Lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 are defined under which Penal Code section?

• A. PC 288
• B. PC 288.5
• C. PC 261
• D. PC 287

Answer: (A)

Lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 are defined under Penal Code section 288. This statute targets sexual conduct with a minor that is intended to arouse or gratify the offender’s sexual desires, and it applies specifically when the victim is under 14. The key element is the age of the child combined with the lewd or lascivious intent behind the act.

This differs from the other listed offenses: rape involves nonconsensual sexual intercourse, which is covered elsewhere, and oral copulation with a minor is defined under a different statute focusing on that specific act. A separate statute covers continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, which involves a pattern or ongoing conduct rather than a single act.