Texas law contains several offenses related to sexual crimes involving children younger than 17. What Are the Penalties for Statutory Rape in Texas? Rather, it's the child's age that is important, as it determines whether that person can legally consent to sexual activities.
For these age-based sexual offenses, it's immaterial whether the child consented to the activity or not. Anyone who engages in sexual activity with a child younger than 17 risks being charged with sexual assault or a similar crime. The law is complex and changes regularly. If you are trying to determine the legality of any kind of conduct, make sure to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney. The information in this article provides an overview of the law relating to statutory rape offenses.