A state statute raises confusion about the legal age of consent for some crimes. The Michigan Supreme Court wants clarification.
The Michigan Supreme Court says the Legislature might want to clear up a conflict within the state’s laws.
Michigan’s age of consent for sexual intercourse is 16. But a separate statute that criminalizes child sexually abusive activity and material says that a “child” is a person under 18-years-old.
The court says this conflict in ages could have unintended consequences. Like criminalizing sexual behavior involving an otherwise consenting 16 and 17-year-old.
But the court couldn’t say for sure what the intent of the Legislature that wrote the law was.
The court didn’t release a formal opinion on the issue. But it commented on the confusion during an order denying consideration of an appeal.