Sexual Imposition Law and Legal Definition
Sexual imposition is a sexual offense which is governed by state laws, which vary by state.
Example of a state law ( Ohio) defining sexual imposition:
In Ohio, according to Ohio Revised Code, Section 2907.06 a person shall not have sexual contact with another, not the spouse of the offender or cause another, not the spouse of the offender to have sexual contact with the offender or cause two or more other persons to have sexual contact when any of the following applies:
- The offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other person, or one of the other persons, or is reckless in that regard
- The offender knows that the other person's ability to understand the nature of or control the offender's or touching person's conduct is substantially impaired
- The offender knows that submission by the other person, or one of the other persons is because they are unaware of the sexual contact
- The other person, or one of the other persons, is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age. Offender’s knowledge of the age of such person is immaterial. The offender should be at least eighteen years of age and four or more years older than such other person.
- The offender is a mental health professional, the other person or one of the other persons is a mental health client or patient of the offender and the offender induces the other person who is the client or patient to submit by falsely representing that the sexual contact is necessary for mental health treatment purposes
In Ohio, sexual imposition is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender has been previously convicted for sexual imposition or related offenses, then it is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
The law as it appears in the statute.
ORC Ann. 2907.06. Sexual imposition
(A) No person shall have sexual contact with another, not the spouse of the offender; cause another, not the spouse of the offender, to have sexual contact with the offender; or cause two or more other persons to have sexual contact when any of the following applies:
(1) The offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other person, or one of the other persons, or is reckless in that regard.
(2) The offender knows that the other person's, or one of the other person's, ability to appraise the nature of or control the offender's or touching person's conduct is substantially impaired.
(3) The offender knows that the other person, or one of the other persons, submits because of being unaware of the sexual contact.
(4) The other person, or one of the other persons, is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of such person, and the offender is at least eighteen years of age and four or more years older than such other person.
(5) The offender is a mental health professional, the other person or one of the other persons is a mental health client or patient of the offender, and the offender induces the other person who is the client or patient to submit by falsely representing to the other person who is the client or patient that the sexual contact is necessary for mental health treatment purposes.
(B) No person shall be convicted of a violation of this section solely upon the victim's testimony unsupported by other evidence.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of sexual imposition, a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section or of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, or 2907.12* of the Revised Code, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
