Mississippi Code

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (2026)

Sexual battery

✓ current as of July 2026

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(1) A person is guilty of sexual battery if he or she engages in sexual penetration with:
- (a) Another person without his or her consent;
- (b) A mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless person;
- (c) A child at least fourteen (14) but under sixteen (16) years of age, if the person is thirty-six (36) or more months older than the child; or
- (d) A child under the age of fourteen (14) years of age, if the person is twenty-four (24) or more months older than the child.

(2) A person is guilty of sexual battery if he or she engages in sexual penetration with a child under the age of eighteen (18) years if the person is in a position of trust or authority over the child including without limitation the child's teacher, counselor, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, minister, priest, physical therapist, chiropractor, legal guardian, parent, stepparent, aunt, uncle, scout leader or coach.

Laws, 1980, ch. 450, § 1; Laws, 1983, ch. 429, § 3; Laws, 1985, ch. 389, § 6; Laws, 1993, ch. 512, § 2; Laws, 1998, ch. 549, § 3, eff. 7/1/1998.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 430 cases (57 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Dewayne Graham v. State of Mississippi, 185 So. 3d 992 (Miss. 2016).

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Dewayne Graham v. State of Mississippi, 185 So. 3d 992 (Miss. 2016). · cites it 34× “See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-64(4)(a) (Rev.”

Casey Mark Burgess v. State of Mississippi, 178 So. 3d 1266 (Miss. 2015). · cites it 37× “See generally Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-99 (Rev.”

Jones v. State, 991 So. 2d 629 (Miss. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 32× “[4] Sections 97-3-95 was last revised on July 1, 1998.”

McBride v. State, 61 So. 3d 174 (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 32× “His indictment was labeled at the top of the form, "SEXUAL BATTERY MCA Section 97-3-95." It alleged that he "on or about or between January 2002, and December 2005 .”

Ishee v. State, 799 So. 2d 70 (Miss. 2001). · cites it 22× “Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (2000), defines sexual battery.”

Puckett v. State, 737 So. 2d 322 (Miss. 1999). · cites it 10× “Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (1994). Furthermore, § 97-3-97 provides definitions of certain relevant language contained within § 97-3-95 and states: For purposes of sections 97-3-95 through 97-3-103 the following words shall have the meaning ascribed herein unless the context…”

Smith v. State, 925 So. 2d 825 (Miss. 2006). · cites it 8× “Section 97-3-95(1)(c) and Count II of touching and handling a child for lustful purposes under Miss.”

Roberson v. State, 501 So. 2d 398 (Miss. 1987). · cites it 15× “PRATHER, Justice, for the Court: This appeal challenges the constitutionality of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (Supp. 1986), [1] prohibiting sexual battery.”

Rickey Portis v. State of Mississippi, 245 So. 3d 457 (Miss. 2018). · cites it 6× “" Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (1)(d) (Rev. 2014).”

Matthew Blake Courtney v. State of Mississippi, 275 So. 3d 1032 (Miss. 2019). · cites it 12× “Matthew Blake Courtney appeals his conviction of one count of sexual battery in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-3-95(1)(a) (Rev. 2014). The trial court sentenced Courtney to serve a period of twenty-five years.”

Simoneaux v. State, 29 So. 3d 26 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 20× “Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 . The differences do not stop there.”

Hennington v. State, 702 So. 2d 403 (Miss. 1997). · cites it 10× “The two statutes that are controlling in this case are Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 and § 97-3-97. § 97-3-95.”

Show all 430 citing cases →

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1) — 20 cases

Weeks v. State, 123 So. 3d 373 (Miss. 2013).

Simoneaux v. State, 29 So. 3d 26 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009). “Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 . The differences do not stop there.”

Ivy v. State, 949 So. 2d 748 (Miss. 2007).

Goforth v. State, 70 So. 3d 174 (Miss. 2011).

Douglas Walker v. State of Mississippi, 262 So. 3d 560 (Miss. Ct. App. 2018).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(a) — 33 cases

Matthew Blake Courtney v. State of Mississippi, 275 So. 3d 1032 (Miss. 2019). “Matthew Blake Courtney appeals his conviction of one count of sexual battery in violation of Mississippi Code Section 97-3-95(1)(a) (Rev. 2014). The trial court sentenced Courtney to serve a period of twenty-five years.”

Casey Mark Burgess v. State of Mississippi, 178 So. 3d 1266 (Miss. 2015). “See generally Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-99 (Rev.”

Wilkins v. State, 1 So. 3d 850 (Miss. 2008).

Hawthorne v. State, 751 So. 2d 1090 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999).

Moody v. State, 841 So. 2d 1067 (Miss. 2003).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(a)(d) — 1 case

Parkman v. State, 953 So. 2d 315 (Miss. Ct. App. 2007).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(b) — 3 cases

Casey Mark Burgess v. State of Mississippi, 178 So. 3d 1266 (Miss. 2015). “See generally Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-99 (Rev.”

Hawthorne v. State, 751 So. 2d 1090 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999).

Michael R. Spears v. State of Mississippi (Miss. Ct. App. 2019).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(c) — 34 cases

Jones v. State, 991 So. 2d 629 (Miss. Ct. App. 2008). “[4] Sections 97-3-95 was last revised on July 1, 1998.”

Smith v. State, 925 So. 2d 825 (Miss. 2006). “Section 97-3-95(1)(c) and Count II of touching and handling a child for lustful purposes under Miss.”

Puckett v. State, 737 So. 2d 322 (Miss. 1999). “Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (1994). Furthermore, § 97-3-97 provides definitions of certain relevant language contained within § 97-3-95 and states: For purposes of sections 97-3-95 through 97-3-103 the following words shall have the meaning ascribed herein unless the context…”

Kearley v. State, 843 So. 2d 66 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002).

Ishee v. State, 799 So. 2d 70 (Miss. 2001). “Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (2000), defines sexual battery.”

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(c)(1994) — 2 cases

Watts v. State, 733 So. 2d 214 (Miss. 1999).

Gazzier v. State, 744 So. 2d 776 (Miss. 1999).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(1)(d) — 71 cases

Rickey Portis v. State of Mississippi, 245 So. 3d 457 (Miss. 2018). “" Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95 (1)(d) (Rev. 2014).”

Hobgood v. State, 926 So. 2d 847 (Miss. 2006).

Jones v. State, 991 So. 2d 629 (Miss. Ct. App. 2008). “[4] Sections 97-3-95 was last revised on July 1, 1998.”

Bishop v. State, 982 So. 2d 371 (Miss. 2008).

McBride v. State, 61 So. 3d 174 (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). “His indictment was labeled at the top of the form, "SEXUAL BATTERY MCA Section 97-3-95." It alleged that he "on or about or between January 2002, and December 2005 .”

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(2) — 39 cases

Anderson v. State, 62 So. 3d 927 (Miss. 2011).

Wilson v. State, 72 So. 3d 1145 (Miss. Ct. App. 2011).

Thomas Pustay v. State of Mississippi, 221 So. 3d 320 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016).

Gill v. State, 126 So. 3d 128 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).

Torrey v. State, 891 So. 2d 188 (Miss. 2004).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(2)(1994) — 2 cases

Carter v. State, 775 So. 2d 91 (Miss. 1999).

Adrian Carter v. State of Mississippi (Miss. 1997).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(2)(a) — 1 case

Kendrick Quintarius Gates a/k/a Kendrick Gates v. State of Mississippi (Miss. Ct. App. 2026).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(a) — 7 cases

Dewayne Graham v. State of Mississippi, 185 So. 3d 992 (Miss. 2016). “See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-64(4)(a) (Rev.”

Genry v. State, 735 So. 2d 186 (Miss. 1999).

Green v. State, 887 So. 2d 840 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004).

Wilson v. State, 815 So. 2d 439 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002).

Allred v. State, 130 So. 3d 504 (Miss. 2014).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(c) — 21 cases

Cantrell v. State, 507 So. 2d 325 (Miss. 1987).

Crawford v. State, 754 So. 2d 1211 (Miss. 2000).

Allen v. State, 960 So. 2d 489 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006).

Gunter v. Gray, 876 So. 2d 315 (Miss. 2004).

Frank Hartley, Jr. v. John D. Watts, 255 So. 3d 114 (Miss. 2017).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(d) — 5 cases

King v. State, 857 So. 2d 702 (Miss. 2003).

Dawkins v. State, 919 So. 2d 92 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005).

Renfrow v. State, 882 So. 2d 800 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004).

Renfrow v. State, 863 So. 2d 1047 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004).

Allred v. State, 908 So. 2d 889 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(e) — 1 case

Hines v. State, 126 So. 3d 985 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(i)(a) — 1 case

Casey Mark Burgess v. State of Mississippi, 178 So. 3d 1266 (Miss. 2015). “See generally Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-99 (Rev.”

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(l)(a) — 16 cases

Purnell v. State, 126 So. 3d 949 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).

Casey Mark Burgess v. State of Mississippi, 178 So. 3d 1266 (Miss. 2015). “See generally Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95 , 97-3-99 (Rev.”

Palmer v. State, 140 So. 3d 448 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014).

Kuren Cordell Keys v. State of Mississippi, 219 So. 3d 559 (Miss. Ct. App. 2017).

Taylor v. State, 122 So. 3d 707 (Miss. 2013).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(l)(b) — 3 cases

Peckinpaugh v. State, 949 So. 2d 86 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006).

Holmes v. State, 20 So. 3d 681 (Miss. Ct. App. 2008).

Santos v. State, 110 So. 3d 341 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(l)(c) — 15 cases

Goforth v. State, 70 So. 3d 174 (Miss. 2011).

Palmer v. State, 140 So. 3d 448 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014).

City of Jackson v. Sandifer, 107 So. 3d 978 (Miss. 2013).

United States v. Faustino Gomez, 757 F.3d 885 (9th Cir. 2014).

Hines v. State, 126 So. 3d 985 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(l)(d) — 32 cases

Quinton Carter v. State of Mississippi, 204 So. 3d 791 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016).

Wallace v. State, 10 So. 3d 913 (Miss. 2009).

Patrick Bernard Giles v. State of Mississippi, 187 So. 3d 116 (Miss. 2016).

Damon Samhal Fagan v. State of Mississippi, 171 So. 3d 496 (Miss. 2015).

Bateman v. State, 125 So. 3d 616 (Miss. 2013).

— Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-95(l)(e) — 1 case

Quinton Carter v. State of Mississippi, 204 So. 3d 791 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016).

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