Section 566.211 - Sexual trafficking of a child, second degree, penalty1. A person commits the offense of sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree if he or she knowingly: (1) Recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, including but not limited to through the use of force, abduction, coercion, fraud, deception, blackmail, or causing or threatening to cause financial harm, a person under the age of eighteen to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material as defined in section 573.010, or benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in such activities;(2) Causes a person under the age of eighteen to engage in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material as defined in section 573.010; or(3) Advertises the availability of a person under the age of eighteen to participate in a commercial sex act, a sexual performance, or the production of explicit sexual material as defined in section 573.010.2. It shall not be a defense that the defendant believed that the person was eighteen years of age or older.3. The offense sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not less than ten years or life and a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars if the child is under the age of eighteen. If a violation of this section was effected by force, abduction, or coercion, the crime of sexual trafficking of a child shall be a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole until the defendant has served not less than twenty-five years of such sentence.Transferred 2014; formerly 566.212; Effective 1-01-17
Amended by 2016 Mo. Laws, HB 1562,s A, eff. 6/22/2016.Added by 2014 Mo. Laws, SB 491,s A, eff. 1/1/2017.