Which scenario constitutes first-degree sexual assault of a child as defined?

Which scenario constitutes first-degree sexual assault of a child as defined?

• A. When he or she subjects another person under 12 years of age to sexual act and the actor is at least 19 years of age or older
• B. When he or she subjects another person who is at least 12 years of age but less than 16 years of age to sexual penetration and the actor is 25 years of age or older
• C. When he or she subjects another person who is at least 16 years of age to sexual act
• D. When he or she subjects a person under 12 years of age to sexual act and the actor is younger than 19

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is that first-degree sexual assault of a child is defined by two key factors: the victim must be under 12 years old, and the offender must be at least 19 years old. This combination represents the most serious level of offense under this statute due to the age and power gap. The scenario that fits exactly is when a person under 12 is subjected to a sexual act by someone who is at least 19. That meets both elements: the victim is a child (under 12) and the offender is an adult old enough to trigger the highest charge. The other scenarios don’t fit because they fail one of these elements. In the second case, the victim is between 12 and 15, which isn’t under 12, so it doesn’t meet the designation for a child under 12. In the third case, the victim is at least 16, which is not a child under 12. In the fourth case, the offender is younger than 19, so the adult-older-than-19 requirement isn’t met.

The important idea here is that first-degree sexual assault of a child is defined by two key factors: the victim must be under 12 years old, and the offender must be at least 19 years old. This combination represents the most serious level of offense under this statute due to the age and power gap.

The scenario that fits exactly is when a person under 12 is subjected to a sexual act by someone who is at least 19. That meets both elements: the victim is a child (under 12) and the offender is an adult old enough to trigger the highest charge.

The other scenarios don’t fit because they fail one of these elements. In the second case, the victim is between 12 and 15, which isn’t under 12, so it doesn’t meet the designation for a child under 12. In the third case, the victim is at least 16, which is not a child under 12. In the fourth case, the offender is younger than 19, so the adult-older-than-19 requirement isn’t met.