Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4302 (2026)

Incest.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 4302. Incest.

(a) General rule.--Except as provided under subsection (b), a person is guilty of incest, a felony of the second degree, if that person knowingly marries or cohabits or has sexual intercourse with an ancestor or descendant, a brother or sister of the whole or half blood or an uncle, aunt, nephew or niece of the whole blood.

(b) Incest of a minor.--A person is guilty of incest of a minor, a felony of the second degree, if that person knowingly marries, cohabits with or has sexual intercourse with a complainant who is an ancestor or descendant, a brother or sister of the whole or half blood or an uncle, aunt, nephew or niece of the whole blood and:

(1) is under the age of 13 years; or

(2) is 13 to 18 years of age and the person is four or more years older than the complainant.

(c) Relationships.--The relationships referred to in this section include blood relationships without regard to legitimacy, and relationship of parent and child by adoption.

(Nov. 17, 1989, P.L.592, No.64, eff. 60 days; Mar. 31, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.985, No.10, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 2011, P.L.446, No.111, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 4302 is referred to in sections 3104, 5702, 6318, 9158 of this title; sections 4321, 5329, 6303, 6344, 6702 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5551, 5552, 5920, 5985.1, 5993, 6358, 6402, 6403, 9718.1, 9799.14, 9799.24, 9799.55, 9799.58, 9802 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 2303 of Title 44 (Law and Justice); sections 4503, 4601, 6137.1, 6139 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole); section 3113 of Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 128 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police, 143 A.3d 896 (Pa. 2016).

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A.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police, 143 A.3d 896 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 3× “18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (relating to incest) where the victim is 12 years of age or older but under 18 years of age.”

Commonwealth v. Walls, 926 A.2d 957 (Pa. 2007). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 4302. The plea was "open" to the count of rape and IDSI, but called for a standard range sentence on the charge of incest.”

Commonwealth v. Gehris, 54 A.3d 862 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). · cites it 5× “18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (relating to incest) when the victim is under 12 years of age.”

In Re: Adopt. of M.R.D. & T.M.D. Appeal of: M.C., 145 A.3d 1117 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 2× “2006) (warning that “it might appear that the Court created an incestuous relationship if it allowed a grandparent to co-parent his biological grandchild with his daughter”); see also 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (criminalizing incest); 23 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Sebolka, 205 A.3d 329 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “(4) Has not been found guilty or previously convicted or adjudicated delinquent for violating any of the following provisions or an equivalent offense under the laws of the United States or one of its territories or possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the…”

Commonwealth v. Wilson, 910 A.2d 10 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 4× “§ 3125 (aggravated indecent assault); and 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (incest) where the victim is under 12 years of age.”

Commonwealth v. Black, 487 A.2d 396 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 2× “[3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302. [4] 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 901 and 3123(5).”

Commonwealth v. Rahim, 805 N.E.2d 13 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 2× “Code § 14-03-03 (Michie 1997); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 4302 (West 1983); repeal of *279 R.”

Commonwealth v. Karns, 50 A.3d 158 (Pa. 2012). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (relating to incest). 18 Pa.”

K.T. v. L.S., 118 A.3d 1136 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (relating to incest). 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Kuykendall, 2 A.3d 559 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). “Ill), known as the Crime Victims Act, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime or who has been convicted of violating 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (relating to incest), 5901 (relating to open lewdness), 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of children), 6318 (relating to unlawful…”

Commonwealth v. Conklin, 897 A.2d 1168 (Pa. 2006). “18Pa.C.S. § 4302. 6 . 18 Pa.C.S. § 3126. 7 .”

Show all 128 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4302(a) — 24 cases

Commonwealth v. Chester, M., Aplt., 101 A.3d 56 (Pa. 2014).

Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Stotelmyer, D., 110 A.3d 146 (Pa. 2015).

Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, 133 A.3d 14 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Commonwealth v. Kenney, 210 A.3d 1077 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4302(b) — 10 cases

Commonwealth v. Lutz-Morrison, T., Aplt., 143 A.3d 891 (Pa. 2016).

M.S. v. Pa. State Police, 212 A.3d 1142 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2019).

Commonwealth v. Muniz, J., Aplt., 164 A.3d 1189 (Pa. 2017).

F. Thorne v. Com. of PA, by & through the PSP (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Butcher, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4302(b)(1) — 11 cases

Com. v. Baker, S. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).

Com. v. Stern, W. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Girardi, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Jusino, R., Jr. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Glasgow, T. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4302(b)(2) — 6 cases

Com. v. Geier, E., Jr. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Mitchell, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).

Com. v. Harwi, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

Com. v. Scott, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

Com. v. Reid, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).

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