My son is in federal prison because he crossed state lines. For over two years he had been friends with a girl he met on the internet. When he was 21 and she was in high school, after 2 years of phone calls, letters and chatting, they fell in love.
I know it was stupid, but they were both very serious about the relationship.
My son repeatedly asked her parents if he could come meet them and meet the girl in person. They always said no. The girl convinced him that he could come visit and she would sneak away and no one would know. It didn’t work.
He was aware she was under age and he deserves some punishment. I just don’t think my son deserves 10 years in prison and another 10 on probation and to be treated as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Federal prisoners are eligible for a possible early release after serving 85% of their sentence.