One sex offense resulting in damaging consequences for many young men and women is often referred to as statutory rape.

This crime is different from other violations is that the alleged sex may be consensual.

Statutory rape involves sexual relations between one or two individuals who are below the age of consent.

In Florida, the age of consent is 18, anyone who engages in sexual relations with someone under the age of 18 is violating the law and subject to sex offender laws.

Due to the potential unfairness of the law, some states have adopted the "Romeo and Juliet" laws,  allowing a boyfriend or girlfriend to avoid being punished for engaging in consensual sexual intercourse if  less than four years older than the minor.

Florida operates under this law.

In addition to exposure to probation, prison and fines, the possibility of a lifetime as a registered sex offender exists with certain charges.

For more than 30 years, Bradley Collins has aggressively defended Sexual Battery and Statutory Rape cases.