And people wonder why women don't report rapes

Dexter Ford's trial may show us just how absurdly far the definition of 'consenting adult' can be stretched.

Ford, who is homeless, is charged with the rape of a University of Cincinnati student just beside Taft Road in Avondale. Motorists saw the attack as they drove by and called police. They say the woman is on medication that makes her sleepwalk and was still asleep when they found her after the attack.

Now Ford's attorney said he'll likely use the sleepwalking as Ford's defense. "It goes to consent," he said. "How is he to know she is sleepwalking, if it's a dream 'yes' or a real 'yes'?"

What an insulting and infuriating line of reasoning. Maybe we could use such a defense for rapes of women who are intoxicated, in a coma, on life support. If she can't clearly say no, then the answer must of course be yes.

And certainly the details support the idea of an amorous encounter -- a young college woman, a homeless man, the intimate locale right off an exit ramp for I-71.

Ford has a string of convictions ranging from aggravated arson to possession of drug paraphernalia. I think if he's convicted, he deserves a life sentence, but instead the woman is the one who may end up with one. Ford told police he is HIV-positive.