Fine points of the law

On successive days in January in the courthouse in Sheboygan, Wis., 17-year-old Alan Jepsen and 17-year-old Norma Guthrie were each charged with sexual assault for having consensual sex with their respective 14-year-old, opposite-sex companions. However, Mr. Jepsen was charged with a felony (maximum: 25 years in prison), and Ms. Guthrie was charged with a misdemeanor (maximum, 9 months).