Where a consensual sex act has occurred, but one partner is under the legal age of consent.  The most common form of this is a boyfriend or girlfriend over the age of 18 who has sex with their partner who is 15 or younger.  The charges are usually brought by the parents.  However, you can be accused of Statutory Rape if you inadvertently have sexual relations with someone under the age of consent.  Even if you did not know the age of your partner and honestly thought them to be of legal age, you can be arrested, tried and even convicted of this crime. 

Depending on the state and the number of years separating the accused and the “child” and the state in which you are accused, you can be sentenced to anywhere from 1 year to life in prison without possibility of parole.   Most states do not consider Statutory Rape it's own classification, but instead class it under either misdemeanor or felony statutes of sexual assault.  It is imperative that if you are accused of this sort of crime that you retain a lawyer.  Remain silent until your lawyer has arrived.  Your attorney will defend your rights and provide for your defense.