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 Ohio, the criminal offense of engaging in lewd acts with a minor is addressed under the state's statutes concerning sexual offenses. Ohio law defines various sexual offenses that involve minors, including Gross Sexual Imposition (Ohio Revised Code § 2907.05) and Sexual Imposition (Ohio Revised Code § 2907.06), which can encompass lewd acts. These statutes criminalize sexual contact with a minor when the offender knows that the contact is offensive or is reckless in that regard, or when the minor is compelled to submit by force or threat of force. Sexual contact is defined as any touching of an erogenous zone of another, including through clothing, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person. The age of the minor and the age difference between the offender and the minor can affect the severity of the charges. Additionally, Ohio law prohibits the use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance (Ohio Revised Code § 2907.323), which can include causing or permitting a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing material or a performance. The law is designed to protect minors under the age of 18 from sexual exploitation and abuse. It is important for individuals to consult with an attorney for specific legal advice and to understand the full scope of legal implications related to such offenses in Ohio.
