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TCA 39-13-315

Offense of advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor

FELONY CClass C Felony
Sentence enhancement may apply

What does this charge mean?

Advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor is knowingly selling or offering to sell any advertisement that appears designed to offer a minor for paid sexual activity. This offense targets people who help market minors for prostitution through ads or online postings. Conviction carries 3 to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Penalty Details

ClassificationClass C Felony
Maximum Jail3-15 years
Maximum Fine$10,000
Penalty SummaryClass C felony; 3-15 years; fine up to $10,000
(a) A person commits the offense of advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor if the person knowingly sells or offers to sell an advertisement that would appear to a reasonable person to be for the purpose of engaging in what would be a commercial sex act, as defined in § 39-13-301, with a minor. (A) Any sexually explicit conduct for which anything of value is directly or indirectly given, promised to or received by any person, which conduct is induced or obtained by coercion or deception or which conduct is induced or obtained from a person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 39-13-301Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.Defendant: means a person accused of an offense under this title and includes any person who aids or abets the commission of such offense. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.Minor: means an individual who is less than eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 39-13-301Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105(b) (1) Advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor is a Class C felony. (2) In addition to any authorized period of incarceration, advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by a minimum fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (c) In a prosecution under this section, it is not a defense that the defendant did not know the age of the minor depicted in the advertisement. It is a defense, which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence, that at the time of the offense, the defendant made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of the minor appearing in the advertisement by requiring, prior to publication of the advertisement, production of a driver license, marriage license, birth certificate, or other governmental or educational identification card or paper of the minor depicted in the advertisement and did not rely solely on oral or written allegations of the minor’s age or the apparent age of the minor.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026

Quick Facts

FELONY C
TCA Section39-13-315
Max Jail3-15 years
Max Fine$10,000