Sexual assault is generally forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, or other sexual penetration of another person—against the person’s will and without the person’s consent. And although precise definitions and punishments vary from state to state, the criminal offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child includes the aggravating circumstance of the victim being a child under a certain age, as defined by the statute—which increases the severity of the crime.

In Washington State, sexual assault is defined under various degrees of sexual misconduct and rape. Rape in the first degree, for example, involves sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion or where the victim is incapable of consent due to being physically helpless, mentally incapacitated, or developmentally disabled. The law considers the lack of consent as a critical element of the offense. Aggravated circumstances, such as the victim being a child, can elevate the severity of the crime. Specifically, the crime of Rape of a Child applies when the victim is under a certain age, with the degree of the charge (first, second, or third) depending on the age of the child and the age difference between the actor and the child. The presence of a child victim typically results in more severe penalties, including longer prison sentences and mandatory registration as a sex offender. It's important to note that the age of consent in Washington is 16, and there are specific statutes that address sexual offenses against children under this age.