Multistate Bar Examination Practice Question

The correct answer is that the man can be found guilty of statutory rape because statutory rape is a strict liability crime in many jurisdictions, meaning that the prosecution does not need to prove the defendant's intent to commit the crime. In such cases, the voluntary and consensual nature of the sexual act is irrelevant if the victim is below the age of consent. Furthermore, the state's explicit exclusion of a mistake of fact defense precludes the man from arguing he did not knowingly engage in sexual conduct with a minor. While some jurisdictions allow a mistake of fact defense in statutory rape cases, this is not applicable when the statute explicitly disallows it. This ensures that individuals are held accountable regardless of subjective misunderstandings about the victim's age.