Disclaimer                                   Contents                                       State List

 

MARYLAND

 

The information provided is not for commercial use it is intended only for informational use. There has been no attempt to make a complete list of all or related statutes. There is no guarantee of the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Please Seek Professional Legal advice and visit the State’s official web site and consult the Bound Volumes of the State’s Statutes for more information.

 

URL: MLIS.STATE.MD.US/

 

Maryland Code 

CRIMINAL LAW : TITLE 3. OTHER CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON

Subtitle 3. Sexual Crimes.

§ 3-303. Rape in the first degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not: 

(1) engage in vaginal intercourse 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)  Violation of § 3-503(a)(2) of this title.- 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)  Penalty.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) 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 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. 

(d)  Required notice.- If the State intends to seek a sentence of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole under subsection (c)(2) or (3) of this section, the State shall notify the person in writing of the State's intention at least 30 days before trial. 

 

 

Return to the top of the page

 

 

§ 3-304. Rape in the second degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not engage in vaginal intercourse with another:

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

(2) if the victim is a mentally defective 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 mentally defective 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)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. 

 

 

§ 3-305. Sexual offense in the first degree.

 

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not:

(1) 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)  Violation of § 3-503(a)(2) of this title.- 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)  Penalty.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of the felony of sexual offense 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 sexual offense in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life without the possibility of parole. 

(3) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of sexual offense 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 § 3-303 of this subtitle. 

(d)  Required notice.- If the State intends to seek a sentence of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole under subsection (c)(2) or (3) of this section, the State shall notify the person in writing of the State's intention at least 30 days before trial. 

 

 

Return to the top of the page

 

 

§ 3-306. Sexual offense in the second degree

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not engage in 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 mentally defective individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual, and the person performing the sexual act knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a mentally defective 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 sexual act is at least 4 years older than the victim.

(b)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of sexual offense in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. 

 

 

§ 3-307. Sexual offense in the third degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- 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 mentally defective 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 mentally defective 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)  Penalty.- 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. 

 

 

§ 3-308. Sexual offense in the fourth degree.

 

 

(a)  Prohibited.- 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. 

(b)  Penalty.-  

(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 through 3-312 or § 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. 

 

§ 3-309. Attempted rape in the first degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not attempt to commit rape in the first degree. 

(b)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life

 

 

§ 3-310. Attempted rape in the second degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not attempt to commit rape in the second degree.

(b)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. 

 

 

§ 3-311. Attempted sexual offense in the first degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not attempt to commit a sexual offense in the first degree.

(b)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding life.

 

§ 3-312. Attempted sexual offense in the second degree.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not attempt to commit a sexual offense in the second degree.

(b) Penalty- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

 

 

§ 3-315. Continuing course of conduct with child

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not engage in a continuing course of conduct which includes three or more acts that would constitute violations of § 3-303, § 3-304, § 3-305, § 3-306, or § 3-307 of this subtitle over a period of 90 days or more, with a victim who is under the age of 14 years at any time during the course of conduct. 

(b)  Penalty.-  

(1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 30 years

(2) A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence under § 3-602 of this title

(c)  Determination.- In determining whether the required number of acts occurred in violation of this section, the trier of fact.

(1) must determine only that the required number of acts occurred; and 

(2) need not determine which acts constitute the required number of acts. 

(d)  Merger.-  

(1) A person may not be charged with a violation of § 3-303, § 3-304, § 3-305, § 3-306, or § 3-307 of this subtitle involving the same victim in the same proceeding as a violation of this section unless the other violation charged occurred outside the time period charged under this section. 

(2) A person may not be charged with a violation of § 3-303, § 3-304, § 3-305, § 3-306, or § 3-307 of this subtitle involving the same victim unless the violation charged occurred outside the time period charged under this section. 

 

 

 

§ 3-321. Sodomy.

 A person who is convicted of sodomy is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years

 

§ 3-323. Incest.

(a)  Prohibited.- A person may not knowingly engage in vaginal intercourse with anyone whom the person may not marry under § 2-202 of the Family Law Article.

(b)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 1 year and not exceeding 10 years.

 

§ 3-324. Sexual solicitation of minor.

(a)  "Solicit" defined.- In this section, "solicit" means to command, authorize, urge, entice, request, or advise a person by any means, including:

(1) in person; 

(2) through an agent or agency; 

(3) over the telephone;

(4) through any print medium; 

(5) by mail;

(6) by computer or Internet; or 

(7) by any other electronic means.

(b)  Prohibited.- A person may not, with the intent to commit a violation of § 3-304, § 3-306, or § 3-307 of this subtitle, knowingly solicit a minor, or a law enforcement officer posing as a minor, to engage in activities that would be unlawful for the person to engage in under § 3-304, § 3-306, or § 3-307 of this subtitle. 

(c)  Jurisdiction.- A violation of this section is considered to be committed in the State for purposes of determining jurisdiction if the solicitation: 

(1) originated in the State; or 

(2) is received in the State.

(d)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $25,000 or both.

 

 

Return to the top

 

CRIMINAL LAW : TITLE 3. OTHER CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON :

SUBTITLE 6. ABUSE AND OTHER OFFENSIVE CONDUCT :

§ 3-602. Sexual abuse of a minor.

(a)  Definitions.-

(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;

4. sodomy; and 

5. unnatural or perverted sexual practices.

(b)  Prohibited.-  

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

(d)  Sentencing.- 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. 

 

 

COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS : TITLE 5. LIMITATIONS, PROHIBITED ACTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES : SUBTITLE 1. LIMITATIONS :

§ 5-106. Prosecution for misdemeanors; manslaughter by automobile, motorboat, etc.; homicide by motor vehicle.

 

(a)  In general.- Except as provided by this section, a prosecution for a misdemeanor shall be instituted within 1 year after the offense was committed.

(b)  Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in penitentiary.- Notwithstanding § 9-103(a)(3) of the Correctional Services Article or any other provision of the Code, if a statute provides that a misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary or that a person is subject to this subsection: 

(1) The State may institute a prosecution for the misdemeanor at any time; and 

(2) For purposes of the Maryland Constitution, the person:

(i) Shall be deemed to have committed a misdemeanor whose punishment is confinement in the penitentiary; and 

(ii) May reserve a point or question for in banc review as provided under Article IV, § 22 of the Maryland Constitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My email true_perspective@yahoo.com

 

 

Contents

Introduction

Perspective

Blame

Therapy

Books

Internet Resources

Issues

Types of Predators

Types of Predator Behavior

Ways to Respond and Warning Signs (for Adults and Parents)

My Path

Poem

Disclaimer

State List

 

 

[ Yahoo! ]options

 

Return to the top

 

Revised 08/06

 

 

 

 

 

 

1