[rdevwill]

My niece is 17 and dating a boy that is 18, she got pregnant and is keeping the baby, her and the boy are staying together and when he gets back to calif they are going to get married. However her father isn't and hasn't been in the picture for the last 15 years and she is afraid to tell him, she's afraid he will turn the guy in. How long would he have to file charges against him. My niece wants to tell her Dad but is terrified he will send her babies father to jail.

[J_9]

What state does your niece live in? It may NOT be statutory rape. She may be above the age of consent for her state.

[rdevwill]

She lives in California, we are all behing her including her Grandparents on her fathers side, but her father has a really bad temper and can be considered a threat to her and the boy if he ever found out, I know it can be reported but how long do you actually have to report something like this if it gets out to her Dad

[GlindaofOz]

Age of consent in CA is 18 and the statute of limitations on misdemeanor statutory rape is one year. So even if they continue to have sex up until she is 18 her father (or anyone) could press charges until she was 19.

[s_cianci]

In some states, 17 is considered the age for consent, in other states not. Try to find out what California law stipulates. Her only other option is to not tell her father if she's really afraid that he'll make unwanted trouble. If he really hasn't been in the picture for the last 15 years then it probably isn't totally unreasonable for her not to tell him anyway.

[nauticalstar420]

The age of consent in California is 18. That is my home state :)

[GV70]

Statutory rape-Sexual activity that is criminal based upon the relative ages of the victim and the actor, regardless of whether the activity was consensual because the law presumes that persons below a stated age are unable to legally consent
In California the age of consent is 18.The statute of limitations is one year.