Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Michigan

So, for awhile now my long distance girlfriend and I have been wanting to get her to travel here. However, recently my counselor said that, because we met on the internet, if she comes and visits me and we kiss or hug or touch, even, even if we don't have sex, it's still considered interstate trafficking, which is a felony. I'm 18 as of five days ago, and she's 14, almost 15. We've been in a mature and healthy relationship for 6 months now (I know that doesn't really matter in the eyes of the court, but it's not a situation where she's unwilling, or where I'm conning her into thinking I'm someone else, or taking advantage of her.)which apparently means that any "sexual contact" (which seems to be classified as any contact at all, but especially couple-y things like kissing or hugging) is a felony as the law sees it as a case of me "trafficking" her over for sexual purposes. This is all according to my counselor, who said that a police officer in our area had done an internet sweep a few years back and somehow discovered two people who had done that and the one considered an adult had been charged with a felony (they didn't specify as to whether this was some random sweep or a search and seizure based on evidence)

I guess I just want to know how much of this is true and how much, if any is scare tactic. We also want to know if this changes when she's the age of consent (which is 16 in both our states) or whether it doesn't change until she turns 18. Are there any alternatives? What if I visit her?

Not being able to be sexual is fine with us, but not being able to touch, kiss, hug, or even possibly see each other in person for the next three and a half years seems really harsh. I should add that we're in a lesbian relationship, but I'm transgender, and while my name is changed, I'm still legally considered male, I think (the gender marker hasn't been changed)

All these laws just seem really confusing and we'd just like to sort out for sure what is and is not okay, because all sorts of different sources seem to be saying different things.


Asked on 12/13/13, 3:49 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Timothy Klisz Klisz Law Office, PLLC

Yes it's illegal and treated very harshly in Michigan. Just stay away from anyone under 16 or face certain trouble.

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Answered on 12/13/13, 7:39 pm
William Morrison Action Defense Center

DEAR FUTURE PRISON INMATE: First of all it's completely possible that you are communicating with an adult male police officer who is trolling for fools like you on the internet. He may have already contacted the Ann Arbor police in preparation for your arrest and has a complete record of your internet conversations. If this is not the case,clearly you don't know anything about 14 year old girls. Any adult male who puts his future in the hands of the capricious nature of this child is an idiot. Have you told your mother about her yet?

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Answered on 12/13/13, 8:15 pm


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