Sex Crimes: Definitions and Penalties
North Carolina

Engaging in vaginal intercourse with another person by force and against the will of the other person, and:

• Uses, threatens to use, or displays a dangerous or deadly weapon or an article which the other person reasonably believes to be a dangerous or deadly weapon; or
• Inflicts serious personal injury upon the victim or another person; or
• Commits the offense aided and abetted by one or more other persons.

Upon conviction, a person convicted under this section has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the person have any rights related to the child.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole.

• It is not necessary upon the trial of any indictment for an offense where the sex act alleged is vaginal intercourse or anal intercourse to prove the actual emission of semen in order to constitute the offense; but the offense shall be completed upon proof of penetration only. Penetration, however slight, is vaginal intercourse or anal intercourse.
• Any person who commits an offense defined in this section is guilty of a Class B1 felony.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.21; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 14-27.36 (evidence required); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

Engaging in vaginal intercourse with another person:

• By force and against the will of the other person; or
• Who is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know the other person is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

Upon conviction, a person convicted under this section has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the person have any rights related to the child.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 44 months to 182 months in prison.

• See concept of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.
• “Mentally disabled” means a victim who has an intellectual disability or a mental disorder that temporarily or permanently renders the victim substantially incapable of appraising the nature of his or her conduct, or of resisting the act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act, or of communicating unwillingness to submit to the act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act.
• “Mentally incapacitated” means a victim who due to any act is rendered substantially incapable of either appraising the nature of his or her conduct, or resisting the act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act.
• “Physically helpless” means (i) a victim who is unconscious; or (ii) a victim who is physically unable to resist an act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act or communicate unwillingness to submit to an act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act.
• Any person who commits Second-Degree Forcible Rape is guilty of a Class C felony.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.22; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• When a person is at least 18 years of age and engages in vaginal intercourse with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years.
• Upon conviction, a person convicted under this section has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the person have any rights related to the child.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 300 months to life without parole; provided, however, that in no case shall the person receive an active punishment of less than 300 months.
• Following the termination of active punishment, the person shall be subject to enrollment in satellite-based monitoring as provided in Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.

• See concept of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.
• In order to impose lifetime satellite-based monitoring, the State must present evidence that monitoring is “effective to protect the public from sex offenders.” State v. Tucker, 832 S.E.2d 258, 259 (N.C. 2019).
• A person committing this crime is guilty of a class B1 felony; First-Degree Statutory Rape is a lesser included offense.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.23; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• When a person engages in vaginal intercourse with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years and the defendant is at least 12 years old and is at least 4 years older than the victim.
• Upon conviction, a person convicted under this section has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the person have any rights related to the child.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole.

• See concept of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.
• Any person who commits this crime is guilty of a Class B1 felony. 

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.24; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• A person is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and at least 6 years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.
• Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and more than 4 but less than 6 years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for the Class B1 felony version of this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole; the penalty for the Class C felony version of this crime is 44 to 182 months in prison.

• See concepts of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.25; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

Engaging in a sexual act with another person by force and against the will of the other person, and does any one of the following:

• Uses, threatens to use or displays a dangerous or deadly weapon or an article which the other person reasonably believes to be a dangerous or deadly weapon; or
• Inflicts serious personal injury upon the victim or another person; or
• The person commits the offense aided and abetted by one or more other persons.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole.

• “Sexual act” means cunnilingus, fellatio, analingus, or anal intercourse, but does not include vaginal intercourse. Sexual act also means the penetration, however slight, by any object into the genital or anal opening of another person’s body: provided, that it shall be an affirmative defense that the penetration was for accepted medical purposes.
• A person who is guilty of First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense is guilty of a Class B1 felony.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.26; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• Engaging in a sexual act with another person:
• By force and against the will of the other person; or
• Who has a mental disability or who is mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know that the other person has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 44 months to 182 months in prison.

• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense.
• See definitions of “mentally disabled,” “mentally incapacitated,” and “physically helpless” under Second-Degree Forcible Rape.
• Any person who commits Second-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense is guilty of a Class C felony.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.27; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• When a person of at least 18 years of age engages in a sexual act with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 300 months to life without parole; provided, however, that in no case shall the person receive an active punishment of less than 300 months.
• Following the termination of active punishment, the person shall be subject to enrollment in satellite-based monitoring as provided in Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.

• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense.
• A person committing this crime is guilty of a class B1 felony; First-Degree Statutory Sexual Offense is a lesser included offense. 

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.28; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• When a person engages in a sexual act with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years and the defendant is at least 12 years old and is at least 4 years older than the victim.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole.

• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense.
• Any person who commits First-Degree Statutory Sexual Offense is guilty of a Class B1 felony. 

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.29; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• A defendant is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in a sexual act with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and at least 6 years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.
• Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in a sexual act with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and more than 4 but less than 6 years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for the Class B1 felony version of this crime ranges from 144 months to life without parole; the penalty for the Class C felony version of this crime is 44 to 182 months in prison.

• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense. 

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.30; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• If, for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, a person engages in sexual contact with another person:
• By force and against the will of the other person; or
• Who has a mental disability or who is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know that the other person has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 1 day to 150 days in prison and a fine, at the discretion of the court.

• See definition of “mentally disabled,” “mentally incapacitated,” or “physically helpless” under Second-Degree Forcible Rape.
• “Sexual contact” means (i) touching the sexual organ, anus, breast, groin, or buttocks of any person, (ii) a person touching another person with their own sexual organ, anus, breast, groin, or buttocks, or (iii) a person ejaculating, emitting, or placing semen, urine, or feces upon any part of another person.
• “Touching” as used in “sexual contact” means physical contact with another person, whether accomplished directly, through the clothing of the person committing the offense, or through the clothing of the victim.
• Any person who commits Sexual Battery is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.33; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.23 (punishment).

• If a person who has assumed the position of a parent in the home of a minor victim engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a minor residing in the home.
• If a person having custody of a victim of any age or a person who is an agent or employee of any person, or institution, whether such institution is private, charitable, or governmental, having custody of a victim of any age engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with such victim.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 15 months to 63 months in prison.

• See concept of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.
• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense.
• Sexual Activity by a Substitute Parent or Custodian is a Class E felony.
• Consent is not a defense.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.31; see also id. § 14-27.20 (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• When a person who is a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, at any age, or who is other school personnel, and who is at least 4 years older than the victim engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a student, at any time during or after the time the defendant and victim were present together in the same school, but before the victim ceases to be a student, the defendant is guilty of a Class G felony, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the student.
• A defendant who is school personnel, other than a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, and is less than 4 years older than the victim and engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a student, is guilty of a Class I felony.

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for a Class G felony ranges from 8 months to 31 months in prison; the penalty for a Class I felony ranges from 3 months to 12 months in prison.

• “School” means any public school, charter school, or nonpublic school under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
• “School personnel” means any person included in the definition contained in G.S. 115C-332(a)(2), including those employed by a nonpublic, charter, or regional school, and any person who volunteers at a school or a school-sponsored activity.
• “School safety officer” includes a school resource officer or any other person who is regularly present in a school for the purpose of promoting and maintaining safe and orderly schools.
• “Student” means a person enrolled in kindergarten, or in grade one through grade 12 in any school within six months of any violation of this section.
• “Same school” means a school at which the student is enrolled and the defendant is employed, assigned, or volunteers.
• See concept of “vaginal intercourse” under First-Degree Forcible Rape.
• See definition of “sexual act” under First-Degree Forcible Sexual Offense.
• If the conduct is covered under another provision of law providing for greater punishment, that other provision applies.
• Consent is not a defense. 

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-27.32; see also id. §§ 14-27.20, 14-202.4(d) (definitions); id. § 15A-1340.17 (punishment).

• The crime against nature, with mankind or beast.
• Note: Any state laws that outright prohibit sodomy are unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003).

• The length of the sentence in North Carolina is based on prior criminal history. The penalty for this crime ranges from 3 months to 12 months in prison.

• A violation of a crime against nature is a Class I felony.

Law was found unconstitutional as applied by State v. Whiteley, 616 S.E.2d 576 (N.C. App. 2005) and recognized as unconstitutional by State v. Gentle, 817 S.E.2d 833 (N.C. App. 2018).

• N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 14-177.