What is the legal definition of sexual assault?
For the purposes of getting a protection order, “sexual assault” or “sexual abuse” means any act, attempted act, or threatened act of unlawful sexual behavior, which is defined as:
- committing any of the following crimes; or
- a criminal attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the following crimes:
- sexual assault, sexual assault on a child, including sexual assault by someone in a position of trust, or sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist;
- unlawful sexual contact;
- enticement of a child;
- incest or aggravated incest;
- human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude;
- sexual exploitation of children or procurement of a child for sexual exploitation;
- indecent exposure;
- soliciting for child prostitution, pandering of a child, procurement of a child, keeping a place of child prostitution, pimping of a child, inducement of child prostitution, patronizing a prostituted child;
- internet luring of a child (class 4 felony only);
- internet sexual exploitation of a child;
- public indecency (only if the conditions in section(2)(b) are met and if a second offense is committed within five years of the previous offense or a third or subsequent offense is committed);
- invasion of privacy for sexual gratification;
- unlawful electronic sexual communication by a person in a position of trust; or
- unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer.1
Note: Included in the definition of sexual assault is what is commonly known as “statutory rape” where the sexual act is consensual, the parties are not married, and the victim is:
- under 15 and the offender is at least four years older than the victim; or
- under 17 and the offender is at least 10 years older than the victim.2
Exception: if the couple is married to each other, and the sexual act is consensual, it does not qualify as statutory rape.3
1 Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-14-101(2.9); 16-11.7-102(3)
2 Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-402(1)(d)-(e)