Statutory Sexual Assault is a very serious Sex Crimes charge. It is graded generally as a Felony of the second degree therefore punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Now Statutory Sexual Assault may also be graded as a felony of the first degree if the defendant engages in sexual intercourse with a person is under the age of 16 and there is more than 11 years difference in their age. Child Pornography A Felony of the first degree is punishable by 20 years in state prison and a $20,000 fine. Statutory Sexual Assault used to be called Statutory Rape in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, however that was later changed. Additionally, a conviction for this crime does not necessarily trigger a SORNA or Megan’s Law requirement. An individual convicted for this crime only must comply with Megan’s Law if there was more than an 8 year difference in age between the defendant and the alleged victim.
Sex Crimes such as Statutory Sexual Assault are generally defensible cases. Defenses when it comes to this charge are either that sex never occurred or that the defendant mistakenly believed that the victim was at the age of consent. In Pennsylvania the age of consent is 16. Mistake of age means that the defendant had a reasonable basis to believe that the victim was at the age of consent. Sex Assault investigations Examples of this could be that the victim had a facebook page saying that she was 18 years of age and/or told the defendant and another person that she was 18. The main thing to remember is that a person accused of this crime of statutory sexual assault should hire an experienced Sex Crimes attorney. The government must prove each and every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt
