Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

Re: Minor Laws

The relationship is completely frought with illegalities. Any touching between them opens the 23 year old up to serious Criminal Sexual Conduct charges which are proven very easily and have no good defenses. This is a nightmare waiting to happen. www.kliszlaw.com Tim Klisz

Re: Minor Laws

I think you're more than a little naive. If you wait until he gets her pregnant, everyone concerned will be sorry something wasn't done about this sooner including the 23 year old creep who will do serious time in prison.

Re: Minor Laws

Obviously, society frowns on a relationship of any kind with the ages you've indicated. But there is a difference between 'morality' and 'legality'. Many people would oppose -- on moral grounds -- what you report is going on. But there is no law prohibiting a platonic friendship, or the adult "treating her good".

One "law" that might become involved here is the crime of Criminal Sexual Conduct. Anyone under 16 years of age is legally incapable of 'consenting' to sexual conduct (touching or penetration ... not just "sleeping together"). So, if the 23-yr old is engaging in any kind of sexualized conduct with her, he is risking being prosecuted and facing a 25-yr sex offender registration. But, whether he is prosecuted depends on (i) law enforcement being alerted to a possible crime having already occurred, (ii) legally-admissible facts supporting a charge being uncovered, and (iii) a prosecutor opting to issue a charge.

There may be other possible crimes, depending on the provable facts -- e.g., contributing to the delinquency of a minor, harboring a runaway, furnishing a minor with alcohol, etc.

My natural skepticism raises concerns that this guy (who may not be technically violating a criminal law today) is "grooming" the young lady by "treating her good" ... and will eventually / soon exploit his position.