CASE 4.1
Johnny has been burglarizing houses since he was 12 years old. He is now 25 years old, and he is becoming more violent in his crimes. Now he actually commits his burglaries when people are home, and he is in possession of a firearm when he commits his burglaries. The elements of an armed burglary include:
• Willfully entering a dwelling.
• Be armed or arming oneself after entering the house or committing an assault on a person who is lawfully in the house.
• Knowingly and intentionally committing the crime.
-In addition to armed burglary charges, Johnny is being investigated for statutory rape charges. He has been having sexual relations with his girlfriend, who is 14 years of age. She lied to Johnny and told him she was 19 years old. Prosecutors are able to prove that she is 14 years of age, which means she is younger than the age of consent for sexual intercourse in the jurisdiction where the sexual relations took place. Johnny claims that he should not be charged with this crime because he did not have the intent to commit a crime. He claims it was an honest mistake because his girlfriend looks a lot older. According to the law, Johnny can still be held responsible for his actions because this crime qualifies as a:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Statutory rape is a strict liability crime, meaning that the defendant can be held responsible for the crime regardless of their intent or knowledge of the victim's age. It is the defendant's responsibility to ensure that their sexual partner is of legal age. Therefore, Johnny's claim of an honest mistake is not a valid defense for this crime.

CASE 4.1 Johnny Has Been Burglarizing Houses Since He Was 12 Years