I get it, there's context which could diminish his culpability and the proportional punishment.I know everyone is saying he should have got shot, but from what I understand by watching only a single news program last night, It was a 17 year old boy and some 16 year old girls. If you guys are shooting guys for that and calling it statutory r8pe, I'm glad you weren't around when I was 17. Heck, I married one of those girls.
Are we sure this isn't a case of "17 year old boy has relations with multiple 16 year old girls. Later, girls claim they were r8ped"?
It seems as though you advocate for men sleeping with underage girls - as long as they are both close enough in age. To live in society, a person has to control their urges, in spite of age or marginal affiliation. One who cannot abide by a clearly communicated law needs to be reprimanded proportionally to the harm inflicted, and possibly put in a situation where he/she cannot inflict more harm. Honest, law-abiding people deserve to enjoy security for themselves, their property and their loved ones.
TLDR - Boys aren't dogs. Give them more credit. Teach them self control.