Q: Can a 21-year-old be prosecuted for getting a 17-year-old pregnant in Florida?
I'm 17 years old and currently living with my 21-year-old boyfriend in Florida. We are in a consensual relationship with my parents' knowledge. If I become pregnant, will my boyfriend face any legal issues or prosecution?
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A:
You two fall under the "close in age" section of Florida law. Your boyfriend will not be prosecuted so long as the activity is consensual. Here is an excerpt from our firm's blog:
A narrow exception exists under the “close-in-age” exemption found in Section 794.05, Florida Statutes. This exemption prevents the criminalization of relationships between young individuals close in age. Specifically, if both parties are at least 16 years old and the accused is under 24 years of age, this defense may apply. However, if the accused is significantly older, the exemption does not apply, leading to severe penalties, including mandatory sex offender registration.
Best wishes to you both.
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