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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77985</law_id><section_number>18.2-67.10</section_number><catch_line>General definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-272</reference><reference>18.2-370.1</reference><reference>18.2-59.1</reference><reference>18.2-67.4</reference><reference>18.2-67.4:2</reference><reference>19.2-271.2</reference><reference>19.2-368.2</reference><reference>54.1-2400.1</reference><reference>55.1-1236</reference><reference>63.2-1605</reference><reference>8.01-249</reference><reference>9.1-902</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Criminal Sexual Assault</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Complaining witness</span>&#x201D; means the person alleged to have been subjected to <span class="dictionary">rape</span>, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate <span class="dictionary">object</span> sexual penetration, marital sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span>, aggravated sexual <span class="dictionary">battery</span>, or sexual <span class="dictionary">battery</span>. <a id="paragraph-279641" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Intimate parts</span>&#x201D; means the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, or buttocks of any person, or the chest of a child under the age of 15. <a id="paragraph-279642" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Mental incapacity</span>&#x201D; means that condition of the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> existing at the time of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under this article which prevents the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> from understanding the nature or consequences of the sexual act involved in such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> and about which the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> knew or should have known. <a id="paragraph-279643" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Physical helplessness</span>&#x201D; means unconsciousness or any other condition existing at the time of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under this article which otherwise rendered the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> physically unable to communicate an unwillingness to act and about which the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> knew or should have known. <a id="paragraph-279644" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">prior sexual conduct</span>&#x201D; means any sexual conduct on the part of the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> which took place before the conclusion of the <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, excluding the conduct involved in the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> alleged under this article. <a id="paragraph-279645" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sexual abuse</span>&#x201D; means an act committed with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to sexually molest, arouse, or gratify any person, where:
			a. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> intentionally touches the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>;
			b. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> forces the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> to touch the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s, the witness&#x2019;s own, or another person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>;
			c. If the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> is under the age of 13, the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> causes or assists the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> to touch the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s, the witness&#x2019;s own, or another person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>; or
			d. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> forces another person to touch the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>. <a id="paragraph-279646" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1981, c. 397; 1987, c. 277; 1993, c. 549; 1994, c. 568; 2004, c. 741; 2022, c. 645.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
