Tennessee Sex Crimes: Statutory Rape

In the state of Tennessee, minors under the age of 18 are not legally capable of providing consent for sexual activity. If an adult partakes in a sexual relationship or commits any act of a sexual nature with a minor, then he or she is guilty of a statutory rape offense, even if the child consented to the activity. Depending on the nature of the circumstances, penalties for these types of crimes can range from moderate to severe.

Types of Statutory Rape

There are four different categories of crimes that fall under the label of statutory rape:

1. Mitigated statutory rape occurs when the sexual activity involves a victim who is between 15 and 17 years of age and an offender whose age is somewhere in the range of 4-5 years older.
2. Statutory rape refers to sexual conduct between offenders who are 4-10 years older than victims between the age of 13 and 14, or when such activity occurs between offenders 5-10 years older than a youth aged 15-17.
3. Aggravated statutory rape occurs when sexual conduct between a legal adult and a minor child involves penetration of the victim. In most cases, the offender is at least 10 years older than the victim.
4. Statutory rape by an authority figure is just what it sounds like: sexual activity between a legal adult and a minor child, when the offending adult is in a position of authority or responsibility. Examples include parents, teachers, pastors, employers, and any other role of trust.

Consequences of Statutory Rape Offenses

Statutory rape by an authority figure merits the heaviest penalties of all crimes falling under this category. It’s a Class C felony, earning offenders anywhere between 3 and 15 years of incarceration, as well as fines amounting up to $10,000.

Aggravated statutory rape is an offense that qualifies as a Class D felony. Criminals charged with this type of sexual crime typically face around 2 to 12 years of incarceration, coupled with fines amounting to a maximum of $5,000.

The mildest penalties are attached to standard statutory rape. This is a Class E felony; worth 1-6 years of incarceration along with fines up to $3,000.

Hire Nashville Criminal Attorneys

If you or a loved one is the victim of a statutory rape crime, you deserve justice, and the offender guilty of committing such an act should be punished. At Turner Law Offices, P.C., our team of attorneys has years of experience working with these types of cases, as well as countless others related to sexual crimes. Call today, or go online to set up a Free Initial Consultation, and meet with a skilled lawyer who is ready and waiting to get you on track toward a satisfactory resolution.

(615) 259-2660