16 yo in college wants to date 20 yo classmate

[BBY001]

I'm a 16 year old who happens to be a college sophomore.
I am being boarded by my parents at a dormitory several
hours away from home by rail.

There's a 20 year old girl I want to ask out. She's sweet,
shy, very bright, and I think worth my time.

Problem is, my state prosecutes
under-18/over-18 relationships even if both partners are
at least the age of consent, which is 16.

Can the fact that she and I are both in the same year of
college serve as a defense or even as a mitigating circumstance?
Could I plead leniency before the judge on her behalf during
sentencing on these grounds?

Are there any precedents at all for academic acceleration
placing a minor on a more equal footing with the other?

 

[Proserpina]

I'm a 16 year old who happens to be a college sophomore.
I am being boarded by my parents at a dormitory several
hours away from home by rail.

There's a 20 year old girl I want to ask out. She's sweet,
shy, very bright, and I think worth my time.

Problem is, my state prosecutes
under-18/over-18 relationships even if both partners are
at least the age of consent, which is 16.

Can the fact that she and I are both in the same year of
college serve as a defense or even as a mitigating circumstance?
Could I plead leniency before the judge on her behalf during
sentencing on these grounds?

Are there any precedents at all for academic acceleration
placing a minor on a more equal footing with the other?

(This assumes you're in the US)

Nope, none of those things matter.

 

[BigMouthWino]

I'm a 16 year old who happens to be a college sophomore.
I am being boarded by my parents at a dormitory several
hours away from home by rail.

There's a 20 year old girl I want to ask out. She's sweet,
shy, very bright, and I think worth my time.

Problem is, my state prosecutes
under-18/over-18 relationships even if both partners are
at least the age of consent, which is 16.

Can the fact that she and I are both in the same year of
college serve as a defense or even as a mitigating circumstance?
Could I plead leniency before the judge on her behalf during
sentencing on these grounds?

Are there any precedents at all for academic acceleration
placing a minor on a more equal footing with the other?

The question that appeared automatically when you went to post is highly relevant here: WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN?

**US LAW ONLY** if you are posting from another country we cannot help you.

 

[ecmst12]

And honestly, if she has any interest in dating a child, she's not someone you'd want to be dating anyway.

 

[BigMouthWino]

And honestly, if she has any interest in dating a child, she's not someone you'd want to be dating anyway.

Specifically it is important for people to date within their "peer groups." In this case OP and the target of OP's love interest are in the same peer group. What makes a 20 year old dating a 16 year old sickening is that they typically are at VASTLY different stages of life development. That is not the case here.

 

[BBY001]

1) I'd just as soon not mention my state.
Consider it a given that all states would
prosecute a 4 year age difference.

2) Girls my own age or who are in high
school are like children compared to me.
I want to date someone I can talk with.

3) It seems minors are charged as adults
when they commit crimes. Can't they
be recognized as adults for being
hard working and responsible?

 

[BigMouthWino]

1) I'd just as soon not mention my state.
Consider it a given that all states would
prosecute a 4 year age difference.

2) Girls my own age or who are in high
school are like children compared to me.
I want to date someone I can talk with.

3) It seems minors are charged as adults
when they commit crimes. Can't they
be recognized as adults for being
hard working and responsible?

We don't assume anything, if you're not willing to tell us what state you're in we cannot help you.

 

[Proserpina]

1) I'd just as soon not mention my state.
Consider it a given that all states would
prosecute a 4 year age difference.

2) Girls my own age or who are in high
school are like children compared to me.
I want to date someone I can talk with.

3) It seems minors are charged as adults
when they commit crimes. Can't they
be recognized as adults for being
hard working and responsible?

No, really - the State absolutely does matter. We cannot use your presumption since it's just not accurate.

 

[ecmst12]

The sucky thing about going to college early is that you are not going to be on the same legal level as well as the same place in life as your classmates.

 

[BBY001]

The sucky thing about going to college early is that you are not going to be on the same legal level as well as the same place in life as your classmates.

Indeed. They should change the law so that people like us don't die from loneliness

 

[BBY001]

We don't assume anything, if you're not willing to tell us what state you're in we cannot help you.

Parents' residence in NJ, College in PA. Who has jurisdiction?

 

[Zigner]

Indeed. They should change the law so that people like us don't die from loneliness

THIS is exactly why the laws exist. To protect children such as yourself.

 

[Zigner]

Parents' residence in NJ, College in PA. Who has jurisdiction?

The state that the crime occurs in.

 

[BBY001]

THIS is exactly why the laws exist. To protect children such as yourself.

Don't you understand humor when you see it?

You'd have to have quite a sense of humor to be walking in my shoes.

I don't see how my comment could have betrayed me as
having the judgement of a child.

That said, based on my capabilities, just what do I need protection from?

 

[ecmst12]

Legally you are a child. Accept it.