If you are accused of rape or a victim of rape, a Wyoming criminal defense attorney can help. An experienced lawyer can either clear your name or help you appeal. They can help you file relevant documents in court and speak on your behalf. Legal rape is a crime of sexual assault. Charges are laid against adult defendants accused of engaging in sexual acts with a minor or a person who has not legally reached the “age of majority.” In Wyoming, the age of consent is 17 and anyone younger is considered a minor. If a person 17 and older has sex with someone under 17, they can be charged with rape. Legal rape occurs when a person over the age of consent has sexual intercourse with a person under the age of consent or a minor. The age of consent and the capacity of parents to consent to their children are issues that have been decided differently in many countries. Even if a person under the age of consent says “yes” and starts having sex with someone over the age of consent, the law says it is still legal rape because that younger person has no legal right to consent. Age error: In many cases, the accused does not know that the alleged victim had not yet reached the legal age. If a defendant has reasonable grounds to believe that he or she had sexual contact with a legal adult, he or she cannot be charged if the alleged victim lied about his or her age or did not disclose it.
This defence only applies if a normal person assumes that the alleged victim is an adult. For example, if the alleged victim is between the ages of 12 and 14 and looks like this, then this defence would not apply. For permission to reprint, please contact Camille Cooper, RAINN`s Vice President of Public Policy, at policy@rainn.org. RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network) provides general information, the accuracy and timeliness of which must be determined, but not guaranteed. The information is not presented as a source of legal advice. You should not rely on RAINN`s statements or statements when providing legal advice. If you need legal advice that you would like to rely on in your legal affairs, consult a competent and independent lawyer. RAINN assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of persons who have used this information, and no one is entitled to any right to rely on the information provided or expressed.
RAINN does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information, products or services mentioned. Laws of Romeo and Juliet of Wyoming: The state of Wyoming has one Romeo and Juliet exception. This defence generally applies to high school couples where the defendant is a legal adult and the alleged victim is less than four years younger. For example, if a couple started dating in high school and one of them turned 18 while the other was 17, the Romeo and Juliet exception would apply when they had sex. Rape is when someone forces another person to have sex against their will. Legal rape is when the government has passed laws stating that in certain situations, even if both people consent to sex, it is still against the law. Wyoming is one of the few states where the age of consent is different for women and men. The age of sexual consent is 16 for women, while it is 18 for men. Sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of consent constitutes legal rape.
Even if the younger person lies about his or her age, the older person is usually charged because it is the senior`s responsibility to determine the person`s true age and ensure that their actions are legal. Wyoming`s Age of Consent Act only specifically addresses heterosexual behavior. It is therefore not certain that there is an age of consent for sodomy. Violations of the age of consent in Wyoming carry harsh penalties. Violations can be punished by up to 20 years in prison. Wyoming, like other states, considers partners who have not reached the age of consent, but are almost the same age. The generally permissible age difference is four years. Thus, a minor aged 12 or over may legally consent to sexual relations with a person under the age of four. Wyoming has strict laws for sexual assault, and violating them can result in years in state jail, hefty fines, and even sex offender registration. One such charge is legal rape, which many defendants face because they don`t know about the age of consent laws in Wyoming or didn`t know their partner`s age before the crime.
In some jurisdictions, anyone can file a complaint. If a person over the age of consent has sex with someone over the age of consent, the senior can still go to jail, even if the only person laying charges is the arresting officer. Even though the crime took place years ago, there may still be time for prosecution. Find out about your state`s statute of limitations. First-degree sexual abuse: This is the most serious legal rape charge you can face. If convicted, you face up to 50 years in prison if you are under 21. If you are 21 years of age or older, you will serve a minimum of 25 years and a maximum of 50 years in prison. It will be charged if: If you are accused of legal rape, hiring an experienced defense attorney who specializes in sex crimes is essential. The two most commonly used legal defenses against rape are: Find out if your state allows or requires HIV/AIDS testing of suspected or convicted sex offenders. Legal rape is considered a form of child sexual abuse and can lead to serious charges due to the age of the victim. Sexual abuse is always charged as a crime, and if you are convicted of it, you must register as a sex offender.
In Wyoming, there are four charges you can face: Second-degree sexual abuse: Second-degree rape can carry up to 20 years in prison. It is charged if: If the victim was 14 or 15 years of age and did not suffer serious bodily harm, the offender will face the possibility of probation after 25 years. If the victim was under the age of 14, the defendant faces probation after 35 years. A serious assault is a physical injury that is permanent or from which a person cannot recover within a year, such as: Find out if your state prevents rapists from asserting their parental rights, such as custody and access, over children conceived as a result of their crime.