Q: If I'm 17 amd my boyfriend just turned 21, could he get in trouble since I'm not 18?
A: For what precisely? Here's the lay of the land. First, Ohio's age of consent is 16, unless the adult is in a position of authority over the child such as a coach, counselor, or boss, in which case it is 18. A private, consensual sexual relationship is legal, not a great idea, but legal unless he is in a position of authority over you. Second, there are still lots of ways for him to get in trouble. Other state's have a different age of consent, and federal laws concerning trafficking children are quite serious. A romantic getaway to another state where the age of consent is 18 could lead to both federal and state charges. Be careful. Third, contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a crime. So things like buying you alcohol or drugs could get him into extra trouble. Also, a routinely disobedient child may be found delinquent. If your relationship causes a lot of problems with your parents, he is at risk. Finally, and this is probably most important, creation, solicitation, possession, and distribution of child pornography is illegal. Until you turn 18, any sexually explicit images or video of you is child porn. Just don't do it.
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