Few would argue with the need to have laws to prevent adults from engaging in sexual activities with a child. Yet, sometimes the situation is not as straightforward as it might seem. The first thing you need to understand is the legal age of consent.
Under Colorado law, a person only becomes old enough to give their consent for sexual activity once they turn 17. It considers anyone younger than this to not have sufficient knowledge and experience to make such an important decision.
Obviously a lot of people have sex when they are younger than 17
Some states treat a case of someone having sex with someone under the legal age of consent as statutory rape. Colorado, however, takes a more realistic approach and accepts that lots of kids have sex. It makes certain allowances based on the age gap between the people involved. For example:
- It’s not illegal to have sex with someone who is under 15, provided that you are no more than four years older than them.
- It’s not illegal to have sex with someone who is 15 or 16, provided that you are no more than 10 years older than them
Those exceptions only apply in the case of consensual sex. They also don’t rule out the possibility of someone facing charges if the older person is believed to have enticed the other or abused a position of trust.
If you face charges related to sex with a minor, it’s crucial that you get legal help to learn more about how the law applies to your situation and to protect your rights.