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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315 (2026)

Incapacity to consent; effect of lack of resistance

✓ current as of May 2026
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      163.315 Incapacity to consent; effect of lack of resistance. (1) A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is:

      (a) Under 18 years of age;

      (b) Incapable of appraising the nature of the person’s conduct;

      (c) Mentally incapacitated; or

      (d) Physically helpless.

      (2) A lack of verbal or physical resistance does not, by itself, constitute consent but may be considered by the trier of fact along with all other relevant evidence.

      (3) A person is incapable of appraising the nature of the person’s conduct if:

      (a) The person is unable to understand the nature of the conduct;

      (b) The person is unable to understand the right to choose whether and how to engage in conduct, including the right to revoke a prior decision to engage in conduct; or

      (c) The person is unable to communicate a decision to engage in conduct. [1971 c.743 §105; 1999 c.949 §2; 2001 c.104 §52; 2021 c.82 §2]

 

      163.320 [Renumbered 166.190]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 56 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: State v. Stamper, 106 P.3d 172 (Or. Ct. App. 2005).
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State v. Stamper, 106 P.3d 172 (Or. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 14× “One such related statute is ORS 163.315, which provides: “(1) A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is: “(a) Under 18 years of age; “(b) Mentally defective; “(c) Mentally incapacitated; or “(d) Physically helpless.”
United States v. Cabrera-Gutierrez, 756 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2013). · cites it 13× “425 states divisible elements, the government points to Or.Rev.Stat. § 163.315, which lists four types of legal incapacity to consent.”
State v. Wallace, 373 Or. 122 (Or. 2024). · cites it 16× “]” ORS 163.315 and ORS 163.305 are related statutes.”
State v. Reed, 118 P.3d 791 (Or. 2005). · cites it 6× “ORS 163.315(1) provides, in part: "A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is: "* * * * * "(b) Mentally defective[.”
Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions, 137 S. Ct. 1562 (2017). “1983); § 14-10-01 (1997) Oregon Ore. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.315(1), 163.435(1), 163.”
State v. Rodriguez/Buck, 217 P.3d 659 (Or. 2009). · cites it 2× “See ORS 163.315(1)(a) ("A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is * * * [u]nder 18 years of age[.”
State v. Ofodrinwa, 300 P.3d 154 (Or. 2013). · cites it 3× “415(l)(a) [(1971)] to apply whether there is nonconsent in fact or as a result of incapacity resulting from any of the four conditions listed in ORS 163.315 [the statute defining when a person lacks the capacity to consent].”
Burcham v. Franke, 335 P.3d 298 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 8× “Although ORS 163.315 can be said to be “related” to ORS 163.”
State v. Leistiko, 282 P.3d 857 (Or. 2012). · cites it 2× “See ORS 163.315 (explaining, among other things, that a person under 18 years of age lacks the legal capacity to consent to certain sexual acts).”
State v. Breshears, 383 P.3d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “A person commits that crime “if the person has sexual intercourse with another person under 16 years of age.” ORS 163.355(1). The relevant elements of third-degree rape for Count 4 are (1) sexual intercourse and (2) the victim being under 16 years of age.”
United States v. Candelario Silvestre Beltran-Munguia, 489 F.3d 1042 (9th Cir. 2007). · cites it 2× “2d at 739 ("That all four types of legal incapacity set out in ORS 163.315 were intended to apply to all sexual offenses is clear.”
State v. Wallace, 373 Or. 122 (Or. 2024). · cites it 16× “]” ORS 163.315 and ORS 163.305 are related statutes.”
Show all 56 citing cases →
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(1) — 10 cases
State v. Wallace, 373 Or. 122 (Or. 2024). “]” ORS 163.315 and ORS 163.305 are related statutes.”
Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions, 137 S. Ct. 1562 (2017). “1983); § 14-10-01 (1997) Oregon Ore. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.315(1), 163.435(1), 163.”
State v. Reed, 118 P.3d 791 (Or. 2005). “ORS 163.315(1) provides, in part: "A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is: "* * * * * "(b) Mentally defective[.”
Wilson v. Tobiassen, 777 P.2d 1379 (Or. Ct. App. 1989).
State v. Rhoades, 149 P.3d 1259 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(1)(a) — 13 cases
State v. Rodriguez/Buck, 217 P.3d 659 (Or. 2009). “See ORS 163.315(1)(a) ("A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is * * * [u]nder 18 years of age[.”
State v. Thorp, 2 P.3d 903 (Or. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Nacoste, 356 P.3d 135 (Or. Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Hazelton, 2006 VT 121 (Vt. 2006).
State v. Deyo, 2006 VT 120 (Vt. 2006).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(1)(b) — 6 cases
State v. Wallace, 373 Or. 122 (Or. 2024). “]” ORS 163.315 and ORS 163.305 are related statutes.”
State v. Reed, 118 P.3d 791 (Or. 2005). “ORS 163.315(1) provides, in part: "A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is: "* * * * * "(b) Mentally defective[.”
State v. Wallace, 373 Or. 122 (Or. 2024). “]” ORS 163.315 and ORS 163.305 are related statutes.”
State v. Barteaux, 157 P.3d 225 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Lujano-Rosales, 566 P.3d 640 (Or. Ct. App. 2025).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(2) — 3 cases
State v. Neubauer, 162 P.3d 1044 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Bernhardt, 376 P.3d 316 (Or. Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Barteaux, 157 P.3d 225 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(3) — 1 case
State v. Lujano-Rosales, 566 P.3d 640 (Or. Ct. App. 2025).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(4) — 1 case
Burcham v. Franke, 335 P.3d 298 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “Although ORS 163.315 can be said to be “related” to ORS 163.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(l)(a) — 9 cases
State v. Breshears, 383 P.3d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 2016). “A person commits that crime “if the person has sexual intercourse with another person under 16 years of age.” ORS 163.355(1). The relevant elements of third-degree rape for Count 4 are (1) sexual intercourse and (2) the victim being under 16 years of age.”
State v. Rodriguez/Buck, 217 P.3d 659 (Or. 2009). “See ORS 163.315(1)(a) ("A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is * * * [u]nder 18 years of age[.”
Carlos Rene Rivas-Gomez v. Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney Gen., 441 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 2006).
State v. Leistiko, 282 P.3d 857 (Or. 2012). “See ORS 163.315 (explaining, among other things, that a person under 18 years of age lacks the legal capacity to consent to certain sexual acts).”
United States v. Cabrera-Gutierrez, 756 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2013). “425 states divisible elements, the government points to Or.Rev.Stat. § 163.315, which lists four types of legal incapacity to consent.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(l)(b) — 2 cases
State v. Reed, 118 P.3d 791 (Or. 2005). “ORS 163.315(1) provides, in part: "A person is considered incapable of consenting to a sexual act if the person is: "* * * * * "(b) Mentally defective[.”
State v. Tilly, 346 P.3d 567 (Or. Ct. App. 2015).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.315(l)(c) — 2 cases
United States v. Cabrera-Gutierrez, 756 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2013). “425 states divisible elements, the government points to Or.Rev.Stat. § 163.315, which lists four types of legal incapacity to consent.”
State v. Barteaux, 157 P.3d 225 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).
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