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MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-303

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 – Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 3 – Sexual Crimes
Section 3-303 – Rape in the First Degree
Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-303 (2022)


(a) A person may not:

(1) (i) engage in vaginal intercourse with another by force, or the threat of force, without the consent of the other; or

(ii) engage in a sexual act with another by force, or the threat of force, without the consent of the other; and

(2) (i) employ or display a dangerous weapon, or a physical object that the victim reasonably believes is a dangerous weapon;

(ii) suffocate, strangle, disfigure, or inflict serious physical injury on the victim or another in the course of committing the crime;

(iii) threaten, or place the victim in fear, that the victim, or an individual known to the victim, imminently will be subject to death, suffocation, strangulation, disfigurement, serious physical injury, or kidnapping;

(iv) commit the crime while aided and abetted by another; or

(v) commit the crime in connection with a burglary in the first, second, or third degree.

(b) A person may not violate subsection (a) of this section while also violating § 3–503(a)(2) of this title involving a victim who is a child under the age of 16 years.

(c) A person 18 years of age or older may not violate subsection (a) of this section involving a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years.

(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection, a person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life.

(2) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life without the possibility of parole.

(3) A person who violates subsection (a) or (b) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life without the possibility of parole if the defendant was previously convicted of violating this section, or § 3–305 of this subtitle as it existed before October 1, 2017.

(4) (i) Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, a person 18 years of age or older who violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 25 years and not exceeding life without the possibility of parole.

(ii) A court may not suspend any part of the mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.

(iii) The person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.

(iv) If the State fails to comply with subsection (e) of this section, the mandatory minimum sentence shall not apply.

(e) If the State intends to seek a sentence of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole under subsection (d)(2), (3), or (4) of this section, or imprisonment for not less than 25 years under subsection (d)(4) of this section, the State shall notify the person in writing of the State’s intention at least 30 days before trial.

MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-304

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 – Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 3 – Sexual Crimes
Section 3-304 – Rape in the Second Degree
Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-304 (2022)


(a) A person may not engage in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with another:

(1) by force, or the threat of force, without the consent of the other;

(2) if the victim is a substantially cognitively impaired individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual, and the person performing the act knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a substantially cognitively impaired individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual; or

(3) if the victim is under the age of 14 years, and the person performing the act is at least 4 years older than the victim.

(b) A person 18 years of age or older may not violate subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section involving a child under the age of 13 years.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

(2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, a person 18 years of age or older who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 15 years and not exceeding life.

(ii) A court may not suspend any part of the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

(iii) The person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.

(iv) If the State fails to comply with subsection (d) of this section, the mandatory minimum sentence shall not apply.

(d) If the State intends to seek a sentence of imprisonment for not less than 15 years under subsection (c)(2) of this section, the State shall notify the person in writing of the State’s intention at least 30 days before trial.

MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-307

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 – Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 3 – Sexual Crimes
Section 3-307 – Sexual Offense in the Third Degree
Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-307 (2022)


(a) A person may not:

(1) (i) engage in sexual contact with another without the consent of the other; and

(ii) 1. employ or display a dangerous weapon, or a physical object that the victim reasonably believes is a dangerous weapon;

2. suffocate, strangle, disfigure, or inflict serious physical injury on the victim or another in the course of committing the crime;

3. threaten, or place the victim in fear, that the victim, or an individual known to the victim, imminently will be subject to death, suffocation, strangulation, disfigurement, serious physical injury, or kidnapping; or

4. commit the crime while aided and abetted by another;

(2) engage in sexual contact with another if the victim is a substantially cognitively impaired individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual, and the person performing the act knows or reasonably should know the victim is a substantially cognitively impaired individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual;

(3) engage in sexual contact with another if the victim is under the age of 14 years, and the person performing the sexual contact is at least 4 years older than the victim;

(4) engage in a sexual act with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the sexual act is at least 21 years old; or

(5) engage in vaginal intercourse with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the act is at least 21 years old.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of sexual offense in the third degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years.

MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-602

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 – Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 6 – Abuse and Other Offensive Conduct
Section 3-602 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-602 (2022)


(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Family member” has the meaning stated in § 3–601 of this subtitle.

(3) “Household member” has the meaning stated in § 3–601 of this subtitle.

(4) (i) “Sexual abuse” means an act that involves sexual molestation or exploitation of a minor, whether physical injuries are sustained or not.

(ii) “Sexual abuse” includes:

1. incest;

2. rape;

3. sexual offense in any degree; and

4. unnatural or perverted sexual practices.

(b) (1) A parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for the supervision of a minor may not cause sexual abuse to the minor.

(2) A household member or family member may not cause sexual abuse to a minor.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 25 years.

(d) A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for:

(1) any crime based on the act establishing the violation of this section; or

(2) a violation of § 3-601 of this subtitle involving an act of abuse separate from sexual abuse under this section.

MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-308

2022 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 – Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 3 – Sexual Crimes
Section 3-308 – Sexual Offense in the Fourth Degree
Universal Citation: MD. Criminal Law Code § 3-308 (2022)


(a) In this section, “person in a position of authority”:

(1) means a person who:

(i) is at least 21 years old;

(ii) is employed by or under contract with a public or private preschool, elementary school, or secondary school; and

(iii) because of the person’s position or occupation, exercises supervision over a minor who attends the school; and

(2) includes a principal, vice principal, teacher, coach, or school counselor at a public or private preschool, elementary school, or secondary school.

(b) A person may not engage in:

(1) sexual contact with another without the consent of the other;

(2) except as provided in § 3–307(a)(4) of this subtitle, a sexual act with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the sexual act is at least 4 years older than the victim; or

(3) except as provided in § 3–307(a)(5) of this subtitle, vaginal intercourse with another if the victim is 14 or 15 years old, and the person performing the act is at least 4 years older than the victim.

(c) (1) Except as provided in § 3–307(a)(4) of this subtitle or subsection (b)(2) of this section, a person in a position of authority may not engage in a sexual act or sexual contact with a minor who, at the time of the sexual act or sexual contact, is a student enrolled at a school where the person in a position of authority is employed.

(2) Except as provided in § 3–307(a)(5) of this subtitle or subsection (b)(3) of this section, a person in a position of authority may not engage in vaginal intercourse with a minor who, at the time of the vaginal intercourse, is a student enrolled at a school where the person in a position of authority is employed.

(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of the misdemeanor of sexual offense in the fourth degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

(2) (i) On conviction of a violation of this section, a person who has been convicted on a prior occasion not arising from the same incident of a violation of § 3–303, § 3–304, §§ 3–307 through 3–310 of this subtitle, § 3–311 or § 3–312 of this subtitle as the sections existed before October 1, 2017, § 3–315 of this subtitle, or § 3–602 of this title is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

(ii) If the State intends to proceed against a person under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, it shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Maryland Rules for the indictment and trial of a subsequent offender.

Reasoning: Rape of child under 13 = 15 years to life without aggravating factors. No death penalty

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