Canadian Criminal Law/Offences/Invitation to Sexual Touching

Invitation to Sexual Touching
s. 152 of the Crim. Code
Election / Plea
Crown ElectionHybrid
JurisdictionProv. Court
SC Judge + PI (I)
SC Jury + PI (I) (536(2))
Summary Dispositions
Minimum90 days jail
Maximum18 months jail or $5,000 fine
Indictable Dispositions
Avail. Disp.same as summary
Minimum1 year jail
Maximum10 years jail
References
Offence Elements
Sentence Principles
Sentence Digests
Comments
DNA Primary designated offence

SOIRA designated offence

DO/LTO primary designated offence

Legislation

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Invitation to sexual touching
152. Every person who, for a sexual purpose, invites, counsels or incites a person under the age of 16 years to touch, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, the body of any person, including the body of the person who so invites, counsels or incites and the body of the person under the age of 16 years,

(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of one year; or
(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of 90 days.


R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 152; R.S., 1985, c. 19 (3rd Supp.), s. 1; 2005, c. 32, s. 3; 2008, c. 6, s. 54; 2012, c. 1, s. 12.


CCC

Proof of Offence

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The Crown should prove:

  1. identity of accused
  2. date and time of incident
  3. jurisdiction (incl. region and province)
  4. the accused communicated with a person
  5. that person was under 14 years of age at the time of communication
  6. knew that the child was under the age of 14
  7. the communication was in a manner constituting an invitation, incitement or counselling[1] to touch any part of the accused's body, the complainant's body, or object
  8. the communication was for a sexual purpose
  9. the accused knew that the communication would be received as an an invitation, incitement or counselling to do the physical conduct of the offence, or knew that there was a "substantial and unjustified risk" that the child would receive that communication as being an invitation, incitement or counselling to do that physical conduct. [2]


  1. R. v. Legare, 2008 ABCA 138, [2008] A.J. No. 373 at 33 and 37
  2. R v Legare 2008 ABCA 138 at 41

Interpretation

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Actus Reus

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A request by the accused to touch the victims private parts is an invitation to touch for a sexual purpose.[1]

Actual physical touching or an invitation for physical touching is not necessary. Even an invitation to hold a tissue used by the accused can be sufficient.[2]

  1. R. v. Gray, [2004] O.J. No. 4100 (C.A.)
    R. v. Phippard, [2005] N.J. No. (P.C.), at para 10
  2. R. v. Fong 1994 ABCA 267, (1994), 92 C.C.C. (3d) 171

Mens Rea

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Sexual touching is a specific intent offence.[1]

The "sexual purpose" of an invitation is determined based on an objective standard in light of all the circumstances. In looking at whether the words used had a sexual purpose, the court "can look to the part of the body that was to be touched, the nature of the contact requested, the situation in which the invitation occurred, including the words used, together with any accompanying gestures and all other circumstances surrounding the conduct."[2]

  1. see R. v. J.A.B. [2002] O.T.C. 723
  2. R. v. Pellerin, [2011] O.J. No. 1623 (C.J.)
    R. v. Chase, 1987 CanLII 23 (SCC), [1987] 2 S.C.R. 293

Typical Motions or Orders

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Witness motions

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Case Digests

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  • R v CMM, 2012 MBQB 141 - offender convicted for asking child to touch her toes while he took pictures of her private area

History

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On August 9, 2012, this section was amended to increase the minimum penalties from 14 days for summary and 45 days indictable to 90 days and 1 year, respectively.