I completely disagree with the editorial and see what apparently happened to this kid as representative of a terribly flawed and pernicious system.  As stated in the editorial, the dude was 15 at the time the "offense" occurred.  The female involved was six.  Nothing concrete about the nature of the abuse is given since that is part of the mental manipulation.  Don't be specific and the mind runs rampant.  Likely, it was "inappropriate" touching.  At 15, he himself was still a child.  Humans are not born with knowledge of the American obsession with sexual purity.  At 15, he could not have the perspective of an adult nor the belief that sex is bad and that mere touching would scar someone for life.  Yet he was charged with a felony.  Those that made this charge knowing it would doom this teenager to a life of discrimination and disenfranchisement are, in my opinion, far more evil than the boy.  Yes, he should be able to erase the charges from age 15.  People grow. His life has value.