Can a 20 year old date a 16 year old in New Mexico?
The age of consent in New Mexico is 17 years of age. If an adult, or an individual who is over the age of 18, has sex with a minor between 13 and 16 years of age, that adult can be prosecuted for 4th-degree criminal sexual penetration.
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The purpose of statutory rape laws is to help prevent teenage pregnancies. Generally speaking, an 18-year-old can date a 16-year-old provided that the relationship is not sexual. If the relationship becomes sexual, then it could be illegal depending on the state.
As a general rule, I recommend the “half your age plus 7” as the minimum age for your partner. At 43, half is 21.5 plus seven makes 28.5, so a 28–29 year old would be the youngest appropriate partner.