What's the matter with Kansas? Catching up to Jawja.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=nation_world&id=4145382


Kansas lawmakers raise marriage age to 15

(Topeka, Kan.-AP, May 5, 2006) - Kansas may have seen the last of its child brides.
After a pregnant 14-year-old from Nebraska drove to Kansas last year to marry her 22-year-old boyfriend, now serving time for having sex with the minor, Kansas lawmakers decided it was time the set a minimum marriage age.

On Thursday, the Kansas House vote 119-0 to approve a bill that would prohibit anyone under the age of 15 from marrying in Kansas and would set strict limits for would-be brides or grooms under the age of 18. The Senate approved it a day earlier, 36-4.

Under the legislation, requested by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a 15-year-old could marry only if a district court judge decided it was in that person's best interest.

(snip)

Last month, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue set 16 as that state's minimum marriage age after a 37-year-old woman married a 15-year-old boy, a friend of her teenage son. Lisa Lynnette Clark pleaded guilty in March to statutory rape and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Looks older than 15 to me.

He's a fat guy who smells like oregano!

I'm wondering--if these couples ARE legally married, how can the older one (the 22 or the 37 year old) be convicted for having sex with them?

Is/was it possible in these states to be married to a minor, but still illegal to have sex with said minor?

And where did parental permission come into this? I thought it was necessary even in states that allowed minors to get married.