Statutory Rape Question?

So I know this guy who was convicted of statutory rape. At the time in which this happened he was dating a younger girl, but he was only 18 (they were high-school sweethearts). So now he has to carry that label around forever, just because he got the girl pregnant and the mom decided to press charges. Does this mean he is a bad person? Should he have to carry around the title of a rapist for the rest of his life? He is still in contact with the girl, so obviously she has no hard feelings. Should the law be more strict as to who is convicted of such crimes? I hear all the time about this sort of thing happening to 18 and 19 year old kids. Is it fair that they are charged with such crimes if their significant other is like 15 or 16? I know that the age a person becomes an adult is 18, but until a person turns 20, they are still a teenager (in my opinion). I just think that the law might be a little bit unfair at times.