By the way,the law says "innocent until proven guilty".Got a better system?
I do have one serious question for you,too:
The girls says he did it;he says he didn't. How do you propose we get to the truth?
Take your time!
That's easy, we arrest him, publically humiliate him, threaten him and have a witch-hunt. Never ever consider the validity of the sole witness. It's ever so much fun. Oh, wait; that's what you want to do.
How about we establish whether there is any evidence that a crime was actually committed? The charge is "Statuatory Rape". Then, let's see if he knew the 'victim's age; oh wait, she admitted that she told him that she was 19. So, what do you have left? Oh, yeah; her word against his as to whether anyting sexual really took place; and no evidence to show either way.
How does "He said, She said" work in every other case in court, in the US? If you don't have evidence, you don't have a crime.
Not much time needed. I propose a vigorous, thorough investigation, a trial, and a sentence if convicted.
I am not defending this individual. I am defending the best juris prudence system yet devised. We agree that innocence until guilt is proven is the law - I say we should approach this case following the law.
Finally, there is one aspect I do find troubling about all of this. If the girl misrepresented her age (assuming she appears as though she could have been legal) and they engaged in consensual sex, then I am troubled that he could be convicted of statutory based on her lie (about being 19). That, however, is an issue with the law, not with the facts in this case.
It would trouble me much more if they had met in a bar - which is a (presumably) age restrictive environment.
If the only evidence is her testimony, I do not know if the truth can be found, given that she has already admitted to having lied about her age.
In the end, I sincerely hope the truth will win out, with a hearty serving of true justice for all involved.