What is meant by Indecent Liberties with a child
Taking indecent liberties with a child or minor is a serious criminal offense that means that an adult is actively taking part in sexually arousing or gratifying the child or the person accused, of using any means. This could include touching, revealing, fondling, or showing material that exposes the intimate/private body parts.
How Virginia Law Recognizes Indecent liberties of a minor
An individual is found guilty of taking indecent liberties of a child or a minor if the individual, with complete sexual intent and being above the legal age of 18 years old, exposes or makes the child expose private parts or genitals to the individuals intentionally. An individual may also be responsible if he proposes to feel or touch the child’s genitals or sexual body parts, or proposes the child to touch the individual’s privates with the intention to arouse the child sexually.
He may also be found guilty if he offers sexual intercourse to the child or may involve with the child in any other activity that might be considered sexual. Furthermore, the practice of enticement, persuasion, or invitation extended towards a minor or child to enter a room, building, vehicle or any such place with an intention of sexually involved in any of the above-mentioned acts is considered to be taking indecent liberties with a child as per the Virginia law.
What is the Penalty for taking indecent liberties with a minor
An individual, if found guilty of taking indecent liberties with a child or a minor may face himself with the conviction of Class 5 Felony. The Class 5 felony comes with one to 10 years of prison along with a fine of $2,500. The accuracy of the fine and the punishment is dependent on the seriousness of the offense committed along with the evidence that is provided to prove an individual’s act of taking indecent liberties with a child.
In addition, an individual is sentenced guilty of taking indecent liberties with a child, if that particular individual is above the age limit of 18 years of age, and having a sexual intention, allows, persuades or encourages a minor to perform all or any of the acts that are subjected as sexual. The term sexual includes– touching, fondling, participating in sexual intercourse or sexual acts, in order to perform in a sexually explicit content, be it images or a video – pornography, in order to receive money or any other form of compensation is a Class 5 Felony too. Similar charges would be brought up against him along with a similar sentence of 1 to 10 years mandatory minimum period of combined imprisonment along with a fine that may reach up to $2,500.
If an individual is convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child for more than one time, or the individual is a parent, step-parent, grandparent or step-grandparent in their relation towards the minor, then the violation is deemed to be a Class 4 Felony with the sentence of almost 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine that might reach up to $100,000.