A person generally commits the criminal offense of sexual assault of a child—regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense—if the person (1) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of a child by any means; (2) causes the penetration of the mouth of a child by the sexual organ of the person; (3) causes the sexual organ of the child to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of the person or another person; (4) causes the anus of a child to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of the person or another person; or (5) causes the mouth of a child to contact the anus or sexual organ of the person or another person.
The naming and definition of the criminal offense of sexual assault of a child varies from state to state. These criminal offenses are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.
In Oklahoma, the criminal offense of sexual assault of a child is addressed under the state's penal code, specifically in the statutes concerning sexual abuse and sexual offenses against children. Oklahoma law defines various forms of sexual abuse that include any act of sexual gratification between an adult and a minor, which aligns with the descriptions provided (1) through (5). The state's statutes make it clear that such acts are illegal regardless of whether the perpetrator was aware of the child's age at the time of the offense. These crimes are severely punished and can include charges such as lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child, rape, and forcible sodomy, among others. The exact charges and penalties can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case, including the age of the child and the nature of the offense. It is important to note that ignorance of the child's age is not a defense in Oklahoma for these types of crimes.