Sex Offenses in Louisiana Including Rape

This entry will discuss the various rape crimes in Louisiana. While there are many other types of sexual assault crimes, such as aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, sexual battery, possession of child pornography, child sexual abuse, molestation, failure to register as a sex offender; prostitution, obscenity, human trafficking, and crime against nature, this post will discuss the various rape crimes in Louisiana. Rape in Louisiana includes First Degree Rape (Aggravated Rape), Second Degree Rape (Forcible Rape), Third Degree Rape (Simple Rape), and Statutory Rape (officially known as Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile and Misdemeanor Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile). First degree rape (Also known as Aggravated Rape Prior to 2015) – La. Rev. Stat. 14:42

A. First degree rape is a rape committed upon a person sixty-five years of age or

older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) When the victim resists the act to the utmost, but whose resistance is

overcome by force.

(2) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by threats of great and

immediate bodily harm, accompanied by apparent power of execution.

(3) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act because the offender is

armed with a dangerous weapon.

(4) When the victim is under the age of thirteen years. Lack of knowledge of the

victim's age shall not be a defense.

(5) When two or more offenders participated in the act.

(6) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act because the victim suffers

from a physical or mental infirmity preventing such resistance.

Penalty Provision for First Degree Rape

D.(1) Whoever commits the crime of first degree rape shall be punished by life

imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

(2) However, if the victim was under the age of thirteen years, as provided by

Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section:

(a) And if the district attorney seeks a capital verdict, the offender shall be

punished by death or life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, in accordance with the determination of the jury. The provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment may be capital shall apply.

(b) And if the district attorney does not seek a capital verdict, the offender shall be

punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall apply.           

Second Degree Rape (Also known as Forcible Rape Prior to 2015) – La. R.S. 14:42.1

A. Second degree rape is rape committed when the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual

intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful consent of the victim because it is

committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by force or threats of physical

violence under circumstances where the victim reasonably believes that such

resistance would not prevent the rape.

(2) When the victim is incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by

reason of stupor or abnormal condition of the mind produced by a narcotic or anesthetic agent or

other controlled dangerous substance administered by the offender and without the knowledge of

the victim.

Penalty Provision for Second Degree Rape

B. Whoever commits the crime of second degree rape shall be imprisoned at hard labor

for not less than five nor more than forty years. At least two years of the sentence imposed shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

Third degree rape (Also known as Simple Rape Prior to 2015) – La. R.S. 14:43

A. Third degree rape is a rape committed when the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual

intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful consent of a victim because it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:

1. When the victim is incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of a stupor or abnormal condition of mind produced by an intoxicating agent or any cause and the offender knew or should have known of the victim's incapacity.

2. When the victim, through unsoundness of mind, is temporarily or permanently incapable of understanding the nature of the act and the offender knew or should have known of the victim's incapacity.

3. When the victim submits under the belief that the person committing the act is someone known to the victim, other than the offender, and such belief is intentionally induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the offender.

4. When the offender acts without the consent of the victim.

Penalty Provision for Third Degree Rape

B. Whoever commits the crime of third degree rape shall be imprisoned at hard labor,

without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, for not more than twenty-five years.

Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile – La. R.S. 14:80

A. Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile is committed when:

(1) A person who is seventeen years of age or older has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a person who is thirteen years of age or older but less than seventeen years of age, when the victim is not the spouse of the offender and when the difference

between the age of the victim and the age of the offender is four years or greater; or

(2) A person commits a second or subsequent offense of misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile, or a person who has been convicted one or more times of violating one or more crimes for which the offender is required to register as a sex offender under R.S. 15:542 commits a first offense of misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Penalty Provision for Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile

D.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile shall be

fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years, or both, provided that the defendant shall not be eligible to have his conviction set aside or his prosecution dismissed in accordance with the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893.

(2)(a)  In addition, the court shall order that the personal property used in the commission of the offense shall be seized and impounded, and after conviction, sold at public sale or public auction by the district attorney in accordance with R.S. 15:539.1.

(b)  The personal property made subject to seizure and sale pursuant to Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may include, but shall not be limited to, electronic communication devices, computers, computer related equipment, motor vehicles, photographic equipment used to record or create still or moving visual images of the victim that are recorded on paper, film, video tape, disc, or any other type of digital recording media.

Misdemeanor Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile – La. R.S. 14:80.1

A. Misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile is committed when a person who is

seventeen years of age or older has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a person

who is thirteen years of age or older but less than seventeen years of age, when the

victim is not the spouse of the offender, and when the difference between the age of

the victim and age of the offender is greater than two years, but less than four years.

B. As used in this Section, "sexual intercourse" means anal, oral, or vaginal sexual

intercourse.

C. Lack of knowledge of the juvenile's age shall not be a defense.  Emission is not

necessary, and penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.

Penalty Provision for Misdemeanor Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile

D. Whoever commits the crime of misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile shall be

fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six

months, or both.

E. The offender shall be eligible to have his conviction set aside and his prosecution

dismissed in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the Code of Criminal

Procedure.

F.  The offender shall not be subject to any of the provisions of law which are applicable

to sex offenders, including but not limited to the provisions which require registration of the offender and notice to the neighbors of the offender.

Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or a felony sexual offense, you become

immediately aware of the serious nature of these kinds of charges and the pervasive

consequences they may have on your personal and professional life. This is particularly so because the public repugnance to sex crimes in general forces prosecutors to pursue these cases zealously.

Regardless of which type of a charge you are facing, at the Law Office of Gaynell

Williams, we will assess your case, conduct our own personal investigation to build your

defense, and together come up with the best strategy to fight your charges and mitigate or completely avoid any potential repercussions. We will do our best to protect your freedom, your name and reputation, and your career. Our goal is to keep you out of jail and at home with your family, where you belong. Regardless of the seriousness of the crime you have been accused of, we can help. Don’t wait! Call us today to schedule an appointment for a free consultation to discuss your case. Call (504) 302-2462.