Could She Go to Jail and Lose the Baby

[keekee713]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: VA or TN

My cousin slept with a 15 year old boy when she was 19. She is now 20 & he is 16. She is pregnant and thinks the baby might be his. How long do his parents have to file changes if they decide to? She lives in VA, he lives in TN. Mentally, she is not 20, would that have anything to do with it?

[aardvarc]

It doesn't matter where they LIVE, it matters which state the crime took place within. For EITHER state, the statute of limitations doesn't start ticking until the child she had sex with turns 18. From there the number of years of the statute of limitations is state-dependent, along with other factors, such as whether she was an authority figure over him or not.

And, it doesn't have to be his parents pressing charges. ANYONE can notify the state about the victimization and the STATE is the one who brings the criminal charge on behalf of the victim, whether the parents want a criminal case to proceed or not.

Her mental state might play a factor at sentencing. It WON'T stop the state from BRINGING a criminal charge against her.

[Dogmatique]

Mentally, how old IS she?

Yes, there's a reason I'm asking.