[Scotswife]

“There are different charges for have sex with a 15 year old than with someone under the age of 14.”

I didn’t realize that. I know when we get notices about released offenders they are assigned different levels according to how dangerous they are.
Must be the younger the victim is - the higher their danger level?

And then the laws are different according to the state.
Gets very confusing.

[nufsed]

Most states distinguish between sex with a minor and sex with a child under a certain age. Consider a 19 year old having sex with a 17 year old. Most states differentiate that from having sex with a prepubescent child. And as far as I recall, the penalties are harsher for the latter. And rightly so, IMO.

There is also a tradition from not to long ago that girls who have gone through puberty can marry. That, when people died a lot earlier. Or you're out on the frontier and no e-harmony.com

[nufsed]

Regarding offender level, I would think age of victim would be one consideration. Another would be violence, physically controlling the victim, pattern in locations, and perhaps a few more.

My wife was stalked by one of her ex-caseload. She began concealed carrying in her college classroom after he showed up at the door of the classroom one day.

When she investigated, the guy, who was a child mollester, was living a block from a school against his parole conditions. They snatched him up to serve out his full sentence.