Can a 17 year old date someone older?

In California, the age of consent is 18. For example, if a teenager is 17-years-of-age or younger, he or she cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Therefore, if an adult age 18 or older has sex with someone who is 17 or younger, they can face criminal charges under Californias statutory rape law.

What age difference is illegal?

What Is the Age of Consent? Federal law makes it criminal to engage in a sexual act with another person who is between the age of 12 and 16 if they are at least four years younger than you. Each state takes a different approach as the age of consent has ranged from 10 to 18.