Washington statute
RCW 9.68A.101 — Promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor—Penalty—Consent of minor does not constitute defense
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 9.68A: Sexual Exploitation Of Children, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 9.68A.101
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1) A person is guilty of promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor if he or she knowingly advances commercial sexual abuse or a sexually explicit act of a minor or profits from a minor engaged in sexual conduct or a sexually explicit act.
(2) Promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor is a class A felony.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(a) A person "advances commercial sexual abuse of a minor" if, acting other than as a minor receiving compensation for personally rendered sexual conduct or as a person engaged in commercial sexual abuse of a minor, he or she causes or aids a person to commit or engage in commercial sexual abuse of a minor, procures or solicits customers for commercial sexual abuse of a minor, provides persons or premises for the purposes of engaging in commercial sexual abuse of a minor, operates or assists in the operation of a house or enterprise for the purposes of engaging in commercial sexual abuse of a minor, or engages in any other conduct designed to institute, aid, cause, assist, or facilitate an act or enterprise of commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
(b) A person "profits from commercial sexual abuse of a minor" if, acting other than as a minor receiving compensation for personally rendered sexual conduct, he or she accepts or receives money or anything of value pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he or she participates or will participate in the proceeds of commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
(c) A person "advances a sexually explicit act of a minor" if he or she causes or aids a sexually explicit act of a minor, procures or solicits customers for a sexually explicit act of a minor, provides persons or premises for the purposes of a sexually explicit act of a minor, or engages in any other conduct designed to institute, aid, cause, assist, or facilitate a sexually explicit act of a minor.
(d) A "sexually explicit act" is a public, private, or live photographed, recorded, or videotaped act or show intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interests of patrons and for which anything of value is given or received.
(e) A "patron" is a person who provides or agrees to provide anything of value to another person as compensation for a sexually explicit act of a minor or who solicits or requests a sexually explicit act of a minor in return for a fee.
(4) Consent of a minor to the sexually explicit act or sexual conduct does not constitute a defense to any offense listed in this section.
(5) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse or sexual contact, both as defined in chapter 9A.44 RCW.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
Promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor is a Class A Felony in Washington under RCW 9.68A.101.
Which Washington statute covers promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor?
Promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor is governed by RCW 9.68A.101 (Promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor—Penalty—Consent of minor does not constitute defense).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.