Sec. 12-33. Ritualized abuse of a child.

389 words·~2 min read·/il/chapter-720/act-5/12-33

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)A person commits ritualized abuse of a child when he or she knowingly commits any of the following acts with, upon, or in the presence of a child as part of a ceremony, rite or any similar observance:

(1)actually or in simulation, tortures, mutilates, or sacrifices any warm-blooded

animal or human being;

(2)forces ingestion, injection or other application of any narcotic, drug, hallucinogen

or anaesthetic for the purpose of dulling sensitivity, cognition, recollection of, or resistance to any criminal activity;

(3)forces ingestion, or external application, of human or animal urine, feces, flesh,

blood, bones, body secretions, nonprescribed drugs or chemical compounds;

(4)involves the child in a mock, unauthorized or unlawful marriage ceremony with

another person or representation of any force or deity, followed by sexual contact with the child;

(5)places a living child into a coffin or open grave containing a human corpse or

remains;

(6)threatens death or serious harm to a child, his or her parents, family, pets, or

friends that instills a well-founded fear in the child that the threat will be carried out; or

(7)unlawfully dissects, mutilates, or incinerates a human corpse.

(b)The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to:

(1)lawful agricultural, animal husbandry, food preparation, or wild game hunting and

fishing practices and specifically the branding or identification of livestock;

(2)the lawful medical practice of male circumcision or any ceremony related to male

circumcision;

(3)any state or federally approved, licensed, or funded research project; or

(4)the ingestion of animal flesh or blood in the performance of a religious service or

ceremony.

(b-5) For the purposes of this Section, "child" means any person under 18 years of age.

(c)Ritualized abuse of a child is a Class 1 felony for a first offense. A second or subsequent conviction for ritualized abuse of a child is a Class X felony for which an offender who has attained the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offense may be sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment and an offender under the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offense shall be sentenced under Section 5-4.5-105 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(d)(Blank).