Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

corruption of minor?

If a 16 yr old girl has consential sex with a 25 yr old,can he be charged with rape? she was 15 when they met and he says they only had sex when she was 16 and she got pregnant 3 months ''After'' her 16th birthday.she was not a virgin,and now he is being threatened that if he doesnt sign adoption papers he will be prosecuted.He knows she has been with other men and doesnt know if its his? He was told if he signs the papers without any hassles nothing will be done.If he creates problems he better have a good attorney.He cannot afford counsel and doesnt qualify for legal aide.Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.He was also told a private detective has pictures of her going into his home.What charges could be filed against him? Thank you


Asked on 8/26/04, 2:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: corruption of minor?

Who's threatening him?

Remember, even if he signs the papers, he could still be prosecuted. In addition, his signing of the papers could be used as evidence that ... since he said he was the father, and since she got pregnant at 16, he committed the crime of corruption of the morals of a minor.

You asked if he could be charged with rape. I'm assuming that you mean statutory rape since you said the sex was consented to.

The statutory rape statute basically is a +4 statute that ends at 16. So, if your friend had sex with her when she was 15, he could be prosecuted under the statute since he was older than 19. However, at 16, the statute no longer applies.

However, he could still be charged with corruption of the morals of a minor, one count for each time they had sex, one count for each time any number of other things happened.

If all the pictures are of is him going into a house, that's not going to go far unless he denies knowing her at all or denies she ever came to the house. Her testimony would be enough to convict, though.

With regard to the child, the choice is--sign the adoption papers or, if she keeps the child, pay child support.

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Answered on 8/26/04, 2:24 pm


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