Section 39-13-522 - Rape of a child(a) Rape of a child is the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim, if the victim is more than eight (8) years of age but less than thirteen (13) years of age.(b) Rape of a child is a Class A felony and shall be punished as follows:(1) If the defendant was a juvenile at the time of the offense, then the defendant shall be punished as a Range II offender; however the sentence imposed may, if appropriate, be within Range III, but in no case shall it be lower than Range II; and(2) If the defendant was an adult at the time of the offense, then the sentence must be: (B) Imprisonment for life without possibility of parole; or(C) Imprisonment for life.Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 951,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 588, s 2, eff. 7/1/2020.Acts 1992, ch. 878, § 1; 1997 , ch. 406, § 2; 2005, ch. 353, § 14; 2006, ch. 890, § 22; 2007 , ch. 501, § 1; 2011 , ch. 306, § 1.