Under New York Penal Law, it is illegal for an adult of age 18 or older to have any kind of sexual contact with a person under 17 years of age, regardless of whether the encounter was consensual. Generally speaking, there are three different offenses a person accused of sexually abusing a minor may be charged with under New York Penal Law, all of which have various degrees of severity.
Under NYPL §§130.55 through 130.65, any sexual contact with a minor can be considered criminal sexual abuse. Third-degree and second-degree sexual abuse are misdemeanor offenses, while first-degree sexual abuse—sexual contact with a minor under 11, or with a minor under 13 if the perpetrator is over 21—is a class D felony.
A criminal sexual act entails oral or anal sexual contact with a minor, as per NYPL §§130.40 through 130.50. Depending on the ages of the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator, this offense could be classified as anywhere from a Class E felony to a Class B felony.
Finally, there are three degrees of rape defined in NYPL §§130.25 through 130.35, all of which are felony offenses. First-degree rape of a child under 11—or a child under 13 if the perpetrator is an adult—carries a prison sentence of five to 25 years upon conviction.
Under New York Penal Law, it is illegal for an adult of age 18 or older to have any kind of sexual contact with a person under 17 years of age, regardless of whether the encounter was consensual. Generally speaking, there are three different offenses a person accused of sexually abusing a minor may be charged with under New York Penal Law, all of which have various degrees of severity.
Under NYPL §§130.55 through 130.65, any sexual contact with a minor can be considered criminal sexual abuse. Third-degree and second-degree sexual abuse are misdemeanor offenses, while first-degree sexual abuse—sexual contact with a minor under 11, or with a minor under 13 if the perpetrator is over 21—is a class D felony.
A criminal sexual act entails oral or anal sexual contact with a minor, as per NYPL §§130.40 through 130.50. Depending on the ages of the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator, this offense could be classified as anywhere from a Class E felony to a Class B felony.
Finally, there are three degrees of rape defined in NYPL §§130.25 through 130.35, all of which are felony offenses. First-degree rape of a child under 11—or a child under 13 if the perpetrator is an adult—carries a prison sentence of five to 25 years upon conviction.
