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 generally includes aggravating circumstances that increase the severity of the sexual assault—such as when the assailant or perpetrator uses, displays, or threatens the victim with a deadly weapon (a gun or knife); when the assailant uses a rape drug to incapacitate the victim; or when the victim is a child under a certain age, as defined by the statute.

In Louisiana (LA), sexual assault is addressed under the state's sexual battery and rape statutes. Sexual battery is the intentional touching of the genitals or anus of another person using any instrumentality or any part of the body, without the person's consent. Rape is defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse achieved through force, threat of force, or when the victim is incapacitated or prevented from resisting due to various circumstances, including the influence of drugs or alcohol. Aggravated sexual assault in Louisiana is categorized as either aggravated rape or forcible rape, which includes circumstances that increase the severity of the offense, such as the use of a weapon, serious bodily injury, or when the victim is under a certain age, typically under 13 years old. The penalties for these crimes are severe and can include life imprisonment, particularly for aggravated rape. It is important for individuals facing such charges to seek the counsel of an attorney who is knowledgeable in Louisiana's specific laws and penalties regarding sexual assault.