TCA 39-13-503
Rape
What does this charge mean?
Rape is non-consensual sexual penetration accomplished through force, coercion, fraud, or when the victim is mentally incapacitated, mentally defective, physically helpless, or a vulnerable adult with an intellectual disability. This offense occurs when someone engages in sexual penetration without the other person's consent or when consent is impossible due to the victim's condition. Conviction carries 8 to 30 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
Penalty Details
(a) Rape is unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or of the defendant by a victim accompanied by any of the following circumstances: (A) Commit any offense. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Defendant: 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 39-11-106Force: means compulsion by the use of physical power or violence and shall be broadly construed to accomplish the purposes of this title. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Person: 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 39-11-106(1) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act; (2) The sexual penetration is accomplished without the consent of the victim and the defendant knows or has reason to know at the time of the penetration that the victim did not consent; (3) The defendant knows or has reason to know that the victim is: (A) Mentally defective; (B) Mentally incapacitated; (C) Physically helpless; or (D) A vulnerable adult, as defined in § 39-15-501, with an intellectual disability; or (4) The sexual penetration is accomplished by fraud. (b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(1)(B), rape is a Class B felony. (B) If the victim of the offense is at least thirteen (13) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age, rape is a Class B felony and, notwithstanding title 40, chapter 35, the defendant shall be punished as a Range II offender; however, the sentence imposed upon the defendant may, if appropriate, be within Range III but in no case shall it be lower than Range II. (2) Notwithstanding title 40, chapter 35, a person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as a Range II offender; however, the sentence imposed upon such person may, if appropriate, be within Range III but in no case shall it be lower than Range II.
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