1. A person commits the offense of use of a child in a sexual performance if, knowing the character and content thereof, the person employs, authorizes, or induces a child less than eighteen years of age to engage in a performance which includes sexual conduct or, being a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of such child, consents to the participation by such child in such sexual performance.

2. The offense of use of a child in a sexual performance is a class C felony, unless in the course thereof the person inflicts serious emotional injury on the child, in which case the offense is a class B felony.

Attorney's Note

Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class B felonybetween 5 and 15 years
Class C felonybetween 3 and 10 yearsup to $10,000
For details, see Mo. Rev. Stat.§ 558.011
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Terms Used In Missouri Laws 573.200

  • Child: any person under the age of fourteen. See Missouri Laws 573.010
  • Performance: any play, motion picture film, videotape, dance or exhibition performed before an audience of one or more. See Missouri Laws 573.010
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Sexual conduct: actual or simulated, normal or perverted acts of human masturbation. See Missouri Laws 573.010
  • Sexual performance: any performance, or part thereof, which includes sexual conduct by a child who is less than eighteen years of age. See Missouri Laws 573.010

3. The court shall not grant a suspended imposition of sentence or a suspended execution of sentence to a person who has previously been found guilty of an offense under this section.