Sec. 53a-70. Sexual assault in the first degree: Class B or A felony.
Sec. 53a-70. Sexual assault in the first degree: Class B or A felony. (a) A person
is guilty of sexual assault in the first degree when such person (1) compels another
person to engage in sexual intercourse by the use of force against such other person or
a third person, or by the threat of use of force against such other person or against a
third person which reasonably causes such person to fear physical injury to such person
or a third person, or (2) engages in sexual intercourse with another person and such
other person is under thirteen years of age and the actor is more than two years older
than such person, or (3) commits sexual assault in the second degree as provided in
section 53a-71 and in the commission of such offense is aided by two or more other
persons actually present, or (4) engages in sexual intercourse with another person and
such other person is mentally incapacitated to the extent that such other person is unable
to consent to such sexual intercourse.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, sexual assault in
the first degree is a class B felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not
be suspended or reduced by the court or, if the victim of the offense is under ten years
of age, for which ten years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced
by the court.
(2) Sexual assault in the first degree is a class A felony if the offense is a violation
of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and the victim of the offense is under
sixteen years of age or the offense is a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of
this section. Any person found guilty under said subdivision (1) or (2) shall be sentenced
to a term of imprisonment of which ten years of the sentence imposed may not be
suspended or reduced by the court if the victim is under ten years of age or of which
five years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court if the
victim is under sixteen years of age.
(3) Any person found guilty under this section shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and a period of special parole pursuant to subsection (b) of section 53a-28 which
together constitute a sentence of at least ten years.
(1969, P.A. 828, S. 71; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 19; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 78; P.A. 75-619, S. 3; P.A. 82-428, S. 2; P.A. 89-359;
P.A. 92-87, S. 3; P.A. 93-340, S. 14; P.A. 95-142, S. 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 49; P.A. 00-161, S. 1; P.A. 02-138,
S. 5.)
History: 1971 act replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators in Subsec. (a) with numeric indicators; 1972 act changed
applicable age in Subsec. (a)(1) from 21 to 18 reflecting lowered age of majority; P.A. 75-619 reworded section to reflect
changes in definitions of Sec. 53a-65, substituted sexual "assault" for sexual "misconduct" and made the offense a Class
B rather than Class D felony; P.A. 82-428 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that 1 year of sentence may not be suspended
or reduced by the court; P.A. 89-359 added Subsec. (a)(2) re engaging in sexual intercourse with a person under 13 years
of age; P.A. 92-87 added Subsec. (a)(3) re committing sexual assault in the second degree while aided by two or more
other persons actually present; P.A. 93-340 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to require that the actor be more than 2 years older
than the other person; P.A. 95-142 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that 10 years of the sentence imposed may not be
suspended or reduced by the court if the victim is under 10 years of age; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 amended Subsec. (b) to
increase from 1 year to 2 years the nonsuspendable portion of the sentence imposed when the victim is other than a victim
under 10 years of age and to add requirement that any person found guilty be sentenced to a term of imprisonment and a
period of special parole pursuant to Sec. 53a-28(b) which together constitute a sentence of at least 10 years; P.A. 00-161
added Subsec. (a)(4) re engaging in sexual intercourse with a person who is mentally incapacitated, which conduct was
formerly classified as sexual assault in the second degree under Sec. 53a-71(a)(2) but was deleted from said section by
same public act; P.A. 02-138 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision re classification of offense and length
of nonsuspendable sentence as Subdiv. (1) and amending said Subdiv. to add exception re Subdiv. (2), adding new Subdiv.
(2) to classify the offense as a class A felony for a violation of Subsec. (a)(1) when the victim is under 16 years of age and
for a violation of Subsec. (a)(2) and establish a nonsuspendable sentence for said violations of 10 years if the victim is
under 10 years of age and 5 years if the victim is under 16 years of age and designating existing provisions re minimum
length of a combined sentence of imprisonment and special parole as Subdiv. (3).
See Sec. 53a-40c re sentence of psychological counseling for sexual assault of minor.
See Sec. 54-86f re admissibility of evidence of prior sexual conduct.
See Sec. 54-193a re statute of limitations for sexual abuse, exploitation or assault of minor.
See chapter 968a re address confidentiality program.
Cited. 175 C. 315; Id., 398. Repealed Sec. 53a-72 cited. 175 C. 512. Cited. 182 C. 412. Cited. 184 C. 258. Cited. 186
C. 45; Id., 449; Id., 521. Cited. 187 C. 216. Cited. 190 C. 20. Cited. 191 C. 604. Cited. 192 C. 154. Cited. 194 C. 114; Id.,
297; 692. Cited. 195 C. 253. Cited. 197 C. 280; Id., 298. "Does not include sexual intercourse with a victim whom the
assailant finds unconscious" but does not apply when assailant strangled victim into a state of unconsciousness. 198 C.
53. Cited. Id., 190. Cited. 199 C. 121; Id., 193; Id., 281; Id., 481; Id., 693. Cited. 200 C. 465. Cited. 201 C. 115; Id., 659.
Cited. 202 C. 343; Id., 676. Cited. 204 C. 98; Id., 441; Id., 571. Cited. 205 C. 61. Cited. 207 C. 646. Cited. 209 C. 733.
Cited. 210 C. 110. Section not void for vagueness in context of circumstances of case. Id., 132. Cited. 211 C. 672. Cited
212 C. 31. Cited. 215 C. 257. Judgment of appellate court in State v. Horne, reversed. Id., 538. Cited. 219 C. 489. Cited.
220 C. 112; Id., 345. Cited. 222 C. 556. Cited. 223 C. 180; Id., 731. Cited. 224 C. 397; Id., 656, 663; judgment reversed,
see 31 CA 452 et seq. Cited. 226 C. 601; Id., 618. Cited. 227 C. 207; Id., 616; Id., 677. Cited. 228 C. 456. Cited. 230 C.
43. Cited. 235 C. 711. Cited. 238 C. 389. Cited. 240 C. 743. Cited. 242 C. 409; Id., 689. Penetration element of statute
applicable to first degree sexual assault by fellatio not satisfied when alleged victim is compelled to lick perpetrator's penis
without necessarily also being compelled to insert penis into the mouth. 256 C. 517.
Cited. 1 CA 344; Id., 378; Id., 724. Cited. 3 CA 148; Id., 374; Id., 650. Cited. 5 CA 424; Id., 556; Id., 586. Cited. 7 CA
257; Id., 701. Cited. 8 CA 44; Id., 190; Id., 216; Id., 345; Id., 399; Id., 528; Id., 620. Cited. 10 CA 457; Id., 520; Id., 709.
Court concluded the absence of a marital relationship between defendant and victim is not an essential element. 11 CA
102, 112; Id., 236; Id., 238; Id., 316. Cited. 12 CA 585. Cited. 13 CA 413. Cited. 14 CA 333; Id., 688. Cited. 15 CA 251.
Cited. 16 CA 75. Cited. 17 CA 391. Cited. 18 CA 134. Cited. 19 CA 111. Cited. 20 CA 737. Cited. 22 CA 531; Id., 562.
Cited. 23 CA 1; Id., 221; Id., 564; judgment reversed in part, see 220 C. 400 et seq. Cited. 24 CA 13; Id., 24; Id., 295.
Cited. 25 CA 334; Id., 503; Id., 653; judgment reversed, see 223 C. 52 et seq. Cited. 26 CA 151; Id., 433; Id., 674. Cited.
28 CA 548; Id., 581; judgment reversed, see 226 C. 601 et seq. Cited. 29 CA 642. Cited. 32 CA 773. Cited. 34 CA 276.
Cited. 35 CA 173; Id., 754. Cited. 36 CA 177. Cited. 38 CA 56; Id., 777. Cited. 39 CA 267. Cited 40 CA 553. Cited. 41
CA 604. Cited. 43 CA 715. Cited. 44 CA 548. Cited. 46 CA 741. Intent or motive of sexual assault perpetrators, discussed.
47 CA 159. Age of victim not an element of crime for which jury makes a factual determination but a sentencing factor
determined by the courts. 74 CA 376. On basis of the evidence, jury could reasonably conclude that defendant intended
to force victim to have sexual intercourse with him and intended to compel sexual intercourse by use of force or the threat
of use of force. 75 CA 447. Because the necessary elements of this section and Sec. 53-21 are distinct, court's respective
findings of not guilty and guilty of these distinct crimes was not legally inconsistent. 78 CA 25. Trial court's finding that
the state had proven, by a preponderance of the evidence, that defendant had committed sexual assault in the first degree
and thereby violated his probation was not clearly erroneous and was supported by the evidence. 108 CA 250.
Cited. 41 CS 229. Cited 43 CS 46.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 179 C. 328. Cited. 180 C. 101; Id., 565. Subdiv. (2) cited. 182 C. 449. Cited. 185 C. 163. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
402. Cited. 186 C. 757. Cited. 187 C. 681. Subdiv. (2) cited. 188 C. 372. Cited. Id., 565; Id., 574. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
697. Cited. 189 C. 106; Id., 611; Id., 631. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 631. Cited. 190 C. 104; Id., 327. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
440. Cited. Id., 496. Cited. 191 C. 604. Subdiv. (1) cited. 192 C. 166. Cited. 193 C. 457. Cited. 194 C. 258; Id., 594; Id.,
692. Cited. 197 C. 50; Id., 485. Cited. 198 C. 53; Id., 190; Id., 285; Id., 314; Id., 405; Id., 430; Id., 598; Id., 617. Cited.
199 C. 62; Id., 399; Id., 481. Cited. 201 C. 559. Cited. 202 C. 259; Id., 509. Cited. 203 C. 385. Cited. 204 C. 714. Cited.
206 C. 39; Id., 132; Id., 437; Id., 528. Cited. 207 C. 646. Cited. 209 C. 143; Id., 416. Cited. 210 C. 51; Id., 110; Id., 315;
Id., 359. Cited. 211 C. 18. Cited. 212 C. 31. Cited. 213 C. 593. Cited. 214 C. 38. Subdiv. (2) Cited. Id., 717. Judgment of
appellate court in State v. Horne, reversed. 215 C. 538. Cited. 216 C. 563. Cited. 218 C. 447. Cited. 219 C. 269; Id., 283;
Id., 489. Cited. 220 C. 400; Id., 487; Id., 698. Cited. 221 C. 264. Cited. 222 C. 87. Cited. 223 C. 52. Subdiv. (1) cited. 225
C. 450. Cited. Id., 519. Cited. 226 C. 601. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id. Cited. Id., 618. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id.;
227 C. 616. Cited. Id. Subdiv. (1) cited. 228 C. 393. Cited. Id., 456. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id. Cited. Id.,
552; Id., 582. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 756; 229 C. 529; Id., 557. Cited. Id., 580. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id. Cited. 230 C. 43. Subdiv.
(1) cited. 231 C. 195; 232 C. 707; 233 C. 403; 235 C. 145. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 502. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 659. Subdiv.
(1) cited. 237 C. 284; Id., 576. Cited. Id., 694. Cited. 241 C. 784. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 823. Subdiv. (1) cited. 242 C. 409.
Cited. Id., 445. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 523. Medical treatment exception to the hearsay rule applies to a child sexual assault
victim's statements made to a social worker acting in the chain of medical care if statements were made to obtain medical
treatment and were pertinent to the treatment sought. 260 C. 1.
Cited. 1 CA 344; Id., 724. Cited. 4 CA 514; Id., 672. Cited. 7 CA 149; Id., 489; Id., 653. Cited. 8 CA 35; Id., 148. Cited.
Id., 177; Id., 387; Id., 528; Id., 620. Cited. 9 CA 208; Id., 340. Cited. 10 CA 217; Id., 709. Cited. 11 CA 102; Id., 316; Id.,
673. Cited. 13 CA 60; Id., 67; Id., 76. Cited. 14 CA 40; Id., 451; Id., 657; Id., 688; Id., 710. Cited. 15 CA 222. Cited. 16
CA 75. Cited. 17 CA 525. Cited. 18 CA 134; Id., 273; Id., 643; Id., 730. Cited. 19 CA 111; judgment reversed, see 215 C.
538 et seq; Id., 618; Id., 631. Cited. 20 CA 101; Id., 193; Id., 737. Cited. 21 CA 411; Id., 467. Cited. 22 CA 329; Id., 477.
Cited. 23 CA 564; judgment reversed in part, see 220 C. 400 et seq. Cited. 25 CA 243; Id., 384; Id., 653; judgment reversed,
see 223 C. 52 et seq; Id., 725. Subdiv. (2) cited. 26 CA 81. Cited. Id., 395. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 433. Cited. Id., 574. Cited.
27 CA 279; Id., 705. Cited. 28 CA 91; Id., 195. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 360; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 529 et seq. Cited.
Id., 402; Id., 581; judgment reversed, see 226 C. 601 et seq. Cited. 29 CA 409. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 724. Cited. 30 CA
56. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 281; Id., 523; Id., 915. Subdiv. (1) cited. 32 CA 178. Cited. Id., 217; judgment reversed, see 229
C. 580 et seq. Subdiv. (1) cited. 33 CA 184; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 707 et seq. Cited. Id., 457. Cited. 34 CA 276.
Subdiv. (1) cited. 35 CA 173. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 728. Cited. 36 CA 177. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 190. Cited. Id., 216.
Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 228. Cited. Id., 641. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 695. Subdiv. (2) cited. 38 CA 56. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id.,
100. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 125. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 231; Id., 531; Id., 777; 39 CA 45; Id., 617; Id., 742; Id., 832. Subdiv.
(1) cited. 40 CA 132. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 132; Id., 233. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 250; 41 CA 139. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id.,
204. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 255; Id., 287. Cited. Id., 317. Cited. 42 CA 78. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 186; judgment reversed,
see 241 C. 823 et seq. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 445. Cited. 43 CA 552; Id., 680. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id.; Id., 704; Id., 715.
Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 785; 44 CA 457. Cited. Id., 548. Subdiv. (2) cited. 45 CA 66; Id., 116. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 289;
Id., 756; 46 CA 810. Conviction of both sexual assault and unlawful restraint is not double jeopardy. 47 CA 117. Trial
court did not abuse its discretion in commenting on testimony of state's expert witness concerning inconsistencies in results
of victim's rape kit tests, that court having also instructed jury to base findings on recollection of all evidence presented;
defendant's challenge to other aspects of instructions on scientific evidence were not properly preserved for appellate
review. Trial court properly admitted victim's written statement to police as constancy of accusation evidence; defendant
failed to establish that court abused its discretion or that he was prejudiced by admission of that evidence, and his claim
that victim's statement is admissible only if tape recorded was incorrect. 48 CA 135. Subdiv. (1): Trier of fact reasonably
could have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant compelled victim to engage in sexual intercourse by use
of force. 52 CA 466. Subdiv. (1): Defendant could not succeed in argument that the evidence did not support a guilty
verdict under section; jury could reasonably have concluded that the facts and inferences established guilt beyond reasonable
doubt. 55 CA 412. Evidence was sufficient for jury to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 57 CA 736. Statute
is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to facts of the case. 58 CA 585. Evidence was sufficient to establish guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt. 75 CA 201. Subdiv. (1): Sexual assault in the second degree was not a lesser offense included within
sexual assault in the first degree because it would be possible to commit the latter offense in the manner described in the
information and bill of particulars without committing the former offense. 99 CA 251.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 207 C. 412, 416. Issue of whether victims were less than ten years of age was a question for jury to decide during
guilt phase of trial except in this case, where court decided issue of age in sentencing process, error was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. 271 C. 499.
Cited. 23 CA 564; judgment reversed in part, see 220 C. 400 et seq.