Coined the “ Romeo and Juliet” law after the young Shakespearean lovers, the measure is intended to protect teens who engage in consensual sexual activity with a peer who is just above or below that age threshold. There are limited exceptions for when a minor has sex with an adult who is close in age. We’ve seen instances where high school seniors face second-degree felonies for sexual contact with freshmen. Often, we’re talking about two young people who both willingly participated in the relationship, but neither fully grasped the consequences.
The minor’s obvious consent is not relevant, and that’s what makes so many of these cases heartbreaking. The statutory rape law in Florida is clear: It is illegal for an adult over the age of 18 to have sex with a minor who is younger than 18.