Jefferson County Missouri Sex Crimes Lawyer

A person commits the offense of age misrepresentation with intent to solicit a minor when he or she knowingly misrepresents his or her age with the intent to use the internet or any electronic communication to engage in criminal sexual conduct involving a minor.

The offense of age misrepresentation with intent to solicit a minor is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of aiding a sexual offender if he or she knows that another person is a convicted sexual offender who is required to register as a sexual offender and has reason to believe that such sexual offender is not complying, or has not complied with the requirements of sections 589.400 to 589.425, and who, with the intent to assist the sexual offender in eluding a law enforcement agency that is seeking to find the sexual offender to question the offender about, or to arrest the offender for, his or her noncompliance with the requirements of sections 589.400 to 589.425: (1) Withholds information from or does not notify the law enforcement agency about the sexual offender’s noncompliance with the requirements of sections 589.400 to 589.425, and, if known, the whereabouts of the sexual offender; (2) Harbors or attempts to harbor or assists another person in harboring or attempting to harbor the sexual offender; (3) Conceals or attempts to conceal or assists another person in concealing or attempting to conceal the sexual offender; or (4) Provides information to the law enforcement agency regarding the sexual offender which he or she knows to be false information.

The offense of aiding a sexual offender is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of child molestation in the first degree if he or she subjects another person who is less than fourteen years of age to sexual contact and the offense is an aggravated sexual offense.

The offense of child molestation in the first degree is a class A felony and, if the victim is a child less than twelve years of age, the person shall serve his or her term of imprisonment without eligibility for probation, parole, or conditional release.

A person commits the offense of child molestation in the second degree if he or she: (1) Subjects a child who is less than twelve years of age to sexual contact; or (2) Being more than four years older than a child who is less than seventeen years of age, subjects the child to sexual contact and the offense is an aggravated sexual offense.

The offense of child molestation in the second degree is a class B felony.

A person commits the offense of child molestation in the third degree if he or she subjects a child who is less than fourteen years of age to sexual contact.

The offense of child molestation in the third degree is a class C felony, unless committed by the use of forcible compulsion, in which case it is a class B felony.

A person commits the offense of child molestation in the fourth degree if, being more than four years older than a child who is less than seventeen years of age, subjects the child to sexual contact.

The offense of child molestation in the fourth degree is a class E felony.

A person twenty-one years of age or older commits the offense of enticement of a child if he or she persuades, solicits, coaxes, entices, or lures whether by words, actions or through communication via the internet or any electronic communication, any person who is less than fifteen years of age for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct.

Enticement of a child or an attempt to commit enticement of a child is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment shall be not less than five years and not more than thirty years.

A person commits the crime of failing to register as a sex offender when the person is required to register under and fails to comply.

Failure to register as a sex offender is a class E felony unless the person is required to register based on having committed an offense in chapter 566 which was an unclassified felony, a class A or B felony, or a felony involving a child under the age of fourteen, in which case it is a class D felony.

A person commits the crime of failing to register as a sex offender as a second offense by failing to register as required and he or she has previously pled guilty to or has previously been found guilty of failing to register as a sex offender.

Failing to register as a sex offender as a second offense is a class E felony unless the person is required to register based on having committed an offense in chapter 566, or an offense in any other state or foreign country, or under federal, tribal, or military jurisdiction, which if committed in this state would be an offense under chapter 566 which was an unclassified felony, a class A or B felony, or a felony involving a child under the age of fourteen, in which case it is a class D felony.

A person commits the crime of failing to register as a sex offender as a third offense by failing to register as required and he or she has, on two or more occasions, previously pled guilty to or has previously been found guilty of failing to register as a sex offender.

Failing to register as a sex offender as a third offense is a felony which shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years and not more than thirty years.

A person commits the offense of incest if he or she marries or purports to marry or engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a person he or she knows to be, without regard to legitimacy, his or her: (1) Ancestor or descendant by blood or adoption; or (2) Stepchild, while the marriage creating that relationship exists; or (3) Brother or sister of the whole or half-blood; or (4) Uncle, aunt, nephew or niece of the whole blood.

The offense of incest is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitution if he or she:

(1) Pursuant to a prior understanding, gives something of value to another person as compensation for having engaged in sexual conduct with any person; or

(2) Gives or agrees to give something of value to another person with the understanding that such person or another person will engage in sexual conduct with any person; or

(3) Solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with any person in return for something of value.

The offense of patronizing prostitution is a class B misdemeanor, unless the individual who the person patronizes is less than eighteen years of age but older than fourteen years of age, in which case patronizing prostitution is a class A misdemeanor.

A person or entity commits the offense of promoting online sexual solicitation if such person or entity knowingly permits a web-based classified service owned or operated by such person or entity to be used by individuals to post advertisements promoting prostitution, enticing a child to engage in sexual conduct, or promoting sexual trafficking of a child after receiving notice under this section.

A violation of this section shall be a felony, punishable by a fine in the amount of five thousand dollars per day that the advertisement remains posted on the web-based classified service after seventy-two hours of when notice has been provided pursuant to this section.

A person commits the offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he or she knowingly: (1) Promotes prostitution by compelling a person to enter into, engage in, or remain in prostitution; or (2) Promotes prostitution of a person less than sixteen years of age.

The offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree is a class B felony.

A person commits the offense of promoting prostitution in the second degree if he or she knowingly promotes prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business or enterprise involving prostitution activity by two or more prostitutes.

The offense of promoting prostitution in the second degree is a class D felony.

A person commits the offense of promoting prostitution in the third degree if he or she knowingly: (1) Causes or aids a person to commit or engage in prostitution; (2) Procures or solicits patrons for prostitution; (3) Provides persons or premises for prostitution purposes; (4) Operates or assists in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution business or enterprise; (5) Accepts or receives or agrees to accept or receive something of value pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he or she participates or is to participate in proceeds of prostitution activity; or (6) Engages in any conduct designed to institute, aid or facilitate an act or enterprise of prostitution.

The offense of promoting prostitution in the third degree is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of prostitution if he or she engages in or offers or agrees to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for something of value to be received by any person.

The offense of prostitution is a class B misdemeanor unless the person knew prior to performing the act of prostitution that he or she was infected with HIV in which case prostitution is a class B felony. The use of condoms is not a defense to this offense.

A person commits the offense of rape in the first degree if he or she has sexual intercourse with another person who is incapacitated, incapable of consent, or lacks the capacity to consent, or by the use of forcible compulsion.

The offense of rape in the first degree or an attempt to commit rape in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years.

A person commits the offense of rape in the second degree if he or she has sexual intercourse with another person knowing that he or she does so without that person’s consent.

The offense of rape in the second degree is a class D felony.

A person commits the offense of sexual abuse in the first degree if he or she subjects another person to sexual contact when that person is incapacitated, incapable of consent, or lacks the capacity to consent, or by the use of forcible compulsion.

The offense of sexual abuse in the first degree is a class C felony unless the victim is less than fourteen years of age, or it is an aggravated sexual offense, in which case it is a class B felony.

A person commits the offense of sexual abuse in the second degree if he or she purposely subjects another person to sexual contact without that person’s consent.

The offense of sexual abuse in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor, unless it is an aggravated sexual offense, in which case it is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or vulnerable person in the first degree if he or she: (1) Being an owner or employee of a skilled nursing facility, or an Alzheimer’s special care unit or program, has sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a resident; or (2) Being a vender, provider, agent, or employee of a certified program operated, funded, licensed, or certified by the department of mental health, has sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a vulnerable person.

The offense of sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or vulnerable person in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or vulnerable person in the second degree if he or she: (1) Being an owner or employee of a skilled nursing facility, or an Alzheimer’s special care unit program, has sexual contact with a resident; or (2) Being a vender, provider, agent, or employee of a certified program operated, funded, licensed, or certified by the department of mental health, has sexual contact with a vulnerable person.

The offense of sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or vulnerable person in the second degree is a class B misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of sexual contact with a student if he or she has sexual contact with a student of the school and is: (1) A teacher; (2) A student teacher; or (3) An employee of the school; or (4) A volunteer of the school or of an organization working with the school on a project or program who is not a student at the school; or (5) An elected or appointed official of the school district; or (6) A person employed by an entity that contracts with the school or school district to provide services.

The offense of sexual contact with a student is a class E felony.

A person commits the offense of sexual misconduct in the first degree if such person: (1) Exposes his or her genitals under circumstances in which he or she knows that his or her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm; (2) Has sexual contact in the presence of a third person or persons under circumstances in which he or she knows that such conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm; or (3) Has sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse in a public place in the presence of a third person.

The offense of sexual misconduct in the first degree is a class B misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of sexual misconduct in the second degree if he or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct under circumstances in which he or she knows that such request or solicitation is likely to cause affront or alarm.

The offense of sexual misconduct in the second degree is a class C misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of sexual misconduct involving a child if such person: (1) Knowingly exposes his or her genitals to a child less than fifteen years of age under circumstances in which he or she knows that his or her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to the child; (2) Knowingly exposes his or her genitals to a child less than fifteen years of age for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, including the child; (3) Knowingly coerces or induces a child less than fifteen years of age to expose the child’s genitals for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, including the child; or (4) Knowingly coerces or induces a child who is known by such person to be less than fifteen years of age to expose the breasts of a female child through the internet or other electronic means for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, including the child.

The offense of sexual misconduct involving a child is a class E felony.

Any person who has been found guilty of: (1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or found guilty of incest; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting a sexual performance by a child; sexual exploitation of a minor; promoting child pornography; or furnishing pornographic material to minors; or (2) Any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would be a violation listed in this section; shall not serve as an athletic coach, manager, or athletic trainer for any sports team in which a child less than seventeen years of age is a member.

The first violation of the provisions of this section is a class E felony.

Any person who, since July 1, 1979, has been or hereafter has been found guilty of:

(1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or incest; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting a sexual performance by a child; sexual exploitation of a minor; promoting child pornography in the first degree; promoting child pornography in the second degree; possession of child pornography, or furnishing pornographic material to minors; or (2) Any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would be a violation listed in this section; shall not reside within one thousand feet of any public school, any private school giving instruction in a grade or grades not higher than the twelfth grade, or any child care facility, or any child care facility that is exempt from state licensure but subject to state regulation and holds itself out to be a child care facility, where the school or facility is in existence at the time the individual begins to reside at the location.

Violation of the provisions of subsection 1 of this section is a class E felony.

Any person who has been found guilty of: (1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or incest; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting a sexual performance by a child; sexual exploitation of a minor; promoting child pornography in the first degree; promoting child pornography in the second degree; possession of child pornography, or furnishing pornographic material to minors; or (2) Any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would be a violation listed in this section; shall not knowingly be physically present in or loiter within five hundred feet of or to approach, contact, or communicate with any child under eighteen years of age in any child care facility building, on the real property comprising any child care facility when persons under the age of eighteen are present in the building, on the grounds, or in the conveyance, unless the offender is a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a student present in the building or on the grounds.

Violation of the provisions of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

Any person who has been found guilty of: (1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or incest; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting a sexual performance by a child; sexual exploitation of a minor; promoting child pornography in the first degree; promoting child pornography in the second degree; possession of child pornography, or furnishing pornographic material to minors; or (2) Any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would be a violation listed in this section; shall not knowingly be present in or loiter within five hundred feet of any real property comprising any public park with playground equipment or a public swimming pool.

The first violation of the provisions of this section is a class E felony.

Any person who has been found guilty of: (1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or incest; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting a sexual performance by a child; sexual exploitation of a minor; promoting child pornography in the first degree; promoting child pornography in the second degree; possession of child pornography, or furnishing pornographic material to minors; or (2) Any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would be a violation listed in this section; shall not be present in or loiter within five hundred feet of any school building, on real property comprising any school, or in any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school-related activity when persons under the age of eighteen are present in the building, on the grounds, or in the conveyance, unless the offender is a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a student present in the building and has met the conditions set forth in subsection 2 of this section.

Violation of the provisions of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of sexual trafficking of a child in the first degree if he or she knowingly: (1) Recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, including but not limited to through the use of force, abduction, coercion, fraud, deception, blackmail, or causing or threatening to cause financial harm, a person under the age of twelve to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material, or benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in such activities; (2) Causes a person under the age of twelve to engage in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material as defined in section 573.010; or (3) Advertises the availability of a person under the age of twelve to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material.

The offense of sexual trafficking of a child in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole until the offender has served not less than twenty-five years of such sentence.

A person commits the offense of sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree if he or she knowingly: (1) Recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, including but not limited to through the use of force, abduction, coercion, fraud, deception, blackmail, or causing or threatening to cause financial harm, a person under the age of eighteen to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material, or benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in such activities; (2) Causes a person under the age of eighteen to engage in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material; or (3) Advertises the availability of a person under the age of eighteen to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material.

The offense sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not less than ten years or life and a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars if the child is under the age of eighteen.

A person commits the offense of sodomy in the first degree if he or she has deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is incapacitated, incapable of consent, or lacks the capacity to consent, or by the use of forcible compulsion.

The offense of sodomy in the first degree or an attempt to commit sodomy in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years.

A person commits the offense of sodomy in the second degree if he or she has deviate sexual intercourse with another person knowing that he or she does so without that person’s consent.

The offense of sodomy in the second degree is a class D felony.

A person commits the offense of statutory rape in the first degree if he or she has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than fourteen years of age.

The offense of statutory rape in the first degree or an attempt to commit statutory rape in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years, unless:

The offense is an aggravated sexual offense, or the victim is less than twelve years of age in which case the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than ten years; or

The person is a persistent or predatory sexual offender as defined in section 566.125 and subjected to an extended term of imprisonment under said section.

A person commits the offense of statutory rape in the second degree if being twenty-one years of age or older, he or she has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than seventeen years of age.

The offense of statutory rape in the second degree is a class D felony.

A person commits the offense of statutory sodomy in the first degree if he or she has deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is less than fourteen years of age.

The offense of statutory sodomy in the first degree or an attempt to commit statutory sodomy in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years.

A person commits the offense of statutory sodomy in the second degree if being twenty-one years of age or older, he or she has deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is less than seventeen years of age.

The offense of statutory sodomy in the second degree is a class D felony.

A person commits the offense of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation if he or she knowingly recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, advertises the availability of or obtains by any means, including but not limited to through the use of force, abduction, coercion, fraud, deception, blackmail, or causing or threatening to cause financial harm, another person for the use or employment of such person in a commercial sex act, sexual conduct, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material, without his or her consent, or benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in such activities.

The offense of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not less than five years and not more than twenty years and a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars. If a violation of this section was effected by force, abduction, or coercion, the offense of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not less than ten years or life and a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars.