was a lawyer.

Seriously.

The system failed the family, as exposed already, by not having him registered, while so many around were registered. The mother failed the girl, by putting her in danger's way. Everyone who supports children having no rights failed her, at that. And if he wasn't a male with no particular "alpha" characteristic, but a cute young woman, he would get away, and you know it. Or if she wasn't a white American, but instead an Arab, Persian or Pakistani in her own country.

My defense would probably have as much chance of winning as Saddam's. But I wouldn't do it for the acquittal; I would do it for the principle.

And yes, he deserves the death penalty. Which he won't get: in the twisted system of US law, he will probably be back in the streets, unregistered, in 5 years; while if he had taken pics of her fully clothed, he'd get 25 and lifetime registration afterwards.