Currently Minnesota law does not protect our minors from older predators. In fact, it protect predators by defining age of consent at 16 years old (example: a 16 year old can have sex with a 35 year old and the 35 year old is completely protected by the law.) The current law leaves no legal recourse for a parent to take actions against an adult who has engaged in sexual activities with a minor. As parents we know how our children need guidance, issues like sex are difficult enough to deal with without the persuasion from an older adult / predator to confuse the situation.

The law that age of consent is defined in is Minnesota Statute 609.345, Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree.  There are three paragraphs that define what is illegal. However, this leaves what the definition of legal open without interpretation.

·   MN Statue 609.345 (b) DEFINES THE AGE OF CONSENT BY IDENTIFING WHAT IS ILLEGAL FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 (a) the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant or in a position of authority over the complainant. Consent by the complainant to the act is not a defense. In any such case, if the actor is no more than 120 months older than the complainant, it shall be an affirmative defense which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor reasonably believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older. In all other cases, mistake as to thecomplainant's age shall not be a defense;MN Statue 609.345 (e –f ) OVER 16 BUT UNDER18 AND WITHIN 48 MONTH BUT THE PERPERTATOR IS IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY OR IN A SPEICAL RELATIONSHIP (i.e. clergy; psychotherapist; employee, volunteer, independent contractor of a correctional or treatment facility; an individual who provides special transportation; performs message or another bodywork for hire)

·    (e) the complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense;

·   (f) the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was at least 16 but under 18 years of age at the time of the sexual contact. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense