The eyewitness testimonies and videos were devastating to her rape claims. About the only thing that could explain what happened is she was roofied and that's why she doesn't remember anything. But without toxicology there's no way to prove that, much less who gave it to her. But I still don't believe that Araiza was there when the stuff inside the house happened and her claiming she was 18 and/or was attending the local CC, plus looking like she could be 18, gives him cover for the statutory rape charge.
Did anyone really believe that she told people she was 17? Or that after having sex with her he stuck around to gang rape her with his buddies?
And if it had happened in 40 other states where you're legal at 17, it's not even a blip. So the NYS thing shouldn't factor.