Can an 18-Year-Old Adult Date a Minor

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Colorado and Florida (I live in Colorado, she is in Florida)

I met a girl on the Internet and we have become really good friends. She is 18 and I am 16. We want to 'date' as well as one can over the Internet and wanted to make sure we were legal. Is there a line that breaks the law and where is it? Is it ok to talk about... Sexual things? (I want to know just incase it comes to these things...) is it legal to send pictures that are like that? No my parents do not approve of these things. I just don't want to get her in trouble so any help is really appreciated...

-Ethan

If it's okay with her parents AND you keep away from sexual conversations, it's fine. But you absolutely do not want to be having a sexual conversation with a minor, or someone who says she's a minor, over the internet across state lines. Trust me. You really, really do not want to do that. The consequences are very, very nasty and can result in your having to register as a sex offender.

ETA: Sorry, I first read it that you were the 18 year old. My mistake. But the same applies in reverse. If it's okay with your parents it's okay for you to "date" but she can find herself in very, very, very nasty legal hot water if the discussions are sexual in nature.

Naked pictures/video can pretty much guarantee a crime has been committed by both of you.

Ok, thank you for the reply. Good to know.

Generally is it not simply talking about sex that will cause problems.

Engaging in actual sexual activity on the other hand, might be a problem. That depends on the law of the state in which the sexual activity takes place. In Colorado, the age of consent is 17, but the law also allows for sex with a person age 16 if the adult is no more than 10 years older, i.e. no more than age 26. So, in Colorado there would not be a criminal problem if the two of you engaged in consensual sexual activity there. It appears that there is a similar law in Florida. The age of consent there is 18, but there is an exception allowing a person no older than age 23 to engage in consensual sex with a person age 16 or 17.

Note that sending or receiving nude photos or videos of a person under age 18, photos or videos displaying any kind of sexual activity with a person under age 18, including web cam conversations in which the person under age 18 engages in any kind of sexual activity will run afoul of federal and state child porn laws and can get both of you in really serious legal trouble.

Oh ok, that really clears it up. Thank you guys tons, I really appreciate the help.