Arizona
Arizona Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 29, 2026). · 11 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Arizona's general age-based criminal protections for minors run to age 18 under A.R.S. § 13-1405 (sexual conduct with a minor), and the offense is tiered by the minor's age, the age difference and any position of trust. The molestation offense in A.R.S. § 13-1410 separately covers sexual contact with a child under 15.
To report a concern: if a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For Arizona, the Department of Child Safety page says to "act to protect that child by calling the toll free Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445)." The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453, call or text) can help you figure out where and how to report. Online exploitation can be reported to the NCMEC CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
Information last verified on 2026-09-28. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer. It is legal-reference information, not legal advice.
This page covers Arizona's criminal statutes on sexual offenses involving minors. Federal law is summarized on the age of consent laws by state hub. Each cite links to the Arizona Legislature's official statute page.
This page describes the main age-based sexual offense statutes. Other Arizona statutes also protect minors, and one of them can apply even where none of the offenses described here does.
How Arizona law protects minors by age
Arizona uses one core offense, sexual conduct with a minor, covering "any person who is under eighteen years of age" (A.R.S. § 13-1405). The statute sets the grade of the offense by the minor's age and, for minors 15 to 17, by the age difference and relationship.
Under 15
Sexual conduct with a minor under 15 is a class 2 felony punishable under A.R.S. § 13-705, the dangerous crimes against children statute. If the minor is 12 or under and suffers serious physical injury, the offense is a class 1 felony punishable by natural life imprisonment. The statute has no actor-age or age-difference condition for a minor under 15.
Molestation of a child under A.R.S. § 13-1410 covers intentionally or knowingly engaging in or causing a person to engage in sexual contact with a child under 15, except sexual contact with the female breast. It is also a class 2 felony punishable under A.R.S. § 13-705. Sexual contact with a child under 15 that involves only the female breast is sexual abuse under A.R.S. § 13-1404, a class 3 felony punishable pursuant to section 13-705.
Three or more acts in violation of section 13-1405, 13-1406 or 13-1410 with a child under 14 over a period of three months or more is continuous sexual abuse of a child, a class 2 felony punishable under section 13-705 (A.R.S. § 13-1417).
Ages 15 to 17
For a minor at least 15, the default grade is a class 6 felony. Two provisions raise the grade:
- Age difference: a class 4 felony if the person is more than 60 months older than the minor and older than 21.
- Position of trust: a class 2 felony if the person "is or was in a position of trust."
Summary table
| Minor's age | Condition | Grade | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 or under | Serious physical injury | Class 1 felony (natural life) | 13-1405(B) |
| Under 15 | None | Class 2 felony (13-705) | 13-1405(B) |
| Under 15 | Sexual contact (molestation of a child) | Class 2 felony (13-705) | 13-1410 |
| Under 15 | Sexual contact involving only the female breast (sexual abuse) | Class 3 felony (13-705) | 13-1404 |
| 15 to 17 | Default | Class 6 felony | 13-1405(B) |
| 15 to 17 | Person more than 60 months older and older than 21 | Class 4 felony | 13-1405(B) |
| 15 to 17 | Person is or was in a position of trust | Class 2 felony | 13-1405(B) |
Age-difference provision
Arizona's close-in-age provision is written as a statutory defense, not an element of the offense. A.R.S. § 13-1407(E) states that it is a defense to a prosecution under section 13-1405 (and certain other sections) "if the victim is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age, the defendant is under nineteen years of age or attending high school and is no more than twenty-four months older than the victim and the conduct is consensual." It applies only to victims 15 to 17, so it does not reach a minor under 15, and section 13-1404 (sexual abuse) is not among the sections it lists.
Positions of trust
Under A.R.S. § 13-1401(A)(2), "position of trust" covers roles including a parent, stepparent, grandparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, aunt, uncle or foster parent; a teacher or any school employee or volunteer at the minor's school who is 18 or older; a coach or instructor; a clergy member, or a person 18 or older who worked or volunteered for a religious organization hosting events the minor attended; a person in a sexual or romantic relationship with the minor's parent, guardian, relative or sibling; a relative within the third degree at least 10 years older; the minor's employer; and an employee of a group home or residential treatment facility where the minor resides or resided.
For the separate offense of sexual abuse (sexual contact), A.R.S. § 13-1404(B) states that it is not a defense that the other person consented if the other person was 15, 16 or 17 and the defendant was in a position of trust.
Penalties
Sentencing ranges come from A.R.S. § 13-705 (dangerous crimes against children), A.R.S. § 13-702 (first-felony ranges) and A.R.S. § 13-801 (fines up to $150,000 for a felony). The figures below are for a defendant at least 18 or tried as an adult and, for the general felony classes, for a first felony offense; repeat-offender ranges were not researched.
| Offense | Grade | Range as stated |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual conduct with a minor 12 or under with serious physical injury | Class 1 felony | Natural life imprisonment, no commutation or release |
| Sexual conduct with a minor 12 or under | Class 2, dangerous crime against children | Life imprisonment with no release until 35 years served or the sentence is commuted; does not apply to masturbatory contact (13-705(B)) |
| Sexual conduct with a minor 12, 13 or 14 | Class 2, dangerous crime against children | 13 / 20 / 27 years (minimum / presumptive / maximum), 13-705(E) |
| Molestation of a child | Class 2, dangerous crime against children | 10 / 17 / 24 years, 13-705(F) |
| Minor 15 to 17, default | Class 6 felony | 0.33 to 2 years (presumptive 1 year) |
| Minor 15 to 17, person over 60 months older and over 21 | Class 4 felony | 1 to 3.75 years (presumptive 2.5); one year in jail if placed on probation |
| Minor 15 to 17, position of trust | Class 2 felony | 3 to 12.5 years (presumptive 5); no suspension of sentence, probation or release until the sentence is served or commuted |
The statute text also states additional ranges for defendants with a predicate felony and separate provisions for sexual conduct with a minor under 12. The statute text controls.
Sex offender registration
Under A.R.S. § 13-3821(A), registration is required for sexual abuse under section 13-1404 if the victim is under 18, for sexual conduct with a minor under section 13-1405, and for molestation of a child under section 13-1410. A court may require a juvenile adjudicated delinquent for such an offense to register, and that duty ends at age 25. A court may also suspend or terminate a duty to register after a hearing under section 13-923, which provides probation review hearings for a probationer under 22 convicted of an offense committed before age 18.
Recent changes
Recent Arizona laws that changed provisions covered on this page include:
- Laws 2024, Chapter 233 (SB 1232), approved June 21, 2024, added the class 1 felony tier for sexual conduct with a minor 12 or under who suffers serious physical injury.
- Laws 2024, Chapter 189 (HB 2310), signed May 17, 2024, created the child enticement offense and added it to the offenses listed in A.R.S. § 13-1407(E).
- Laws 2025, Chapter 49 (HB 2114), approved April 8, 2025, added the class 4 felony tier for a minor 15 or older where the person is more than 60 months older and older than 21.
The general effective dates of these laws were not confirmed on an official page for this check. A 2026 law, SB 1127 (Laws 2026, Chapter 143, approved June 19, 2026), amends duty-to-report provisions (sections 13-3620 and 15-514) that reference sections 13-1404 and 13-1405. No change to the age elements or grades was found in the current text of section 13-1405.
Where to report
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. The Arizona Department of Child Safety lists the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445). The national Childhelp hotline and the NCMEC CyberTipline are listed in the box near the top of this page.
Disclaimer
This page is general legal information about Arizona criminal statutes as verified on 2026-09-28. It is not legal advice. Statutes change, summaries simplify, and the statute text controls. Anyone with a specific situation should consult a lawyer licensed in Arizona.
Related articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'position of trust' mean in Arizona's statutes?
A.R.S. § 13-1401(A)(2) defines it by listing roles, including family members such as a parent or guardian, school employees and volunteers, coaches and instructors, religious leaders and workers, an employer, and staff of a group home or residential treatment facility where the minor lives or lived.
Is the age difference in section 13-1407(E) part of the offense?
No. It is written as a defense in section 13-1407(E), which applies when the victim is 15, 16 or 17, the defendant is under 19 or attending high school and no more than 24 months older, and the conduct is consensual as stated in that subsection. The elements of the offense are in sections 13-1405 and 13-1410.
Where can the statute text be read?
Each section cited on this page links to the Arizona Legislature's official Arizona Revised Statutes page. The statute text controls over any summary.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 13 (Criminal Code), Chapter 14 (SEXUAL OFFENSES)
§ 13-1405Sexual conduct with a minor; classificationIn force
A. A person commits sexual conduct with a minor by intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person who is under eighteen years of age. B. Sexual conduct with a minor who is twelve years of age or under and who suffers serious physical injury is a class 1 felony and is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the state department of corrections for natural life as determined and in accordance with the procedures provided in section 13-752.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
§ 13-1410Molestation of a child; classificationIn force
A. A person commits molestation of a child by intentionally or knowingly engaging in or causing a person to engage in sexual contact, except sexual contact with the female breast, with a child who is under fifteen years of age. B. Molestation of a child is a class 2 felony that is punishable pursuant to section 13-705.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
§ 13-1404Sexual abuse; classificationIn force
A. A person commits sexual abuse by intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual contact with any person who is fifteen or more years of age without consent of that person or with any person who is under fifteen years of age if the sexual contact involves only the female breast. B. It is not a defense to a prosecution for a violation of this section that the other person consented if the other person was fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age and the defendant was in a position of trust. C. Sexual abuse is a class 5 felony unless the victim is under fifteen years of age in which case sexual abuse is a class 3 felony punishable pursuant to section 13-705.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
§ 13-1407DefensesIn force
A. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to sections 13-1404 and 13-1405 involving a minor if the act was done in furtherance of lawful medical practice. B. It is a defense to a prosecution pursuant to sections 13-1404 and 13-1405 in which the victim's lack of consent is based on incapacity to consent because the victim was fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age if at the time the defendant engaged in the conduct constituting the offense the defendant did not know and could not reasonably have known the age of the victim. C.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
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Sources and References
- A.R.S. § 13-1401 (Definitions; position of trust)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-1404 (Sexual abuse; classification)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-1405 (Sexual conduct with a minor; classification)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-1407 (Defenses)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-1410 (Molestation of a child; classification)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-702 (Sentencing)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-705 (Dangerous crimes against children)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-801 (Fines)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-3821 (Sex offender registration)(www.azleg.gov).gov
- Arizona Department of Child Safety: Report Child Abuse(dcs.az.gov).gov
- A.R.S. § 13-1417(www.azleg.gov).gov