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Hillsborough, N.C. — A Durham school bus driver accused of having a lengthy relationship with an Orange County teen has been charged with statutory rape , authorities said.
Mark Malone Davis, 41, of 260 Cornelius St. in Hillsborough, was charged with three counts of statutory rape and two counts of statutory sex offense. He was being held in the Orange County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
An 18-year-old girl told authorities she and Davis had been sexually involved since she was 15, authorities said. She met him when he gave her piano lessons, authorities said, and the relationship came to light after the girl became pregnant this year.
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August 3, 2007 8:53 p.m.
§ 14‑27.7A. Statutory rape or sexual offense of person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old.
(a) A defendant is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with another person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old and the defendant is at least six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.
(b) A defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with another person who is 13, 14, or 15 years old and the defendant is more than four but less than six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person. (1995, c. 281, s. 1.)
August 3, 2007 7:45 p.m.
August 3, 2007 6:24 p.m.
Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,
The age of consent is 16, as long as the partner is no more than 4 years older than the 16 year old. A 20 year old can be with a 16 year old. The law is similar for 17 year olds -- a 21 year old can be with a 17 year old.
That's my understanding of the law. I used to know a guy that said if he ever doubted a girl's age, he would check out her license before dating her. He knew a cop that told him how that law works.
August 3, 2007 6:23 p.m.
August 3, 2007 6:04 p.m.