Sexual assault is generally forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration of another person—against the person’s will and without the person’s consent. And although precise definitions and punishments vary from state to state, the criminal offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child includes the aggravating circumstance of the victim being a child under a certain age, as defined by the statute—which increases the severity of the crime.
In Virginia, sexual assault is defined under the state's criminal laws and includes any forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or sexual penetration without the consent of the other person. The laws are codified in the Code of Virginia, which outlines various degrees of sexual assault based on the circumstances of the crime. Aggravated sexual assault, particularly when the victim is a child, is treated with increased severity. Virginia law defines a child as anyone under the age of 18, and the state imposes harsher penalties for sexual offenses involving minors. The specific statute that addresses aggravated sexual assault of a child is Virginia Code § 18.2-67.3, which covers aggravated sexual battery, and § 18.2-61, which defines rape. These statutes consider the age of the victim and the nature of the offense when determining the level of the crime and the corresponding punishment, which can range from significant prison time to lifetime registration as a sex offender.