Lewd acts with a child under 14 are described by which Penal Code section?

• A. PC 287
• B. PC 288
• C. PC 289
• D. PC 290

Answer: (B)

Lewd acts with a child under 14 are described by Penal Code section 288. This statute forbids willful lewd or lascivious acts with a person under fourteen, with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desire. The key element is the victim’s age—under 14—and the sexual nature of the act, which can include actions like fondling or other inappropriate touching in a sexual context. The other listed sections cover different offenses: one deals with sexual touching in a broader context (not specific to a minor), another covers sexual penetration, and the last concerns registering as a sex offender. So the section that directly targets lewd acts with a child under 14 is 288.