Missouri residents who face charges of a sex crime can find their lives completely turned upside down. It’s important to understand the state’s sex offense laws and what to expect when facing charges.

What are common sex offenses?

Forcible rape is a crime that involves forcing sexual intercourse on another person against their will. Sometimes, the crime occurs when the victim is incapacitated, resulting in their inability to consent.

Sexual assault is a crime that is committed when a person has sexual intercourse with another person without their consent.

Statutory rape is a sex offense that involves a person having sex with an underage person. In Missouri, the age of consent is 17, which means if an adult has sexual contact with a minor younger than that, they could face statutory rape charges. It doesn’t matter if the underage person agrees to the sex as they cannot legally give consent. If the victim is younger than 14, the crime is classified as a first-degree felony.

Sodomy is a sex offense that’s perpetrated when a person penetrates a victim’s vagina or anus with their finger or an object when they cannot consent due to incapacitation.

Sexual abuse is a crime that occurs when a person makes sexual contact with another person against their will. It involves unwanted touching through or under the victim’s clothing. The victim could also be unconscious and unable to consent.

What are the most common defenses for sexual offenses?

A person who is arrested on charges of sex crimes should always fight the charges. It’s the best way to have a strong defense created for their case. The following defenses are often used:

• The other person is not a victim because they gave consent.
• The defendant is innocent and the allegations are false.
• The defendant was insane at the time of the offense.

Protecting your rights is the best thing to do if you’re accused of a sex crime.