What is the difference between sexual battery and statutory rape?

Daddy’s Princess <3: What is the difference between sexual battery and statutory rape?
There was recently a sex offender on the news, he was charged with sexual battery for having sex with his underage girlfriend…but how come that isn’t statutory rape? What is the difference?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Bruce
The actual definition is determined by state law, so you would have to identify where this happened.

As a general rule, battery is assault. That tells me force was used or threatened.

Statutory rape simply means one or both were below the legal age of consent, even if no force was used.

Answer by Mr Placid
“Sexual Battery” typically means sexual contact short of intercourse.

“Rape” requires actual intercourse.