566.213. Sexual trafficking of a child under age twelve--affirmative defense not allowed, when--penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Sexual trafficking of a child under age twelve--affirmative defensenot allowed, when--penalty.

566.213. 1. A person commits the crime of sexual trafficking of achild under the age of twelve if the individual knowingly:

(1) Recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains byany means a person under the age of twelve to participate in a commercialsex act or benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, fromparticipation in such activities; or

(2) Causes a person under the age of twelve to engage in a commercialsex act.

2. It shall not be an affirmative defense that the defendant believedthat the person was twelve years of age or older.

3. Sexual trafficking of a child less than twelve years of age shallbe a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is lifeimprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole until thedefendant has served not less than twenty-five years of such sentence.Subsection 4 of section 558.019, RSMo, shall not apply to the sentence of aperson who has pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of sexual traffickingof a child less than twelve years of age, and "life imprisonment" shallmean imprisonment for the duration of a person's natural life for thepurposes of this section.

(L. 2006 H.B. 1698, et al.)

Effective 6-05-06