Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 13A-6-66 (2026)

Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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(a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree if he or she does either of the following:

(1) Subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.

(2) Subjects another person to sexual contact who is incapable of consent by reason of being incapacitated.

(b) Sexual abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony.

(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §2320; Act 2006-575, p. 1512, §2; Act 2019-465, §1.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 196 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: United States v. Terrance Tyrone Davis, 875 F.3d 592 (11th Cir. 2017).
United States v. Terrance Tyrone Davis, 875 F.3d 592 (11th Cir. 2017). · cites it 15× “” He pleaded guilty to the lesser included felony offense of first degree sexual abuse, in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66, instead of the rape charge.”
King v. State, 574 So. 2d 921 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). · cites it 15× “" Ala.Code §§ 13A-6-66 and 13A-6-67 (Commentary at 212).”
Williams v. State, 10 So. 3d 1083 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). · cites it 7× “Sexual contact is defined as “[a]ny touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person not married to the actor, done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party.”
Ex Parte Coleman, 71 So. 3d 627 (Ala. 2010). · cites it 8× “Facts and procedural history On April 7, 2008, Coleman pleaded guilty to the following offenses: (1) first-degree rape, see Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-6-61(a)(3); [1] (2) first-degree sodomy, see Ala.”
Ray v. State, 52 So. 3d 547 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “Sexual abuse in the first degree is defined in § 13A-6-66, Ala.Code 1975, as follows: "(a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree if: "(1) He subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.”
Irma Ovalles v. United States, 905 F.3d 1231 (11th Cir. 2018). “Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(1). United States v.”
Hawkins v. State, 549 So. 2d 552 (Ala. Crim. App. 1989). · cites it 5× “The appellant, William Dale Hawkins, was convicted for sexual abuse in the first degree, a violation of § 13A-6-66, Code of Alabama 1975. The trial court, following a jury trial, sentenced him to five years in the penitentiary.”
Hutto v. State, 227 So. 3d 963 (Miss. 2017). “Ala. Code § 13A-6-66. , The statute states, in part: Any person above the age of eighteen (18) years, who, for the purpose of gratifying his or her lust, or indulging his or her depraved licentious sexual desires, shall handle, touch or rub with hands or any part of his or her…”
Brooks v. State, 33 So. 3d 1262 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). · cites it 6× “[1] By an amendment effective July 1, 2006, subsection (a)(3) was deleted from § 13A-6-66. The provisions of that subsection were reenacted as § 13A-6-69.”
Rider v. State, 544 So. 2d 994 (Ala. Crim. App. 1989). · cites it 3× “Forcible compulsion is an element of the offenses of both sexual abuse in the first degree, Alabama Code 1975, § 13A-6-66(a)(1), and sodomy in the first degree, § 13A-6-63(a)(1).”
Barber v. State, 952 So. 2d 393 (Ala. Crim. App. 2005). “§ 13A-6-66, Ala.Code 1975. First-degree sexual abuse requires proof that the defendant acted with the intent to gratify his sexual desires or those of the person contacted.”
Rodriguez-rodriguez, 22 I. & N. Dec. 991 (BIA 1999). “Ala. Code §§ 13A-6-66, 13A-6-67 (1998). Alabama criminalizes indecent exposure in a provision separate from those criminalizing sexual abuse.”
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(A) — 1 case
W.B.S. v. State, 244 So. 3d 133 (Ala. Crim. App. 2017).
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a) — 13 cases
United States v. Terrance Tyrone Davis, 875 F.3d 592 (11th Cir. 2017). “” He pleaded guilty to the lesser included felony offense of first degree sexual abuse, in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66, instead of the rape charge.”
Ray v. State, 52 So. 3d 547 (Ala. Crim. App. 2007). “Sexual abuse in the first degree is defined in § 13A-6-66, Ala.Code 1975, as follows: "(a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree if: "(1) He subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.”
Williams v. State, 10 So. 3d 1083 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “Sexual contact is defined as “[a]ny touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person not married to the actor, done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party.”
Boyd v. State, 699 So. 2d 967 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997).
S.A.N. v. S.E.N., 995 So. 2d 175 (Ala. Civ. App. 2008).
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(1) — 34 cases
United States v. Terrance Tyrone Davis, 875 F.3d 592 (11th Cir. 2017). “” He pleaded guilty to the lesser included felony offense of first degree sexual abuse, in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66, instead of the rape charge.”
King v. State, 574 So. 2d 921 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “" Ala.Code §§ 13A-6-66 and 13A-6-67 (Commentary at 212).”
Irma Ovalles v. United States, 905 F.3d 1231 (11th Cir. 2018). “Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(1). United States v.”
Ex Parte Coleman, 71 So. 3d 627 (Ala. 2010). “Facts and procedural history On April 7, 2008, Coleman pleaded guilty to the following offenses: (1) first-degree rape, see Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-6-61(a)(3); [1] (2) first-degree sodomy, see Ala.”
Powe v. State, 597 So. 2d 721 (Ala. 1991).
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(2) — 1 case
Lucas v. State, 204 So. 3d 929 (Ala. Crim. App. 2016).
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(3) — 46 cases
King v. State, 574 So. 2d 921 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “" Ala.Code §§ 13A-6-66 and 13A-6-67 (Commentary at 212).”
Williams v. State, 10 So. 3d 1083 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “Sexual contact is defined as “[a]ny touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person not married to the actor, done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party.”
Shouldis v. State, 38 So. 3d 753 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008).
Hawkins v. State, 549 So. 2d 552 (Ala. Crim. App. 1989). “The appellant, William Dale Hawkins, was convicted for sexual abuse in the first degree, a violation of § 13A-6-66, Code of Alabama 1975. The trial court, following a jury trial, sentenced him to five years in the penitentiary.”
Brooks v. State, 33 So. 3d 1262 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “[1] By an amendment effective July 1, 2006, subsection (a)(3) was deleted from § 13A-6-66. The provisions of that subsection were reenacted as § 13A-6-69.”
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(a)(l) — 18 cases
United States v. Terrance Tyrone Davis, 875 F.3d 592 (11th Cir. 2017). “” He pleaded guilty to the lesser included felony offense of first degree sexual abuse, in violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66, instead of the rape charge.”
Williams v. State, 10 So. 3d 1083 (Ala. Crim. App. 2008). “Sexual contact is defined as “[a]ny touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person not married to the actor, done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party.”
Ex Parte Coleman, 71 So. 3d 627 (Ala. 2010). “Facts and procedural history On April 7, 2008, Coleman pleaded guilty to the following offenses: (1) first-degree rape, see Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-6-61(a)(3); [1] (2) first-degree sodomy, see Ala.”
Ray v. State, 52 So. 3d 555 (Ala. 2009).
McGlocklin v. State, 910 So. 2d 154 (Ala. Crim. App. 2005).
— Ala. Code § 13A-6-66(b) — 8 cases
King v. State, 574 So. 2d 921 (Ala. Crim. App. 1990). “" Ala.Code §§ 13A-6-66 and 13A-6-67 (Commentary at 212).”
Sellers v. State, 624 So. 2d 686 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993).
Rock v. State, 558 So. 2d 967 (Ala. Crim. App. 1989).
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