On Grindr, 16 Could Get You 20

When Grindr shows up in the headlines, and it has been a lot lately, it’s usually for salacious reasons. I wish today was an exception, but it’s anything but. Being underage on Grindr is dangerous to all involved.

Four Michigan men are facing felony charges after having sex with a teen boy they met at church on Grindr.

The four accused met the boy independently. The teen was 15 at the time.

One of the accused, Cody Hunter Swatling, is only 18 himself. The other three are 24, 20 and 27.

18-year-old Cody Hunter Swatling of South Lyon is charged with two counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, accosting a child for immoral purposes and possession of child sexually abusive material. 24-year-old Peter Alex Benedict of Brighton is charged with 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct and accosting a child for immoral purposes.

Benedict and Swatling will appear in court in early October for hearings. Meanwhile warrants have been issued for two other men; 27-year-old Burhan Ahmed Mian of Flint and 21-year-old John Joseph Gasiorek III of Brooklyn. They face similar charges with the exception of Mian, who is the only defendant charged with assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.

Two of the men are being held on $500,000 bond.

They face charges ranging from accosting a child for immoral purposes, using a computer to commit the crime, possession of abusive child sexuality material and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration. The alleged encounters were reported by a family member of the teen, who is now 16.

If this sounds similar, it is. It’s a rinse and repeat of the now dropped allegations against the HRC’s Terry Bean that I covered just a few weeks ago.

Guys, permit me to editorial here. If someone is likely to get carded for cigarettes at the 7-11, just stop. There is a reason baby fish are unhooked are tossed back into the ocean. Follow suit.

Additionally, I have reviewed the men’s fashion forecast for 2016. Orange is not a trending color.

#SMH

(h/t WHMI)

Tags: grindr, underage