Defensas en casos de delitos sexuales en Washington

Explicación Simple

Esta ley habla sobre las defensas que puede usar alguien acusado de un delito sexual. Si la víctima no dio su consentimiento porque estaba incapacitada o era menor, el acusado puede intentar demostrar que creía que la víctima estaba bien o tenía la edad adecuada.

Es como cuando estás cocinando y sigues una receta, pero te das cuenta de que no entendiste bien una parte. Si al final el platillo no sale bien, no puedes decir que no sabías los ingredientes; necesitas probar que hiciste todo lo posible por seguir la receta correctamente.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, de 20 años, sale con Ana, de 16 años. Si Juan es acusado de un delito porque Ana es menor de edad, no puede defenderse diciendo que pensaba que ella tenía 18 años. Sin embargo, si Juan puede demostrar que Ana le dijo que tenía 18, podría usar eso como defensa.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

(1) In any prosecution under this chapter in which lack of consent is based solely upon the victim's mental incapacity or upon the victim's being physically helpless, it is a defense which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the offense the defendant reasonably believed that the victim was not mentally incapacitated and/or physically helpless.(2) In any prosecution under this chapter in which the offense or degree of the offense depends on the victim's age, it is no defense that the perpetrator did not know the victim's age, or that the perpetrator believed the victim to be older, as the case may be: PROVIDED, That it is a defense which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the offense the defendant reasonably believed the alleged victim to be the age identified in subsection (3) of this section based upon declarations as to age by the alleged victim.(3) The defense afforded by subsection (2) of this section requires that for the following defendants, the reasonable belief be as indicated:(a) For a defendant charged with rape of a child in the first degree, that the victim was at least twelve, or was less than twenty-four months younger than the defendant;(b) For a defendant charged with rape of a child in the second degree, that the victim was at least fourteen, or was less than thirty-six months younger than the defendant;(c) For a defendant charged with rape of a child in the third degree, that the victim was at least sixteen, or was less than forty-eight months younger than the defendant;(d) For a defendant charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree, that the victim was at least eighteen, or was less than sixty months younger than the defendant;(e) For a defen