Consent Laws
Wyoming

Consent is not defined by statute. However, case law suggests that in order for a person to consent to sexual intercourse, the person must be in a position to exercise independent judgment about the matter. Wilson v. State, 655 P.2d 1246 (Wyo. 1982).

No.

17 years old. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-316.

Depending on the age difference between the victim and actor, the actor may be guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in varying degrees:

• Sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-314.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree if:
• Being 16 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 13 years of age;
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 18 years of age, and the actor is the victim's legal guardian or an ancestor or descendant or a brother or sister of the whole or half-blood;
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 16 years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
• Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-315.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree if:
• Being 17 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is 13, 14 or 15 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor;
• Being 16 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact of a victim who is less than 13 years of age;
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than 18 years of age and the actor is the victim's legal guardian, an ancestor or descendant or a brother or sister of the whole or half-blood; or
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than 16 years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.

• Sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-316.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree if:
• Being 17 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is 13, 14 or 15 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor;
• Being 20 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual intrusion with a victim who is either 16 or 17 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim;
• Being less than 16 years of age, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 13 years of age, and the victim is at least 3 years younger than the actor; or
• Being 17 years of age or older, the actor knowingly takes immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with a victim who is less than 17 years of age and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor.
• Sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-317.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree if:
• Being less than 16 years of age, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than 13 years of age, and the victim is at least 3 years younger than the actor; or
• Being 20 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is either 16 or 17 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.

If criminality of conduct depends on a victim being under 16 years of age, it is an affirmative defense that the actor reasonably believed that the victim was 16 years of age or older.  However, if the criminality of conduct depends on a victim being under 12 years of age or under 14 years old, it is no defense that the actor did not know the victim's age, or that he reasonably believed that the victim was 12 years or 14 years of age or older.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-308.

No.

Yes, any actor who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim commits a sexual assault in the first degree if the actor knows or reasonably should know that the victim through a mental illness, mental deficiency or developmental disability is incapable of appraising the nature of the victim's conduct. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302.

Yes, any actor who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim commits a sexual assault in the first degree if the victim is physically helpless, and the actor knows or reasonably should know that the victim is physically helpless and that the victim has not consented. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302.

“Physically helpless” means unconscious, asleep or otherwise physically unable to communicate unwillingness to act. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-301.

Yes, a person who is unconscious is deemed to be “physically helpless” and not capable of consenting. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-301.

Yes, if the intoxication makes the victim “physically helpless” or have a mental illness, mental deficiency or developmental disability that makes them incapable of appraising the nature of their conduct. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-301; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302. CSC v. State of Wyoming, 118 P.3d 970 (Wyo. 2005).

Any actor who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim commits a sexual assault in the second degree if the actor administers, or knows that someone else administered to the victim, without the prior knowledge or consent of the victim, any substance which substantially impairs the victim’s power to appraise or control his conduct. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-303.

Yes, there are special rules for persons deemed to be in a “position of authority” over the victim that will impact the victim’s ability to consent.

“Position of authority” means that position occupied by a parent, guardian, relative, household member, teacher, employer, custodian, health care provider or any other person who, by reason of his position, is able to exercise significant influence over a person. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-301.

A person commits a sexual assault in the second degree if:

1. the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim and the actor is in a position of authority over the victim and uses this position of authority to cause the victim to submit;
2. the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim and the actor is an employee, independent contractor or volunteer of a state, county, city or town, or privately operated adult or juvenile correctional system, including but not limited to jails, penal institutions, detention centers, juvenile residential or rehabilitative facilities, adult community correctional facilities or secure treatment facilities and the victim is known or should be known by the actor to be a resident of such facility or under supervision of the correctional system;
3. the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim and the actor is an employee or volunteer of an elementary or secondary public or private school who, by virtue of the actor's employment or volunteer relationship with the school, has interaction with the victim who is a student or participant in the activities of the school and is more than four (4) years older than the victim; or
4. the actor subjects another person to sexual contact or sexual intrusion in the actor’s capacity as a health care provider in the course of providing care, treatment, services or procedures to maintain, diagnose or otherwise treat a patient’s physical or mental condition.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-303.

Depending on the age difference between the victim and actor, an actor in a position of authority over a victim may be guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in varying degrees:

• Sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-314.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree if:
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 18 years of age, and the actor is the victim’s legal guardian or an ancestor or descendant or a brother or sister of the whole or half-blood
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than 16 years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
• Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-315.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree if:
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than 18 years of age, and the actor is the victim’s legal guardian or an ancestor or descendant or a brother or sister of the whole or half-blood
• Being 18 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than 16 years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
• Sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-316.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree if:
• Being 20 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual intrusion with a victim who is either 16 or 17 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
• Sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-317.
• An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree if:
  • Being 20 years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is either 16 or 17 years of age, and the victim is at least 4 years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.

Yes, provided that:

• (a) the victim voluntarily consented to the act by word or conduct, and the victim had the present ability to consent; or
• (b) the defendant could not reasonably have known that victim lacked that ability. Wilson v. State, 655 P.2d 1246 (Wyo. 1982).

Consent of the victim is not a defense to sexual assault in the second degree where the actor is an employee, independent contractor or volunteer of a state, county, city or town, or privately operated adult or juvenile correctional system, including but not limited to jails, penal institutions, detention centers, juvenile residential or rehabilitative facilities, adult community correctional facilities or secure treatment facilities and the victim is known or should be known by the actor to be a resident of such facility or under supervision of the correctional system.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-307.

Consent is not a defense to sexual assault in the third degree.  Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-307.

Not specified.