Is a good faith, mistaken belief as to the age of the victim a defense in a statutory rape case?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Olsen, 205 Cal.Rptr. 492, 36 Cal.3d 638, 685 P.2d 52 (Cal. 1984):
9 People v. Ratz (1896) 115 Cal. 132, 46 P. 915 (accused's good faith, mistaken belief as to the victim's age is no defense to statutory rape) and People v. Griffin (1897) 117 Cal. 583, 49 P. 711 (accused's unawareness as to the victim's mental condition which makes her incapable of giving legal consent is no defense to rape).
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