Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

Re: Teenage Staturoy Rape

As you will note from the below statute, although he can be charged, it is an affirmative defense that there was less than 3 years difference in age, and that there was no force or duress. Most counties would not file charges in this case.

� 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD.

(a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years and not the person's spouse, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person:

(1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or

(2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:

(A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or

(B) causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of the child's genitals.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor:

(1) was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex;

(2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offense; and

(3) at the time of the offense:

(A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or

(B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section.

(c) In this section, "sexual contact" means the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person:

(1) any touching by a person, including touching through clothing, of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a child; or

(2) any touching of any part of the body of a child, including touching through clothing, with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a person.

(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree and an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a felony of the third degree.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, � 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 472, ch. 202, � 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1028, � 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, � 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1415, � 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 739, � 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.