Which principle is illustrated by statutory rape regarding mistake of law or fact?

• A. Mistake of fact can always negate liability.
• B. Ignorance of the law can be a defense in this context.
• C. Ignorance of the law and mistake of fact is NEVER a defense.
• D. Mistake of law can be allowed if the partner was older.

Answer: (C)

Statutory rape shows a strict-liability approach to age: the illegal act hinges on the actual age of the other person, not on what the accused knew or believed. The law imposes liability even if the person thought the partner was older or claimed they didn’t know the partner’s age. Since there is no required mental state about age, mistakes about age (mistake of fact) and ignorance of the law do not excuse the conduct. That’s why the best answer says that ignorance of the law and mistake of fact are never defenses. In other crimes, a mistaken belief about facts can sometimes negate liability, but for statutory rape the age element is fixed and does not depend on the actor’s awareness.