Sexual offense in the fourth degree

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

    (a)    In this section, “person in a position of authority”:

        (1)    means a person who:

            (i)    is at least 21 years old;

            (ii)    is employed by or under contract with a public or private preschool, elementary school, or secondary school; and

            (iii)    because of the person’s position or occupation, exercises supervision over a minor who attends the school; and

        (2)    includes a principal, vice principal, teacher, coach, or school counselor at a public or private preschool, elementary school, or secondary school.

    (b)    A person may not engage in:

        (1)    sexual contact with another without the consent of the other;

        (2)    except as provided in § 3–307(a)(4) of this subtitle, a sexual act with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the sexual act is at least 4 years older than the victim; or

        (3)    except as provided in § 3–307(a)(5) of this subtitle, vaginal intercourse with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the act is at least 4 years older than the victim.

    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in § 3–307(a)(4) of this subtitle or subsection (b)(2) of this section, a person in a position of authority may not engage in a sexual act or sexual contact with a minor who, at the time of the sexual act or sexual contact, is a student enrolled at a school where the person in a position of authority is employed.

        (2)    Except as provided in § 3–307(a)(5) of this subtitle or subsection (b)(3) of this section, a person in a position of authority may not engage in vaginal intercourse with a minor who, at the time of the vaginal intercourse, is a student enrolled at a school where the person in a position of authority is employed.

    (d)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of the misdemeanor of sexual offense in the fourth degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

        (2)    (i)    On conviction of a violation of this section, a person who has been convicted on a prior occasion not arising from the same incident of a violation of § 3–303, § 3–304, §§ 3–307 through 3–310 of this subtitle, § 3–311 or § 3–312 of this subtitle as the sections existed before October 1, 2017, § 3–315 of this subtitle, or § 3–602 of this title is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

            (ii)    If the State intends to proceed against a person under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, it shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Maryland Rules for the indictment and trial of a subsequent offender.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.