K.S.A. » Chapter 21
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 21-5510 (2026)

Sexual exploitation of a child

✓ current as of May 2026
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21-5510. Sexual exploitation of a child. (a) Except as provided in K.S.A. 21-5610 and 21-5611, and amendments thereto, sexual exploitation of a child is:

(1) Employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing a child under 18 years of age, or a person whom the offender believes to be a child under 18 years of age, to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intent to promote any performance;

(2) (A) possessing any visual depiction of a child under 18 years of age shown or heard engaging in sexually explicit conduct with intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest of the offender or any other person; or

(B) possessing any artificially generated visual depiction with intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest of the offender or any other person;

(3) being a parent, guardian or other person having custody or control of a child under l8 years of age and knowingly permitting such child to engage in, or assist another to engage in, sexually explicit conduct for any purpose described in subsection (a)(1) or (2); or

(4) promoting any performance that includes sexually explicit conduct by a child under 18 years of age, or a person whom the offender believes to be a child under 18 years of age, knowing the character and content of the performance.

(b) (1) Sexual exploitation of a child as defined in:

(A) Subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) is a severity level 5, person felony; and

(B) subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4) is a severity level 3, person felony, except as provided in subsection (b)(2).

(2) Sexual exploitation of a child as defined in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4) or attempt, conspiracy or criminal solicitation to commit sexual exploitation of a child as defined in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4) is an off-grid person felony, when the offender is 18 years of age or older and the child is under 14 years of age.

(c) If the offender is 18 years of age or older and the child is under 14 years of age, the provisions of:

(1) K.S.A. 21-5301(c), and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of attempting to commit the crime of sexual exploitation of a child as defined in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4);

(2) K.S.A. 21-5302(d), and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of conspiracy to commit the crime of sexual exploitation of a child as defined in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4); and

(3) K.S.A. 21-5303(d), and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of criminal solicitation to commit the crime of sexual exploitation of a child as defined in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(4).

(d) As used in this section:

(1) "Sexually explicit conduct" means actual or simulated: Exhibition in the nude; sexual intercourse or sodomy, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital or oral-anal contact, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; masturbation; sado-masochistic abuse with the intent of sexual stimulation; or lewd exhibition of the genitals, female breasts or pubic area of any person;

(2) "promoting" means procuring, transmitting, distributing, circulating, presenting, producing, directing, manufacturing, issuing, publishing, displaying, exhibiting or advertising:

(A) For pecuniary profit; or

(B) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire or appeal to the prurient interest of the offender or any other person;

(3) "performance" means any film, photograph, negative, slide, book, magazine or other printed or visual medium, any audio tape recording or any photocopy, video tape, video laser disk, computer hardware, software, floppy disk or any other computer related equipment or computer generated image that contains or incorporates in any manner any film, photograph, negative, photocopy, video tape or video laser disk or any play or other live presentation;

(4) "nude" means any state of undress in which the human genitals, pubic region, buttock or female breast, at a point below the top of the areola, is less than completely and opaquely covered;

(5) "obscene" means a visual depiction or artificially generated visual depiction that, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of an average person, applying contemporary community standards, that is patently offensive and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value;

(6) "artificially generated visual depiction" means a visual depiction that is obscene and produced through the use of computer software, digital manipulation or other means that creates an image or video that appears to depict a child under 18 years of age shown or heard engaging in sexually explicit conduct. "Artificially generated visual depiction" includes depictions that are obscene and indistinguishable from a real child, morphed from a real child's image or generated without any actual child involvement; and

(7) "visual depiction" means any photograph, film, video picture, digital or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical or other means.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to possession of a visual depiction of a child in a state of nudity if the person possessing such visual depiction is the child who is the subject of such visual depiction.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 74; L. 2011, ch. 100, § 16; L. 2016, ch. 96, § 4; L. 2017, ch. 78, § 12; L. 2025, ch. 120, § 1; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 41 cases (32 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021).
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State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021). · cites it 15× “Under existing Kansas statutory law, the State need not prove that a defendant knows a child's age to sustain a conviction under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. 6. As a general rule, issues not raised before the trial court will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.”
State v. Ballantyne, 543 P.3d 1152 (Kan. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 22× “To convict a defendant of sexual exploitation of a child for possession of child pornography under K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5510(a)(2), the State must prove that a defendant had knowledge of the nature of the visual depiction—meaning, that defendant either knew the essential…”
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Whited, 506 S.W.3d 416 (Tenn. 2016). · cites it 2× “, Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5510 (d)(1) (2012) (defining “sexually explicit conduct” as “exhibition in the nude”); N.”
State v. Johnson, 447 P.3d 1010 (Kan. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 8× “6 read in its entirety: "The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation of a child.”
State v. Scheetz, 541 P.3d 79 (Kan. 2024). · cites it 2× “21-5503(a)(3) (sexual intercourse with a child under 14 years old), and sexual exploitation of a child under K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 21-5510(a)(2) (possessing a visual depiction of a child under 18 years old shown engaging in sexually explicit conduct).”
United States v. Moon, 73 M.J. 382 (C.A.A.F. 2014). “1(1)(vii) (West 2014) (defining “child pornography” to include possession of depictions of minors “portrayed in any pose, posture or setting involving a lewd exhibition of the unclothed or transparently clothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person is female, a…”
United States v. Thomas Schopp, 938 F.3d 1053 (9th Cir. 2019). “Code § 35-42-4-4 ; Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5510 ; Me. Stat., tit.”
John Doe v. M.J., 508 P.3d 368 (Kan. 2022). “21-3516, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5510, and amendments thereto; or (H) aggravated incest as defined in K.”
United States v. Deppish, 994 F. Supp. 2d 1211 (D. Kan. 2014). “Odell’s explanation that based on his training and experience, he would expect to find images on Defendant’s home computer and other electronic devices, tying Defendant to crimes of sexual exploitation of a child in violation of K.S.A. 21-5510. The Court thus finds that there…”
State v. Pollman, 441 P.3d 511 (Kan. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “) (unpublished opinion) (defendant pleaded guilty to two counts 32 of attempting to possess child pornography, a form of sexual exploitation of a child violating K.S.A. 2012 Supp. 21-5510[a][2], when he actually had child pornography on his smartphone), rev.”
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 19× “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
State v. Moreno (Kan. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 13× “K.S.A. 21-5510 was last amended in 2017. L.”
Show all 41 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a) — 3 cases
Mattice v. City of Stafford (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Qualls (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Grant (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(1) — 10 cases
State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021). “Under existing Kansas statutory law, the State need not prove that a defendant knows a child's age to sustain a conviction under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. 6. As a general rule, issues not raised before the trial court will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.”
State v. Johnson, 447 P.3d 1010 (Kan. Ct. App. 2019). “6 read in its entirety: "The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation of a child.”
State v. Mastel (Kan. Ct. App. 2026).
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
State v. Sanders, 563 P.3d 234 (Kan. Ct. App. 2025).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(2) — 24 cases
State v. Ballantyne, 543 P.3d 1152 (Kan. Ct. App. 2024). “To convict a defendant of sexual exploitation of a child for possession of child pornography under K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5510(a)(2), the State must prove that a defendant had knowledge of the nature of the visual depiction—meaning, that defendant either knew the essential…”
State v. Scheetz, 541 P.3d 79 (Kan. 2024). “21-5503(a)(3) (sexual intercourse with a child under 14 years old), and sexual exploitation of a child under K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 21-5510(a)(2) (possessing a visual depiction of a child under 18 years old shown engaging in sexually explicit conduct).”
State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021). “Under existing Kansas statutory law, the State need not prove that a defendant knows a child's age to sustain a conviction under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. 6. As a general rule, issues not raised before the trial court will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.”
State v. Scheetz, 524 P.3d 424 (Kan. Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Thornton (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(2)(b)(1) — 1 case
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(3) — 1 case
State v. Qualls (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(4) — 8 cases
State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021). “Under existing Kansas statutory law, the State need not prove that a defendant knows a child's age to sustain a conviction under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. 6. As a general rule, issues not raised before the trial court will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.”
State v. Moreno (Kan. Ct. App. 2025). “K.S.A. 21-5510 was last amended in 2017. L.”
State v. Dudley (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Godat (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Godat (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(a)(4)(b)(1) — 1 case
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(b)(1)(A) — 2 cases
State v. Seck (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. McQuilliams (Kan. Ct. App. 2025).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(d)(1) — 4 cases
State v. Jones, 492 P.3d 433 (Kan. 2021). “Under existing Kansas statutory law, the State need not prove that a defendant knows a child's age to sustain a conviction under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. 6. As a general rule, issues not raised before the trial court will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.”
State v. Johnson, 447 P.3d 1010 (Kan. Ct. App. 2019). “6 read in its entirety: "The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation of a child.”
State v. Whiteman (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(d)(2) — 4 cases
State v. Johnson, 447 P.3d 1010 (Kan. Ct. App. 2019). “6 read in its entirety: "The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation of a child.”
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
State v. Grant (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Moreno (Kan. Ct. App. 2025). “K.S.A. 21-5510 was last amended in 2017. L.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(d)(3) — 3 cases
State v. Moreno (Kan. Ct. App. 2025). “K.S.A. 21-5510 was last amended in 2017. L.”
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
State v. Qualls (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(d)(4) — 1 case
State v. Jones (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “These charges included alternative crimes of sexual exploitation under different subsections of K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5510. Counts two and four were charged in the alternative to counts one and three, respectively: • Counts 1 and 3: K.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5510(d)(5) — 2 cases
State v. Ballantyne, 543 P.3d 1152 (Kan. Ct. App. 2024). “To convict a defendant of sexual exploitation of a child for possession of child pornography under K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5510(a)(2), the State must prove that a defendant had knowledge of the nature of the visual depiction—meaning, that defendant either knew the essential…”
State v. Moreno (Kan. Ct. App. 2025). “K.S.A. 21-5510 was last amended in 2017. L.”
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