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2021 Utah Code
Title 76 - Utah Criminal Code
Chapter 2 - Principles of Criminal Responsibility
Part 3 - Defenses to Criminal Responsibility
Section 304.5 - Mistake as to victim's age not a defense.

Universal Citation:
UT Code § 76-2-304.5 (2021)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
Effective 5/10/2016
76-2-304.5. Mistake as to victim's age not a defense.
  • (1) It is not a defense to the crime of child kidnapping, a violation of Section 76-5-301.1; rape of a child, a violation of Section 76-5-402.1; object rape of a child, a violation of Section 76-5-402.3; sodomy on a child, a violation of Section 76-5-403.1; sexual abuse of a child, a violation of Section 76-5-404.1; aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a violation of Subsection 76-5-404.1(4); or an attempt to commit any of these offenses, that the actor mistakenly believed the victim to be 14 years of age or older at the time of the alleged offense or was unaware of the victim's true age.
  • (2) It is not a defense to the crime of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a violation of Section 76-5-401; sexual abuse of a minor, a violation of Section 76-5-401.1; or an attempt to commit either of these offenses, that the actor mistakenly believed the victim to be 16 years of age or older at the time of the alleged offense or was unaware of the victim's true age.
  • (3) It is not a defense to the crime of aggravated human trafficking or aggravated human smuggling, a violation of Section 76-5-310, or human trafficking of a child, a violation of Section 76-5-308.5, that the actor mistakenly believed the victim to be 18 years of age or older at the time of the alleged offense or was unaware of the victim's true age.
  • (4) It is not a defense to the crime of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a violation of Subsection 76-5-401.2(2)(a)(ii), that the actor mistakenly believed the victim to be 18 years of age or older at the time of the alleged offense or was unaware of the victim's true age.
  • (5) It is not a defense to any of the following crimes that the actor mistakenly believed the victim to be 18 years of age or older at the time of the alleged offense or was unaware of the victim's true age:
    • (a) patronizing a prostitute, a violation of Section 76-10-1303;
    • (b) aggravated exploitation of a prostitute, a violation of Section 76-10-1306; or
    • (c) sexual solicitation, a violation of Section 76-10-1313.


Amended by Chapter 194, 2016 General Session
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