The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor, or lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, is generally committed when (1) the offender touches the child’s body or gets the child to touch the child’s body, the offender’s body, or someone else; (2) the touching occurs on bare skin or through clothing; (3) the touching was for sexual reasons; and (4) the child was under 14 years of age.

Laws regarding lewd acts with a minor vary from state to state, including the required age of the child and the required elements of the criminal offense. And some states classify the criminal offense of lewd acts with minor as the criminal offense of indecency with a minor, or lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child, or a similar offense.

Some states have expanded the definition of these laws to include looking at the body or private parts of a child in a sexual manner, or causing or forcing a child to witness sex acts in the presence of the child. These states prosecute persons who engage in such activity in online video chat rooms for this criminal offense.

The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor (or similar offense) is generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Georgia, the criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor is addressed under the laws pertaining to child molestation and sexual offenses against children. Under Georgia law, a person commits the offense of child molestation when they do any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of a child under the age of 16 with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person. This includes the acts described in the query, such as touching the child's body or getting the child to touch someone's body for sexual reasons, regardless of whether the touching is on bare skin or through clothing. Additionally, Georgia law criminalizes the act of enticing a child for indecent purposes, which can encompass getting a child to witness sex acts or exposing them to lewd behavior. The relevant statutes can be found in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), particularly in sections dealing with sexual offenses. Penalties for these crimes are severe and can include imprisonment, fines, and registration as a sex offender.