Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 566
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 566.071 (2026)

Child molestation, fourth degree, penalty

✓ current as of May 2026
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  566.071.  Child molestation, fourth degree, penalty. — 1.  A person commits the offense of child molestation in the fourth degree if, being more than four years older than a child who is less than seventeen years of age, subjects the child to sexual contact.

  2.  The offense of child molestation in the fourth degree is a class E felony.

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(L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17

CROSS REFERENCE:

Child sexual abuse, action for civil damages may be brought, when, 537.046

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2021–2025 · leading case: Bobby Johnson v. State of Missouri (Mo. Ct. App. 2024).
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Bobby Johnson v. State of Missouri (Mo. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “As part of a plea agreement, Respondent subsequently filed an amended information charging Movant with fourth-degree child molestation for the same alleged conduct, but listed the operative statute as section 566.071. Both the information and the amended information asserted…”
State of Missouri vs. Rashede Harrigan (Mo. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “0612 ("Count I") and one count of fourth-degree molestation of a child under seventeen years old pursuant to section 566.071 ("Count II"). Harrigan waived his right to a jury trial.”
State of Missouri, Plaintiff-respondent v. Thaisen Paul Ollerich (Mo. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “Ollerich alleges the trial court plainly erred in entering a judgment convicting him of four counts of second-degree statutory sodomy in violation of Ollerich’s right to be free from double jeopardy because “the 1 All statutory references are to RSMo 2016, including, as…”
Carter v. Hillsboro Treatment Ctr. (E.D. Mo. 2021). “§ 566.071 is a Missouri criminal statute providing the elements and penalty for child molestation in the fourth degree 6 RSMo.”
State of Missouri vs. Dereck L. Turnage (Mo. Ct. App. 2025). “Ex-boyfriend pled guilty to the reduced crime of fourth-degree child molestation under § 566.071. 2 Victim advised Detective that she and Turnage had had sex in two different hotels, at Victim’s house, and at Turnage’s apartment.”
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