<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351147</law_id><section_number>18.2-67.10</section_number><catch_line>General definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-272</reference><reference>18.2-370.1</reference><reference>18.2-59.1</reference><reference>18.2-67.4</reference><reference>18.2-67.4:2</reference><reference>19.2-271.2</reference><reference>19.2-368.2</reference><reference>54.1-2400.1</reference><reference>55.1-1236</reference><reference>63.2-1605</reference><reference>8.01-249</reference><reference>9.1-902</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="52" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="9" identifier="7">Criminal Sexual Assault</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Complaining witness</span>&#x201D; means the person alleged to have been subjected to <span class="dictionary">rape</span>, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate <span class="dictionary">object</span> sexual penetration, marital sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span>, aggravated sexual <span class="dictionary">battery</span>, or sexual <span class="dictionary">battery</span>. <a id="paragraph-1307749" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Intimate parts</span>&#x201D; means the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, or buttocks of any person, or the chest of a child under the age of 15. <a id="paragraph-1307750" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Mental incapacity</span>&#x201D; means that condition of the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> existing at the time of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under this article which prevents the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> from understanding the nature or consequences of the sexual act involved in such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> and about which the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> knew or should have known. <a id="paragraph-1307751" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Physical helplessness</span>&#x201D; means unconsciousness or any other condition existing at the time of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under this article which otherwise rendered the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> physically unable to communicate an unwillingness to act and about which the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> knew or should have known. <a id="paragraph-1307752" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">prior sexual conduct</span>&#x201D; means any sexual conduct on the part of the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> which took place before the conclusion of the <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, excluding the conduct involved in the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> alleged under this article. <a id="paragraph-1307753" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sexual abuse</span>&#x201D; means an act committed with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to sexually molest, arouse, or gratify any person, where:
			a. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> intentionally touches the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>;<br/><br/>			b. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> forces the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> to touch the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s, the witness&#x2019;s own, or another person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>;<br/><br/>			c. If the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> is under the age of 13, the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> causes or assists the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span> to touch the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s, the witness&#x2019;s own, or another person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>; or<br/><br/>			d. The <span class="dictionary">accused</span> forces another person to touch the <span class="dictionary">complaining witness</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span> or <span class="dictionary">material</span> directly covering such <span class="dictionary">intimate parts</span>. <a id="paragraph-1307754" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-67.10/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1981, c. 397; 1987, c. 277; 1993, c. 549; 1994, c. 568; 2004, c. 741; 2022, c. 645.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Gilbert R. Nelson v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>0925202</case_number><citation></citation><date>2021-11-03</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/5294303/gilbert-r-nelson-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Doe v. Green</name><case_number>240794</case_number><citation></citation><date>2025-11-26</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10742797/doe-v-green/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Powell, Kelsey, McCullough, Chafin, and Russell, JJ., and Mims, .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="2"><name>Nicholson v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>0168094</case_number><citation>694 S.E.2d 788</citation><date>2010-07-13</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1062149/nicholson-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 694 S.E.2d 788 (2010) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="3"><name>Omar Thompson v. William Barr</name><case_number>18-1809</case_number><citation>922 F.3d 528</citation><date>2019-04-26</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4614197/omar-thompson-v-william-barr/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. WILKINSON, Circuit Judge: .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="4"><name>Quyen Vinh Phan Le v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>0850144</case_number><citation>65 Va. App. 66</citation><date>2015-07-28</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2820744/quyen-vinh-phan-le-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. O&#x2019;BRIEN, Judge. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="5"><name>De'Armond v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>1987063</case_number><citation>654 S.E.2d 317</citation><date>2007-12-27</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1062901/dearmond-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 654 S.E.2d 317 (2007) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="6"><name>Farhoumand v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>140012</case_number><citation></citation><date>2014-10-31</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2747285/farhoumand-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. PRESENT:   All the Justices .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="7"><name>Carlos Gomez-Ruotolo v. Merrick Garland</name><case_number>23-1238</case_number><citation>96 F.4th 670</citation><date>2024-03-20</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/9486742/carlos-gomez-ruotolo-v-merrick-garland/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. USCA4 Appeal: 23-1238     Doc: 52        Filed: 03/20/2024    Pg: 1 of 22 .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="8"><name>Robert Allen Hutton v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>0191163</case_number><citation>66 Va. App. 714</citation><date>2016-11-08</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4319118/robert-allen-hutton-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. *716 .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="9"><name>Pulliam v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>2427082</case_number><citation>688 S.E.2d 910</citation><date>2010-02-23</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1062252/pulliam-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 688 S.E.2d 910 (2010) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
