The Age of Consent
RCW 9A.44.079 — 16, and a felony when the older person is 48 months older
A person commits rape of a child in the third degree by sexual intercourse with someone at least fourteen but less than sixteen years old when the person is at least forty eight months older. It is a class C felony, punishable by up to five years and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.
Who handles this in Washington: King County Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Washington directory.
Younger children, and other offenses, are in other sections with their own age gaps not covered here, as are registration and the consequences of a conviction. A charge, or the worry of one, is a question for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- RCW 9A.44.079 — Rape of a child in the third degree
- RCW 9A.20.021 — Maximum sentences
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.