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Colorado criminal charge

Sexual assault on a child in Colorado

Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session

Sexual assault on a child is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-3-405. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by C.R.S. § 18-3-405.

What is the penalty for sexual assault on a child in Colorado?

Penalties for Sexual assault on a child
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prison2 years to 6 years (Sexual assault on a child — base offense — Applies when the actor commits sexual assault on a child as defined in subsection (1) and none of the aggravating factors in subsection (2)(a)-(d) are present.)presumptiveC.R.S. § 18-1.3-401
Fine2000 usd to 500000 usd (Sexual assault on a child — base offense — Applies when the actor commits sexual assault on a child as defined in subsection (1) and none of the aggravating factors in subsection (2)(a)-(d) are present.)discretionaryC.R.S. § 18-1.3-401
Parole / supervision3 years to 3 years (Sexual assault on a child — base offense — Applies when the actor commits sexual assault on a child as defined in subsection (1) and none of the aggravating factors in subsection (2)(a)-(d) are present.; mandatory parole)mandatoryC.R.S. § 18-1.3-401

Applies to offenses on/after 2018-07-01.

How is sexual assault on a child classified in Colorado?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Sexual assault on a child
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Sexual assault on a child — base offenseclass 4 felonyApplies when the actor commits sexual assault on a child as defined in subsection (1) and none of the aggravating factors in subsection (2)(a)-(d) are present.18-3-405(2)

Common questions about sexual assault on a child in Colorado

Is sexual assault on a child a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?

Sexual assault on a child is a class 4 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-3-405.

Sexual assault on a child — base offense: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-3-405(2))

What are the penalties for sexual assault on a child in Colorado?

Penalties for sexual assault on a child in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 4 felony up to a class 4 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Colorado statute covers sexual assault on a child?

Sexual assault on a child is governed by C.R.S. § 18-3-405 (Sexual assault on a child).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.