That’s true, laws differ on this, and in some cases there is a legal distinction not because statutory rape is OK but because forcible rape is so much worse. In

That’s true, laws differ on this, and in some cases there is a legal distinction not because statutory rape is OK but because forcible rape is so much worse. In the US, the scenario might be very similar to what you describe except with explicit plea bargaining between the prosecution and defense. In fact the prosecution would probably try to charge forcible rape anyway just so they can negotiate down to statutory rape.