Legal Question in Discrimination Law in Massachusetts

underage dating
Hi I live in massachusetts and I'm 19 years old and I like a girl that is 14 almost 15, she likes me just the same, we have know eachother for over a year because my friend dated her older sister, is it legal to date the younger sister, there would be no sexual intercourse, just kissing and the normal holding hands and stuff, I would greatly apprecialte any advice u could give me, and if it helps, we both have said we love eachother, thank you for your time

Asked on 2/06/09, 2:11 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Gregory Lee Gregory P. Lee, Attorney at Law

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Re: underage dating

You are in for a world of woe, even if you actually manage to keep it out of the bedroom. Dating isn't illegal, but the age gap makes this highly questionable.

First off, statutory rape and indecent assault on a minor are issues. The absolute minimal age of consent for sexual intercourse is 16 -- but if the child is "previously chaste," meaning "a virgin," she can't consent to have sex with you even then.

If you slip in a moment of passion, and later things blow up, you face possible prosecution. Hewck even if you DON'T slip, and things later blow up, you can be lied about. Either way, you could wind up charged with a FELONY.

Her parents should be against this, and yours should be, too. You are legally an adult, she is not. This is the sort of situation which has a HIGH likelihood of ending badly for you. Bridgewater "Treatment" Center (the prison to which the convicted male sex offenders go) is -not- a good place for an apparently naive young man, no matter how good his intentions.

Answered on 2/06/09, 9:25 am

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