Utah AG: Movie rape doesn't break porn law

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The controversial scene of a minor being raped in the movie "Hounddog" does not break Utah's child pornography laws, the state attorney general says.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and his children's justice division chief Craig Barlow visited the Sundance Film Festival to view the movie, in which the character played by 12-year-old actress Dakota Fanning is raped, the Deseret (Salt Lake City) Morning News said. Christian groups have called for federal investigations because of the scene.

After viewing the movie, Shurtleff said, "There is absolutely no concern whatsoever about it violating child porn or sexual exploitation of minor statutes."

He said he wanted to screen the movie based on what he had read and heard.

"From everything that was being spread around, we were very concerned that it violated our sexual exploitation statute. A simulated sexual act with a child is a violation," Shurtleff told the newspaper.

Shurtleff said he hopes any buzz the film generates will lead to more open discussions about child abuse and rape.

"As long as we keep it taboo, victims won't report it and perpetrators won't be prosecuted," he said.