What is the difference between aggravated sexual assault and a sexual assault?

Aubrey: What is the difference between aggravated sexual assault and a sexual assault?
I sometimes read in the newspaper a person was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and then sometimes the word aggravated is committed and the conviction is just sexual assault. Does that mean if a person was convicted of just sexual assault the victim may have encouraged the rape or contributed to it?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Olivia Anne
aggravated means they were pissed and had a motive to assault and regualr is usally random

Answer by shawn b
The word “aggravated” means continous. So the person must have continued to sexually assault that person on more than one ocassion.

Answer by lizzylonglegs
Aggravated means they did something aggressive like holding a knife to her throat to control her, that is what I always thought. It isnt the aggravation the woman committed, its the man’s aggravated behaviour.

Answer by trai
“What is the difference between aggravated sexual assault and a sexual assault?” The term “aggravated” means in legal terms that additional factors apply making the crime more aggressive. Specifically what that means depends on the statute in the jurisdiction. In this state (Indiana), for example, one is convicted of “aggravated rape” if the crime is committed by the use or threat of deadly force (a weapon), it results in serious injury, or the offense if facilitated by drugging the victim.

“Does that mean if a person was convicted of just sexual assault the victim may have encouraged the rape or contributed to it?” Absolutely not! Conviction of any sex offense is the finding of the complete responsibility of the offender. Just because a victim wasn’t shot, stabbed, beaten to a pulp, or drugged doesn’t mean they were asking to be raped. In fact, submitting to the rapist was most likely done in order to avoid those first three.

Answer by Couman
You’re gonna have to look that the specific state law in question I’m afraid. Obviously “aggravated” is worse, but exactly in what way it’s worse is not consistent. It could be related to the victim’s age, the extent of unwanted contact, use of a weapon or anything like that.

And what you said would almost certainly not be the case, the only exception would be if the “victim” was minor, then it’s possible there could be a sexual assault even with their factual consent.