It is a pity that criminal courts are not equally worried about the needs of the child. They jail the adult breadwinner in statutory “rape” cases between loving long term partners, leaving the child with only the minor mother (or father) and no financial support.

After paternity was proven, the court decided that, because the man intentionally engaged in a sexual act with the woman, he was in fact liable to support the child. State_of_Louisiana_v._Frisard

This State’s interest in requiring minor parents to support their children overrieds the State’s competing interest in protecting juveniles from improvident acts, even when such acts may include criminal activity on the part of the other parent…. This minor child, the only truly innocent party, is entitled to support from both her parents regardless of their ages.

The law should not except Nathaniel J. from this responsibility because he is not an innocent victim of Jones’s criminal acts. After discussing the matter, he and Jones had sexual intercourse approximately five times over a two week period. [ . . . ]

One who is injured as a result of a criminal act in which he willingly participated is not a typical crime victim. It does not necessarily follow that he is a victim of sexual abuse.

Woman rapes unconscious man Man must pay child support.