Romeo and Juliet laws say it is not always a crime to have sex with a minor. The purpose is to decriminalize teenage sex. Such laws generally allow someone over 14 to consent to sex, but only with someone who is no more than three years older. California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law.
In California, it is illegal for anyone to engage in sex with a minor. Even another minor. The only exception is if the parties are married. A minor cannot legally marry in California without a court order. See Family Code 302.
Age of consent means the age at which a person can legally consent to sexual intercourse. There is no age of consent in California. A person over 18 is an adult, a person under 18 is a minor.
In California, there is a Romeo and Juliet exemption for consensual sex between a minor and a person who is three or fewer years older or younger. However, this is a limited exception because it serves to reduce the conduct from a felony to a misdemeanor offense. The conduct is still illegal, but someone protected by this exception will face the possibility of smaller fines and reduced jail time.
I think they’re consistent, it’s just that the first article doesn’t consider the law mentioned in the second article as a real Romeo and Juliet law as it still considers it a crime.
According to this result they do not:
https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/blog/criminal-defense/does-california-have-a-romeo-and-juliet-law/
But according to a different one:
https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/california-statutory-rape-laws.htm
I think they’re consistent, it’s just that the first article doesn’t consider the law mentioned in the second article as a real Romeo and Juliet law as it still considers it a crime.