2021 Montana Code Annotated
Title 45. Crimes
Chapter 5. Offenses Against the Person
Part 5. Sexual Crimes
45-5-511. Provisions generally applicable to sexual crimes

45-5-511. Provisions generally applicable to sexual crimes. (1) When criminality depends on the victim being less than 16 years old, it is a defense for the offender to prove that the offender reasonably believed the child to be above that age. The belief may not be considered reasonable if the child is less than 14 years old.

(2) Evidence concerning the sexual conduct of the victim is inadmissible in prosecutions under this part except evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct with the offender or evidence of specific instances of the victim's sexual activity to show the origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease that is at issue in the prosecution.

(3) If the defendant proposes for any purpose to offer evidence described in subsection (2), the trial judge shall order a hearing out of the presence of the jury to determine whether the proposed evidence is admissible under subsection (2).

(4) Evidence of failure to make a timely complaint or immediate outcry does not raise any presumption as to the credibility of the victim.

(5) Resistance by the victim is not required to show lack of consent. Force, fear, or threat is sufficient alone to show lack of consent.

History: En. 94-5-506 by Sec. 1, Ch. 513, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 359, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 94-5-506; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 407, L. 1979; MCA 1981, 45-5-506; redes. 45-5-511 by Code Commissioner, 1983; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 172, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 425, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 687, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1658, Ch. 56, L. 2009.