if a person is caught having sex, or any other sexual act, with someone who is below the age of consent, the person may be punished as a sex offender. the violator may be sent to prison, or jail, or fined. in wisconsin having sex with a person beneath 16, a felony (serious crime), carries prison time, but having sex with a minor who is 16 or over but under 18, which is a misdemeanor (a non-serious crime), carries jail time and a fine. an example of punishing age of consent violations occurred in 2011, an american swimming teacher was sent to prison for 16 months for having sex with a 15-year-old student. the law usually applies to both males and females having sex with a minor.