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 Vermont, the criminal offense of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child is defined under Vermont Statutes Title 13, Section 2602. This law makes it a crime for any person to engage in a lewd or lascivious act with a child under the age of 16. The elements of the offense include any act of touching or making the child touch an individual's body or someone else's body for sexual gratification, regardless of whether the touching is done over clothing or on bare skin. Vermont law does not require that the child be under 14 years of age; the statute applies to minors under 16. Additionally, Vermont law may encompass other inappropriate sexual conduct with minors, such as exposing a child to sexual material or acts, which could be prosecuted under different statutes. It is important for individuals to consult with an attorney for specific legal advice and to understand the full scope of legal consequences associated with such offenses in Vermont.