Tell your sons

If you have sex, even if it’s wholly consensual, and she later claims rape, you’re spending time in jail.

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – Four New York men were released from jail Wednesday and authorities dismissed charges that they gang-raped a Hofstra University student after the 18-year-old woman recanted her story.

“I’m so happy the truth finally came out,” said Stalin Felipe, 19, outside the Nassau County Jail in East Meadow where he and the other three had just been released Wednesday night.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement late Wednesday that the woman told law enforcement officials that the sex encounter in a dormitory men’s room was consensual.

They were arrested Sunday – that’s four full days in jail – and faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted. True, the story doesn’t tell us what happened at the bail hearing. Still, four days in jail…for nothing.

And that’s hardly the worst that could have happened. In this case, the woman recanted. If she hadn’t, the case would have come down to he-said, she-said. And when that happens, your entire future depends on whose lawyer can spin a better story for the jury.

And even if you win, your reputation is trashed. Forever. You and/or your family has spent thousands upon thousands of dollars that you will very likely never, ever recoup. Just the emotional trauma of being accused. Going through it. Your family going through it.

Is it worth it? No. But: how many young men are thinking about consequences early Sunday morning after a night out at the clubs?