Interesting to note, I looked it up online. Not the best source, but this is BG. Bolded and italicized key points. These are not exceptions to the law, but defense motions that are pursued.
Ages of consent in North America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I looked up Arizona because that is where I am from, the rest are listed there.
The age of consent in Arizona is 18. However there exist in the legislation defenses to prosecution if the defendant is close in age to the "victim" or a spouse of the "victim". Note: these are not close in age exceptions but defenses at court. Arizona Revised Statute 13-1405(A)
13-1407 (Defenses)
* B. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to sections 13-1404 and 13-1405 in which the victim's lack of consent is based on incapacity to consent because the victim was fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age if at the time the defendant engaged in the conduct constituting the offence the defendant did not know and could not reasonably have known the age of the victim.
* D. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to section 13-1404 or 13-1405 that the person was the spouse (legally married AND cohabiting) of the other person at the time of commission of the act...
* F. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to section 13-1405 if the victim is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, the defendant is under nineteen years of age or attending high school and is no more than twenty-four months older than the victim and the conduct is consensual.
Pretty interesting defenses. However, it is up to the judge and the case the defense builds. Other states have clear exemptions though. Example: The age of consent in the District of Columbia is 16 with a close in age exemption for those within four years of age.
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