IT's not rape, and not a big deal unless he published it, in my opinion. If he published it, I'd call it distribution of child porn.He's 21, it would fall within the Romeo and Juliet time if she was 17 his issue is not statutory rape (simple rape in CO) as he would not be able to make a sex tape with her until she was 18 because then you are making child porn and... well... that is sexploitation and will get him arrested... in fact it seems it did.
Basically, if you are 21 and your girlfriend is 17, wait for her birthday to make the sex tapes...
I did not read the article, did he publish it?