Autistic Boy Labeled as 'Sex Offender for Life' After Hugging Classmate

Welcome to America, where children are given full control of the reins when it comes to their sexuality, but one child hugging another is considered a sexual offense.

Nathan Putnam, a five-year-old autistic boy from East Ridge, Tennessee has been branded a "sex offender" after he hugged one classmate and kissed another on the cheek.

His family claims that an East Ridge Elementary teacher accused the little boy of "sexual activities," and that the boy would be "labeled a sex predator" for the rest of his life.

Metro reports:

The youngster’s family believe Nathan was reported to the State of Tennessee over his behavior, although school spokesman Tim Hensley told DailyMail.com that Nathan’s family ‘is not sharing the full context of the concerns’ raised by the school. He added that no punishment had been meted out to the child.

Nathan's grandmother, Debi Amick, wrote on Facebook:"What do you do when a 5 year child is being labeled a sexual predator and accused of sexual harassment by the school system?"

"It was disclosed that it will go in his record for the rest of his life that he is a sex offender," she added, ‘This child is autistic, he comprehends and functions very different than your typical 5 year."

"Who do you turn to for help when the school will not even listen to the child’s doctor when he explains the child’s difficulties in his comprehension of simple things such as boundaries," Amick concluded.

Summery Putman, Nathan's mother, told WTVC that she felt nauseous when she found out what was going on: ”I was sick to my stomach because first of all don’t you understand he’s a 5-year-old He’s a child."

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The teacher allegedly told Nathan's mother that she needed to have a talk with him "about boundaries."

"I talked to him. I said, 'You can't hug children.'" Putnam recalled, "He said: 'Why?' I said, 'Because, Nathan, it's not allowed.'"

She added, "If you don’t understand how autism works you’ll think he’s acting out or being defiant. But that’s not the situation."