Leyes sobre abuso sexual en Minnesota

Explicación Simple

Si alguien mayor de 36 meses tiene relaciones con una persona menor de 16, eso es un problema muy serio. No importa si la persona menor dijo que sí, las leyes están ahí para proteger a los jóvenes.

Es como si un adulto que trabaja en un equipo de fútbol decidiera jugar con los niños del equipo, aprovechándose de su confianza. Aunque los niños quieran jugar, el adulto tiene que saber que no está bien.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un maestro de 40 años, empieza a salir con Ana, una estudiante de 15 años. Aunque Ana consienta, la ley prohíbe este tipo de relación porque Juan tiene más de 3 años de diferencia y está en una posición de autoridad.

Penalidades

Hasta 25 años de prisión o multas de hasta $35,000, además de liberación condicional.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

(f) the complainant is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant and in a current or recent position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense; (g) the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual contact and the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense; (h) the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant, the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual contact, and: (i) the actor or an accomplice used force or coercion to accomplish the contact; (ii) the complainant suffered personal injury; or (iii) the sexual abuse involved multiple acts committed over an extended period of time. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense; or (i) the actor uses force, as defined in section609.341, subdivision 3, clause (1). (a) Except as otherwise provided in section609.3455; or Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.109, a person convicted under subdivision 1 or subdivision 1a may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 25 years or to a payment of a fine of not more than $35,000, or both. (b) Unless a longer mandatory minimum sentence is otherwise required by law or the Sentencing Guidelines provide for a longer presumptive executed sentence, the court shall presume that an executed sentence of 90 months must be imposed on an offender convicted of violating subdivision 1, clause (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e), or subdivision 1a, clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (h), or (i). Sentencing a person in a manner ot