In Florida, the legal age of consent is 18. Sexual intercourse with a minor (someone younger than 18) is considered statutory rape, which is a serious crime. The only exception to the legal age of consent is the so-called Romeo and Juliet law, which is a close-in-age exception. This Florida law states that minors who are 16 or 17 years old can consent to sexual activity with someone no more than 23 years old. If the adult is age 24 or older, it is considered statutory rape. Penalties for violating age of consent laws include imprisonment and fines. The penalties for violating age of consent laws vary depending on the specific charge and the age of the parties involved. For example, unlawful sexual activity with certain minors includes sexual penetration (with an object or body part) involving a minor who is 16 or 17 and an adult who is at least 24 years old. This offense is a second-degree felony, with penalties including up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. It is important to note that consent of the 16 or 17-year-old does not matter, it’s not an element of the crime like it is under the Sexual Battery statute.