In Minnesota, Criminal Sexual Conduct statutes are long and have many subdivisions. Click on the hyperlinks on our website to see the specific statute’s language and related blogs.
For 2nd Degree and 4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, sexual contact can mean different things. Trying to understand what actions fall under the definition of “sexual contact” can be confusing, which is why it is important to review the statutes’ precise language.
“Sexual contact” includes specific acts committed without consent and committed with sexual or aggressive intent. The specific acts include:
- The accused intentionally touched the accuser’s intimate parts (primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast).
- If the accuser is under 13 years old or is mentally impaired:
- A person in a position of authority caused the accuser to touch the accused’s, the accuser’s, or another’s intimate parts;
- The accuser is coerced or induced to touch the accused’s, the accuser’s, or another person’s intimate parts;
- A person in a position of authority caused another to touch the accuser’s intimate parts.
- Another was coerced to touch the accuser’s intimate parts;
- In any of the instances above, the touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the intimate parts;
- The accused intentionally touched with seminal fluid or sperm the accuser’s body or the clothing covering the accuser’s body.
Sexual Contact with a Person Under Thirteen:
Sexual contact with a person under 13 years old includes the following acts:
- The accused intentionally touched the accuser’s bare genitals or anal opening with the accused’s bare genitals or anal opening with sexual or aggressive intent.
- The accuser touched the accused’s or another’s bare genitals or anal opening with the accuser’s bare genitals or anal opening with sexual or aggressive intent.
If you or someone you know has been charged with criminal sexual conduct, call us with questions or concerns. Simply call 763.421.6366 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.