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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Leaders praise retiring Talent police Chief Mike Moran ... Capturing autumn beauty: Winners of our 2015 Fall Colors Photo Contest ... 20,000-tree solution: How historic Ashland ranch project is keeping irrigation districts afloat ... Leaders praise retiring Talent police Chief Mike Moran ... Capturing autumn beauty: Winners of our 2015 Fall Colors Photo Contest ... 20,000-tree solution: How historic Ashland ranch project is keeping irrigation districts afloat ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Reader questions Oregon sex crime laws Comment By A reader wants to know why anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in Oregon. MailTribune.com By A reader wants to know why anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in Oregon. Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM By A reader wants to know why anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in Oregon. Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News In a recent article, you reported that a Jackson County man was charged with "deviate sexual intercourse." I looked up the statute, and it appears to be a sodomy law. I was under the impression that the Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision of 2003 struck down such laws. Why is this still on the books? — Christian, Medford As a warning to other readers, we're going to use some adult language while answering your question, Christian. The man you are referring to is Crater High School teacher Jeffrey Robert Zundel, 52, who has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a student younger than age 18. A grand jury indicted him in early November on 11 counts of second-degree sexual abuse linked to sexual intercourse and deviate sexual intercourse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse linked to other sexual contact. Under Oregon law, sodomy is the sex crime that involves deviate sexual intercourse, which in turn relates to oral or anal sexual contact. Deviate sexual intercourse is illegal in Oregon if the action involves forcible compulsion or the victim is underage or incapable of consent due to mental defect, mental incapacitation or physical helplessness. Sexual intercourse is also illegal under those circumstances. The 2003 Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision had the effect of striking down a Texas law that criminalized sodomy between consenting adults acting in a private place. The decision also invalidated similar sodomy laws involving consenting adults in other states. —Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. By A reader wants to know why anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in Oregon. MailTribune.com By A reader wants to know why anti-sodomy laws are still on the books in Oregon. Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501