noblepa wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:21 pm
We had a case in my town, in which a high school boy, who had just passed his 18th birthday had sex with his girlfriend, who was a couple of months shy of hers. The difference in their ages is only a few months. They were in the same high school grade. Now he has to register as a sex offender wherever he goes.
Well, wherever that town might be, it certainly isn't in Ohio. In what state did this occur? Because I'm not aware of any states which do not have a moving age bracket - colloquially deemed a "Romeo and Juliet provision" - in their relevant statute.
If this story did take place in Ohio, it likely involved cell phone pictures. Because it has not been illegal for an 18 year old to have sex with a 17 year old in Ohio for a very long time if ever. It is not illegal for any adult in Ohio to have sex with a consenting 16 year old (provided there are not special circumstances like position of authority, etc.).
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-cod ... on-2907.04
(A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender, when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is reckless in that regard.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the fourth degree.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the offender is less than four years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the offender is ten or more years older than the other person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the third degree.
(4) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the second degree.