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In Michigan, 17 year olds can be arrested and incarcerated. The age gap, while not so severe as others, is very problematic. My experience indicates that it is not so much as the maturity of the 14/15 year old, as the immaturity of the 18 year old. The parents of the girl have the right to restrict his contact. As long as they are legally responsible for the girl they have every right to get a retraining order.
I think a little more investigation will reveal that this is a high risk relationship of which has resulted in violence in similar cases. I have dealt directly and indirectly with similar situations, and they generally do not end nicely.
I know how difficult it is to restrict communication of your juvenile with others. Both my wife and I are required to have phones for our employement, so shutting off the phone is not an option. Email is much more easily controlled with password controls.
The 18 year knew the ramifications of his continued contact and yet he still defied the court order as well as the girls parents. If he had even a smidgeon of respect for the girl, he would have either terminated the relationship OR attempted to start over and work with whatever restrictions the parents put in place. The fact that he lied to her parents basically screws him in my book! This shows he had no respect for her or her parents. I think the restraining order was well justified. I have recommended this action in the past and will do so in the future for similar situations.

this is a high risk relationship of which has resulted in violence in similar cases

Actually, it's "textbook" activity. Control freaks, immature boys showing their "manhood", etc. are the usual culprits and yes, it does evolve into violence on occasion.