Lawmakers Vote to Expand Age Range in Rape Laws

The Kentucky House has passed a bill to expand rape statutes to include instances when older adults have sex with 16 or 17 year olds.
 
The measure would declare that 16 and 17 year olds are incapable of giving consent to sex with adults aged 28 or older. The bill passed the House Thursday and goes to the Senate.
 
Such adults could be prosecuted for third-degree rape when having sexual intercourse with a 16 or 17 year old. Such an offense is punishable by one to five years in prison. Rep. Jason Petrie says the goal of his bill is to provide more protections for youngsters.
 
But Rep. Attica Scott worried an adult could still "use their ignorance" of a youngster's age as a defense.