document_title: Ava Jerome

question_text: who did ava jerome kill on general hospital

text: Ava Jerome

text: Casting and creation[edit]

text: In early April, Jamey Giddens and Jillian Bowe of Daytime Confidential reported a rumor that the Daytime Emmy Award winner Maura West, best known for her role as Carly Snyder on As the World Turns was set to join the cast in a top secret role.[1] On April 24, nearly two weeks after Confidential's original report, Soap Opera Digest and other soap opera media confirmed the news and revealed that West had joined the cast in the newly created role of Ava Jerome, and was slated to appear sometime in May.[2] Soaps In Depth editor Richard M. Simms immediately speculated that the character shared a connection to the infamous '80s crime family, the Jerome family.[3][4][5][6][7] West made her debut on May 8, 2013.[8][9]

text: In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, West revealed that her agent, Mamie Sparer was contacted by General Hospital casting director, Mark Teschner who had her come in to meet with executive producer, Frank Valentini and that the meeting prompted her to sign on to appear as Ava.[10] Of her role, West admitted the part was only scheduled as a five-day stint, however, was offered a contract before she even began work on the soap.[11] In an interview with TV Guide's Michael Logan, West was asked what made her take on the role of Ava. She admitted, "Next to nothing. You have to put your faith in people, which was hard because I'd never met [executive producer] Frank Valentini and [head writer] Ron Carlivati, but they are so fun, so infectious! But, then, Ava was not intended to hang around all that long."[12]

text: When asked about the casting of West in the role, Valentini and Carlivati admitted they both felt West was perfect the role. "When Ron and I had talked about this character, there were several actresses we had in mind initially, and a couple of things didn’t work out. Then I thought about Maura, and when I said it to Ron, we both said, 'Absolutely!' So we both kind of stumbled upon it at the same time, because we are both not physically in the same city, we are often on the phone," Valentini revealed in an interview in December 2013.[13] Valentini also admitted that he knew there might be some on West's part when it came to accepting the role. He explained, "I understood she wasn’t necessarily into the idea of doing another soap, because she had not the best experience on another show. But, I thought let’s do it and let’s see what happens." Carlivati also mentioned being a fan of West's from her time on World Turns, stating, "I was a fan of hers from As the World Turns. And when you first see Maura, she is so classically beautiful. I was not that familiar with As the World Turns, but when you would turn it on, you would see this beautiful woman who just seems to be appropriate as a soap actress."[13]

text: Character development[edit]

text: According to West, Ava has a lot going on; "She's mysterious and strong and just has all of the characteristics of a great character."[14] West explained that Ava is very reminiscent of her earlier portrayal of Carly on As the World Turns. However, she argued that Ava is a bit more "sophisticated." The characters are not the same, "but there are certain colors that are similar" West continued.[10] In an interview with Boston Herald, West said of Ava, "There’s a ton of mystery to Ava. [...] She’s full of strength and has undertones of vulnerability." She also said she didn't originally know that Ava was part of the infamous Jerome crime family, but in fact played her as if she possibly could be. She remarked, "am certainly playing her and making an early assumption that she is. This woman isn’t all poise and ladylike. There’s grit under there."[11]

text:
"It's awesome! And it makes Ava even cooler. She's like, 'So what if I'm not a guy? I'm an heir!' She didn't marry into the mob. She is the mob. When you grow up watching your father come home and wash blood off his hands, you don't give it much mind. There are no rules when you've been raised in a world like that — and that's very freeing as an actor. I loooove Ava! I love that she is so poised — almost hyper-poised — as she struts around town yet she's also gritty, angry, really abrasive. I love that she's hiding things."[12]

— West, on playing a female gangster (2013).

tag: div

text: If Ava's connection to the notorious Jerome crime family panned out, not only would West's arrival cause trouble for Port Charles's local kingpin, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), but there was also great storyline potential for Ian Buchanan and Finola Hughes's Duke Lavery and Anna Devane who shared a quite volatile history with the Jerome family.[7][15] Critics began speculating that the character would be the long lost daughter of Tonja Walker's Olivia St. John (born Jerome) despite the relatively small age difference between the actresses; however Matt Webb Motivich of TV Line also suggested that Ava could be a previously unknown child of Olivia's crime lord father, Victor Jerome (Jack Axelrod).[5] The character is immediately thrown into a major storyline as it is revealed that she is helping hide Morgan and that she Lauren's mother.[16] According to series head writer, Ron Carlivati, "This is [a] woman who conceived a child with Franco, so you have to worry about that right there." Though Ava initially comes off as a "devoted mother," there is much more behind to her.[17] At the Winter 2014 Television Critics Association press tour, West opened up about portraying Ava and how it compared to portraying Carly on World Turns. She described, "I have to be honest, I work very hard. ... I wanted to create a character that was different. I loved Carly, but I can’t play her again. Then when this part came up, I thought, how am I going to play this role? She’s different. She has similarities as women do.‘How does she carry herself?’ Ava never touches her hair. Ava never moves. Ava’s a snake. She only moves when she is going to strike. And these are things I think about. This is how I wanted to create this person."[18][19] When asked how she keeps Ava sympathetic and vulnerable, West described, "You never judge your own self. You do what you do — we all do this every day. Ava doesn’t judge herself, she does what she does because she thinks she is right. [...] She is not retrospectively looking at her actions. She is just living in it. As an actor, you can’t judge your character ever. Let others judge it."[18][19]

text: Relationship with Morgan, affair with Sonny and pregnancy[edit]

text: At the Winter 2014 TCA's, West opened up about Ava's relationship with Morgan and where it was headed. She said, "She was worried about the thought that there are other elements that interfere with love. [...] Family interfering with love is as old as love itself. I do think she loves him and her heart is broken."[18][19] During May 2014 sweeps, Ava cheated on Morgan and had an affair with his father, Sonny. The pair slept together in a crypt. In an interview, West spoke about the events of the affair and its locale. She stated, "A lot of people seemed shocked by it and I was very surprised by that reaction. I was never even thinking about the locale! I was thinking about Ava's pain."[20] West also spoke about her alter-ego's revelation that she was carrying the next Corinthos family baby., stating: That it's a classic soap story that has worked since television began. [...] Nothing bothers me. I'm here to play."[20]

text: Connie Falconeri murder[edit]

text: Following the revelation that Ava had in fact murdered Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan), head writer Ron Carlivati opened up to Michael Logan of TV Guide about the revelation, and whether or not he felt he had turned Ava into a cold-blooded killer. Carlivati stated, "Of course, we were nervous! Especially the more we and the audience got invested in Ava. It was always my plan to have her be the killer but there was still the chance that we would change our minds and not write it that way. As the character started growing in popularity, [executive producer] Frank Valentini said, "You know, Connie's killer doesn't have to be Ava. Maybe something else happened. Maybe someone else came in and killed Connie." There was certainly that temptation to protect Ava but, in the end, we decided it was a stronger move to stick with our original idea and see where that could take us down the line: What will happen between Ava and Sonny if and when he finds out she killed Connie? What will he do? She will have nowhere to run!"[21]

text: Cancer[edit]

text: In early 2015, Ava (after escaping from prison) is shot by Carlos Rivera (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), as revenge for causing him to be falsely imprisoned, and falls from a bridge.[22] She is presumed dead and a wake in her honor takes place, although in reality she survives.[23] Silas Clay (Michael Easton), who has stashed Ava in a secret hospital room in New York, informs her that she has cancer and is dying, with her condition quickly worsening.[24][25] After a bone marrow donor cannot be found to save her,[26] Silas agrees to euthanize Ava (per her wishes), on April 16.[23] Soap Opera Digest speculated as to whether or not this was in fact the character's final appearance.[23] Despite General Hospital refusing to comment on West's contract status, Carlivati claimed that this was possibly Ava's "final farewell", explaining that "Basically, we kept writing ourselves into a corner with Ava and then figuring out a way out. We were like, 'Wait a minute, what if she's pregnant,' you know? And then we painted her in this cancer corner and we kind of couldn't figure a way out."[23] Discussing Ava's wishes for Silas to help her die, he said: "Ava wants to die on her own terms, even if it's only a few weeks ahead of what might happen", and clarified that the soap opera was not trying to "come down on either side of [the euthanasia debate]".[23]

text: Storyline[edit]

text: Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) tracks down art dealer Ava Jerome at her home in New York City. Luke gets Ava to confess that she was once involved[a] with the crazed artist Robert "Franco" Frank (Roger Howarth) and that he fathered her daughter, Lauren Katherine "Kiki" Jerome (Kristen Alderson).[27] Ava is shocked to learn from Luke that Franco is an heir to the wealthy and powerful Quartermaine family and that Lauren is entitled to a share of the family fortune. After Luke's visit, it is revealed that Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig), the missing son of mob boss, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) is hiding out in Ava's apartment. Before leaving for work, Ava convinces Morgan to call home. Ava follows her daughter to Port Charles and has an impromptu meeting with Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) over Kiki's shares, and manages to work out a deal that would endow her with a large money sum.[28] Ava then confronts her daughter about the latest revelations and confesses that her father is in fact alive, leaving Kiki in a state of anger against her mother. Whilst in town, Ava runs Dr. Silas Clay (Michael Easton), with whom she previously had a fling. When Silas begins to question whether or not Kiki is his, Morgan confronts Ava about the truth to which she reveals that Kiki is not Franco's, but in fact is Silas' daughter. When Ava's older brother, the presumed dead Julian Jerome (William deVry) arrives in town under the alias "Derek Wells", the two reveal how their gambling ring involvement with Morgan was all in a hoax to work their way into the Corinthos family crime organization.[29] Ava also confesses to Julian her involvement in the shooting of Olivia Falconeri (Lisa LoCicero). While on a discovery to find out about her birth father, Sam Morgan (Kelly Monaco) and Silas travel to New York City and discover that Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen), who had an affair with Victor, was Ava's birth mother. During a heated confrontation, A. J. Quartermaine (Sean Kanan) confronts Ava about the night that Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) was murdered; Ava then confesses it was she who murdered Connie, not A. J., due to Connie discovering the truth about "Derek" and Ava's connection. Sonny interrupts and shoots A. J., killing him as a result. During A. J.'s funeral, Ava sleeps with Sonny in the Quartermaine family crypt, and is discovered by Morgan, who breaks their relationship off. To escape town, Sonny sends Ava to his private island to hide out, after Carly finds out the truth about A. J.'s death.

text: While on the island, Sonny confronts Ava, and confesses he knows the truth about Ava's involvement in the shootings of both Olivia and Connie, and promises to kill her. Ava then confesses that she is pregnant, with either Sonny or Morgan's child, guaranteeing her nine more months of life from Sonny.

text: Reception[edit]

text: Jamey Giddens of Daytime Confidential referred to West's potential casting as a "bombshell."[1]TV Source discussed the storyline potential that could come with West's character if she shared was related to the Jerome family.[15] West debut as Ava was highly anticipated by fans and critics alike. "[i]t was as amazing as we’d hoped" said Omar Nobles of West's May 8 debut.[16] In naming his Top 5 Bad-Ass Women of Summer TV, Luke Kerr of Daytime Confidential listed West and her portrayal of Ava as an honorable mention, citing: "Maura West has been bringing the heat this summer as General Hospital's mad art dealer. She has sizzling chemistry with Michael Easton’s Silas."[30] In the June 10, 2013 issue of ABC Soaps In Depth magazine, editor and chief Richard M. Simms named West and her character were listed as one of the top five enjoyable things about the series at that time.[31] In a Soapoperadigest.com online poll, fans were asked who they believed to be the most enjoyable new additions to the cast. West's portrayal of Ava Jerome was voted the best, winning 42% of the vote with 5,200 votes.[32][33] Based on her portrayal of Ava Jerome, Michael Logan of TV Guide, called West "the soap sensation of the decade".[12] Highlight Hollywood editor Tommy Lightfoot Garrett called West's acting talents as "definitely one of Hollywood’s top five most talented women today."[34] He went on to call her "lightning in a bottle" and that "she can do anything" proving that "just when you think her talent is contained, she breaks out of that mold, and proves she’s unstoppable."[34]

text: Giddens further remarked of Ava and her brother Julian, "If loving Ava and Julian is wrong, I don't wanna be right!"[35] West's portrayal of Ava in her relationship with Bryan Craig's Morgan Corinthos was listed on TV Guide's 2013 Hot List under the category of "Hot Bed". Michael Logan writes, "He is a marvelous muddle of puppy awkwardness and testy testosterone. It’s the scandal of Port Charles, but this was no one-night mistake."[36][37] For her portrayal of Ava, West placed at number thirty-four, down four positions, on Daytime Confidential's Hot 100 list for 2013.[38] West also made Logan's list of "The Best in Soaps 2013", as Best Actress. He praised West saying: "Her performance as high-strung, power-mad mob spawn Ava Jerome is a noirish marvel — deadly, campy and defiantly sexual. There is nothing like a dame."[39] Daytime Confidential also listed West's arrival of Ava and the return of the Jerome crime family as number nine on their "10 Best Soap Opera Storylines of 2013". They said, "When sultry gallery owner Ava Jerome (Maura West) was first introduced, fans and Port Charles citizens alike took notice of her infamous surname."[40] Hollywood Highlight also listed West as one of their top five female performers in 2013. The website praised, "Can anyone be so good, so grand, so sublime with every single man and woman on her talented cast? She can, she is. From beautiful wife, to busy mother, who knows where this woman finds the time to be the best in Daytime TV, but whatever she is doing, we should bottle it and force-feed it to every actress in this town."[41]

text: Michael Fairman of On-Air On-Soaps named West's debut as Ava Jerome as "Best New Character, Female" as part of his Best and Worst of 2013 list!. "This savvy soap veteran made Ava Jerome must-see soap TV whenever she walked into a room, and delivered her lines with such lethal undertones! We loved it … and Ava’s red-hot fling with the much younger Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig)! You go, Ava!," Fairman raved in his year-end review.[42] Daytime Confidential also listed West at number three on their list of 10 Best Female Soap Opera Entertainers of 2013, for her role as Ava Jerome. The site praised West's talent, praising, "Maura West recalled the brassy broads of Old Hollywood as mob queen Ava Jerome on General Hospital in 2013. We didn't think it was possible to love a character played by the actress more than we adored As The World Turns' Carly Snyder, but boy-oh-boy were we wrong!"[43] Head writer Ron Carlivati also praised West's portrayal of Ava, praising, "Now to see what she has brought to the character of Ava, it has just been amazing. It is so different than the character she played before, and what that shows me is … she can pretty much do anything."[13] Boston Herald praised West's performance, exclaiming, "Springfield native Maura West is mesmerizing as 'General Hospital’s' scheming Ava Jerome, sultry, sexy, vulnerable, vindictive — sometimes in the same scene. To think, this was only supposed to be a five-episode gig. If West hosted a pay-per-view in which she read the zip codes for the United States, she might make a fortune."[44]

text: In early 2014, West received a pre-nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, her sixth potential nomination in the category.[45][46][47][48][49][50] West was previously nominated five times in previous years, for her portrayal of Carly Tenney Snyder, winning twice; this is her first potential nomination in the role of Ava Jerome. West was listed at number one on Daytime Confidential's "Top 10 Female Soap Opera Entertainers of 2014" list. They called West "10 percent present" and cited "West fought to keep her character relevant amid a slew of new storylines and larger-than-life characters."[51] In 2015, West received a pre-nomination for the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of Lead Actress for her portrayal of Ava, her sixth over-all potential nomination in the category, and her second for the role of Ava.[52] West was officially nominated in the category of Lead Actress on March 31, her first for her portrayal of Ava Jerome.[53] She later won in the category on April 26, 2015.[54] She was nominated again in the same category in 2016.[55]

text: References and notes[edit]

text:
^ Jump up to: a b Giddens, Jamey (April 13, 2013). "RUMOR REPORT: Is Soap Superstar Maura West Headed For General Hospital?". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
Jump up ^ SOD (April 24, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Maura West To GH!". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
Jump up ^ Simms, Richard M. (April 24, 2013). "Maura West Joins GH!". ABC Soaps In Depth. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
Jump up ^ Fairman, Michael (April 24, 2013). "Maura West Confirmed In New Role on General Hospital!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Motivich, Matt (April 24, 2013). "General Hospital Casts ATWT Vet Maura West — As a Member of the Jerome Crime Family?". TVLine. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
Jump up ^ Newcomb, Roger (April 24, 2013). "Maura West Joins GENERAL HOSPITAL". We Love Soaps. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Kroll, Dan J. (April 25, 2013). "Maura West joins General Hospital". Soap Central. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
Jump up ^ Lewis, Errol (May 6, 2013). "THIS WEEK: General Hospital Puts New Style on Old Faces". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
Jump up ^ SOD (May 8, 2013). "Maura West Makes GH Debut". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Levinsky, Mara (May 20, 2013). "How The West Was Won". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.: pgs.30–33.
^ Jump up to: a b Perigard, Mark (June 23, 2013). "Springfield native is making waves on ABC’s ‘General Hospital’". Boston Herald. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c Logan, Michael (September 13, 2013). "Maura West Takes General Hospital By Storm". TV Guide. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c Fairman, Michael (December 26, 2013). "The Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati Interview – General Hospital – Soapmakers of the Year 2013". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Maura West Makes GH Debut". Soap Opera Digest. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Durrell, Angel (April 25, 2013). "Emmy Winner Maura West Joins ‘General Hospital’". TVSource Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Noble-White, Omar (May 9, 2013). "12 Awesome GIFS from Maura West’s ‘General Hospital’ Debut". TVSource Magazine. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
Jump up ^ "Ins&Outs: Who Is Ava?". ABC Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group: pg.11. May 27, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c Hornick, Susan (January 24, 2014). "TCA SCOOP: GH's Maura West on Lethal Ava Jerome — "She Only Moves When She is Going to Strike"". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c Fairman, Michael (January 24, 2014). "General Hospital’s Maura West Interview: The Making Of Ava Jerome!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b Logan, Michael (June 2, 2014). "Exclusive: General Hospital's Maura West on Ava's Shocking News". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
Jump up ^ Logan, Michael (March 10, 2014). "General Hospital Shockers: Writer Ron Carlivati on Sonny, Ava and Robin". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
Jump up ^ "'GH': A Bridge Too Far, Beach Bombs and A Hot Lsd Injection". Uexpress. Universal Uclick. February 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Is Maura West out at GH?". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.: 5 May 4, 2015.
Jump up ^ "GENERAL HOSPITAL: Maura West Delivers Yet Another Knockout Performance … And Ava Learns She Is Dying!". On-Air On-Soaps. Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. March 7, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
Jump up ^ Giddens, Jamey (April 11, 2015). "General Hospital SPOILERS: Ned Makes Quite The Fiscally Unsound Sacrifice". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
Jump up ^ Purvis, Matt (March 9, 2015). "GH Recap: I'm Yours". SheKnows Media. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
Jump up ^ Ron Carlivati (May 8, 2013). "Episode 12782". American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
Jump up ^ Ron Carlivati (May 22, 2013). "Episode 12812". American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
Jump up ^ Ron Carlivati (August 2, 2013). "Episode 12862". American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
Jump up ^ Kerr, Luke (July 18, 2013). "Top 5 Bad-Ass Women of Summer TV". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
Jump up ^ Simms, Richard M. (June 10, 2013). "5 Things We're Loving About GENERAL HOSPITAL Right Now...". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group: pgs.30–31.
Jump up ^ SOD (2013). "Which of GH's recent cast additions have you most been enjoying?". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
Jump up ^ Levinsky, Mara (September 23, 2013). "Extra Extra: Snap Poll". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.: pg.14.
^ Jump up to: a b Lightfoot Garrett, Tommy (July 6, 2013). "Highlight Hollywood’s Leading Ladies Gold Standard, Maura West, Heather Tom And Anna Paquin: The Best Of The Best". Highlight Hollywood. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
Jump up ^ Giddens, Jamey (October 23, 2013). "Can Ava Jerome Stay One Step Ahead of Her Enemies on General Hospital?". Daytime Confidential. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
Jump up ^ Fairman, Michael (November 7, 2013). "TV Guide’s HOT LIST: GH’s Ava and Morgan HOT BED & The Stafford Project HOT MESS!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
Jump up ^ Newcomb, Roger (November 7, 2013). "TV Guide Magazine Unveils The 2013 Hot List". We Love Soaps. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
Jump up ^ "Daytime Confidential Hot 100, 2013". Daytime Confidential. December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
Jump up ^ Logan, Michael (December 17, 2013). "The Best in Soaps 2013". TV Guide. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
Jump up ^ "10 Best Soap Opera Storylines of 2013". Daytime Confidential. December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
Jump up ^ Lightfoot Garrett, Tommy (December 27, 2013). "Highlight Hollywood Chooses FIVE BEST TV Actresses 2013: Clarke, Sagal, West, Lang, Cohan". Hollywood Highlight. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
Jump up ^ Fairman, Michael (December 29, 2013). "On-Air On-Soaps Names The Best and Worst of 2013!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
Jump up ^ "10 Best Female Soap Opera Entertainers of 2013". Daytime Confidential. December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
Jump up ^ Perigard, Mark (December 29, 2013). "TV’s juiciest dramas take place on daytime". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards Unveil Contenders for Acting Nominations". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ SOD (March 3, 2014). "41st ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY PRENOMS REVEALED". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ Fairman, Michael (March 3, 2014). "41st Annual Daytime Emmy Pre-Nominations Announced! Did Your Favorites Make The Cut?". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ Giddens, Jamey (March 3, 2014). "NATAS Reveals 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Pre-Noms!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ Kaplan, Jared (March 3, 2014). "41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Pre-Nominations Announced". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ Newcomb, Roger (March 3, 2014). "Daytime Emmys Drama Performer Pre-Nominations Announced". We Love Soaps. Blogger. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ Daytime Confidential (December 30, 2014). "10 Female Soap Opera Entertainers of 2014". Daytime Confidential. United States: Confidential Media Inc. (in partnership with SAY Media). Retrieved December 30, 2014.
Jump up ^ All references concerning the pre-nominations for the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards:

Simms, Richard M. (February 4, 2015). "Emmy Pre-Noms Announced!". CBS Soaps In Depth. United States: soapsindepth.com. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
SOD (February 4, 2015). "DAYTIME EMMY PRENOMINATIONS REVEALED!". Soap Opera Digest. United States: soapoperadigest.com. American Media. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
Noonan, Kevin (February 4, 2015). "Daytime Emmys Announce Drama Performer Pre-Nominations". Variety. United States: variety.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
Giddens, Jamey (February 4, 2015). "NATAS Reveals Daytime Emmy Acting Pre-Nominees". Daytime Confidential. United States: Confidential Media, Inc. (in partnership with SAY Media. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
Fairman, Michael (February 4, 2015). "42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Drama Performer Pre-Nominations Announced!". On-Air On-Soaps. United States: Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
Kroll, Dan J. "2015 Daytime Emmy pre-nominations". United States: Soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
Mistretta, Amy. "2015 Daytime Emmys: Pre-Nominations Announced.". Soaps She Knows. United States: SheKnows Media Entertainment. Retrieved February 4, 2015.

Jump up ^ All references concerning the nominations for the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards:

Oshmyansky, Rosalyn (March 31, 2015). "2015 Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations: General Hospital, The Talk & ET Score Nods!". Entertainment Tonight. United States. CBS Television Distribution. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Biedenharn, Isabella (March 31, 2015). "Daytime Emmy Nominations announced: General Hospital and The Ellen DeGeneres Show lead in their categories". Entertainment Weekly. United States. Time Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Block, Alex Ben (March 31, 2015). "Daytime Emmys: General Hospital Leads the Field With 28 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. United States. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Associated Press (March 31, 2015). "Daytime Emmy nominations revealed: ABC soap opera General Hospital leads pack". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Daily News, L.P. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
SOD (March 31, 2015). "DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEES ANNOUNCED!". Soap Opera Digest. United States. American Media. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Pedersen, Erik (March 31, 2015). "CBS, General Hospital Lead Daytime Emmy Noms". Deadline.com. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Fairman, Michael (March 31, 2015). "42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced! General Hospital Leads All Shows With 28!". On-Air On-Soaps. United States: Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
Schaefer, Megan (April 1, 2015). "Daytime Emmy Awards Nominees 2015: Check Out Nomination List For 42nd Annual Award Show". International Business Times. United States. IBT Media. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

Jump up ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". Burbank: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 26, 2015. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
Jump up ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 24, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.

text: Jump up ^ The relationship between Ava and Robert "Franco" Frank was originally stated as a marriage in the December 21, 2009 episode of General Hospital. However, in 2013 the story was retconned to being just a relationship.


document_title: Former Presidents Act

question_text: what is the pension of the president of the united states

root

text: Former Presidents Act

text: History[edit]

text: Before 1958, the U.S. federal government provided no pension or other retirement benefits to former United States presidents. Andrew Carnegie offered to endow a US$25,000 annual pension for former Chief Executives in 1912, but congressmen questioned the propriety of such a private pension. That prompted legislation to provide benefits to former presidents.[1]

tag: p

text: When the Former Presidents Act took effect, there were two living former presidents: Herbert Hoover and Harry S. Truman. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to fall under the act upon leaving office.

text: The original act provided for lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents. In 1997, it was reduced to 10 years for presidents taking office after 1997. The 1997 amendment was reverted by the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 (Pub.L. 112–257).[2] All living former presidents  and their spouses after Dwight D. Eisenhower are now entitled to receive lifetime Secret Service protection.[3]

text: Current status[edit]

text: By law, former presidents are entitled to a pension, staff and office expenses, medical care or health insurance, and Secret Service protection.

text: Pension[edit]

text: The Secretary of the Treasury pays a taxable pension to the president. Former presidents receive a pension equal to the pay that the head of an executive department (Executive Level I) would be paid, as of  2017[update] $207,800 per year.[4] The pension begins immediately after a president's departure from office.[5] A former president's spouse may also be paid a lifetime annual pension of $20,000 if they relinquish any other statutory pension.[1]

text: Transition[edit]

text: Transition funding for the expenses of leaving office is available for seven months. It covers office space, staff compensation, communications services, and printing and postage associated with the transition.[1]

text: Staff and office[edit]

text: Private office staff and related funding is provided by the Administrator of the General Services Administration. People employed under this subsection are selected by and responsible only to the former president for the performance of their duties. Each former president fixes basic rates of compensation for persons employed for him, not exceeding an annualized total of $150,000 for the first 30 months and $96,000 thereafter.[1]

text: Medical insurance[edit]

text: Former presidents are entitled to medical treatment in military hospitals; they pay for this at interagency rates set by the Office of Management and Budget. Two-term presidents may buy health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; a GSA legal opinion ruled Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush ineligible.[1][6]

text: Secret Service protection[edit]

text: Former presidents were entitled from 1965 to 1996 to lifetime Secret Service protection, for themselves, spouses, and children under 16. A 1994 statute, (Pub.L. 103–329), limited post-presidential protection to ten years for presidents inaugurated after January 1, 1997.[7] Under this statute, Bill Clinton would still be entitled to lifetime protection, and all subsequent presidents would have been entitled to ten years' protection.[8] On January 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, reinstating lifetime Secret Service protection for his predecessor George W. Bush, himself, and all subsequent presidents.[9]

text: Richard Nixon relinquished his Secret Service protection in 1985, the only president to do so.[10]

text: Diplomatic Immunity[edit]

text: Former presidents are entitled to a Diplomatic Passport. This passport is an assurance by the United States government that former presidents do not have trouble obtaining visa rights from other countries. This includes personal travel with this passport.


document_title: Ages of consent in North America

question_text: where is the lowest age of consent in america

question_tokens: where is the lowest age of consent in america

text: Ages of consent in North America

text: Overview

text: The age of consent is the age at or above which a person is considered to have the legal capacity to consent to sexual activity. Both partners must be of legal age to give consent, although exceptions to the age of consent law exist in some jurisdictions when the minor and his or her partner are within a certain number of years in age or when a minor is married to his/her partner. Persons below the age of consent may not, by law, give consent, and sexual relations involving such persons may be punished by criminal sanctions similar to those for rape or sexual assault. Non-violent sexual contact with persons under the age of consent may be punished with varying degrees of severity, ranging from a misdemeanor with a simple fine, to a felony with a punishment equivalent to rape.

text: Different ages may apply if one partner is in a position of power or authority over the other, such as a teacher, manager, coach, parent or stepparent. For example, in Indiana the age of consent is 16 but it is illegal for a person over 18 to have sex with anyone under 18 if they work at their school, are their parent or a stepparent, or are a person recruiting them to join the military.

text: Historically, the age of consent applied to male-female relationships; same-sex relationships were often illegal regardless of the ages of participants. Modern laws vary, and there may be multiple ages that apply in any jurisdiction. For instance, different ages may apply if the relationship is between partners of the same sex, or if the sexual contact is not strictly vaginal intercourse.

text: Antigua and Barbuda

text: In Antigua and Barbuda, the age of consent is 16.[1] The Sexual Offences Act of 1995 raised the age of consent from 14 to 16 years of age.[2][3]

text: Sexual Intercourse with female between fourteen and sixteen

tag: ul

text: 6. (1) Where a male person has sexual intercourse with a female person who is not his wife with her consent and who has attained the age of fourteen years but has not yet attained the age of sixteen years, he is guilty of an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for ten years.

text: (2) A male person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) –

text: (a) if he honestly believed that the female person was sixteen years of age or more; or

text: (b) if the male person is not more than three years older than the female person and the court is of the opinion that the evidence discloses that as between the male person and the female person, the male person is not wholly or substantially to blame.

text: Sexual intercourse with male under sixteen

text: 7. (1) Where a female adult has sexual intercourse with a male person who is not her husband and who is under the age of sixteen years, she is guilty of an offence, whether or not the male person consented to the intercourse, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.

text: A female adult is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) –

text: (a) if she honestly believed that the male person was sixteen years of age or more; or

text: (b) if the female adult is not more than three years older than the male person and the court is of the opinion that evidence discloses that as between the female adult and the male person, the female adult is not wholly or substantially to blame.

text: Anguilla (United Kingdom)

text:
The age of consent in Anguilla is 16. It is determined in Part 14 of the Criminal Code -
SEXUAL OFFENCES -Sexual Offences Against Minors - by Article 143. "Sexual intercourse with person between 14 and 16 years of age".[4][not specific enough to verify]

text: Aruba

text: This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Section relies solely on a permanently dead link. Please help improve this section if you can. (August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

tag: table

text: The age of consent in Aruba is 15, as specified in Article 251 of the Criminal Code of Aruba (which Aruba adapted after its secession from the Netherlands Antilles) which reads:

text: Article 251: "A person who, out of wedlock, with a person who has reached the age of twelve but has not reached fifteen, performs indecent acts comprising or including sexual penetration of the body is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than eight years or a fine of at most 100 000 florin".[5]

text: Bahamas

text: This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2018)

text: In The Bahamas, the age of consent for opposite-sex activity is 16 and the age of consent for same-sex activity is 18.  Homosexuality was legalized in 1991, but "public homosexuality" is an offense that carries a 20-year jail term without parole.[6][needs update]

text: 11. (1) Any person who has unlawful sexual intercourse with any person being of or above fourteen years of age and under sixteen years of age, whether with or without the consent of the person with whom he had unlawful sexual intercourse, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for life subject to, on a first conviction for the offence, a term of imprisonment of seven years and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction for the offence, a term of imprisonment of fourteen years.[7]

text: Barbados

text: In Barbados the age of consent is 16.

text: Section 5, part I "Sexual intercourse with person between 14 and 16" of the Sexual Offences Act 1992

text: (1) Where a person has sexual intercourse with another with the other's consent and that other person has attained the age of 14 but has not yet attained the age of 16 that person is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term of 10 years.[8]

text: Belize

text: In Belize, the age of consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.[9][10]

text: The legislation reads:

text: Criminal Code [CAP. 101][9][10]

text: Section 47.1

text: "Every person who, with or without consent, has sexual intercourse with a person who is under the age of fourteen years commits the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term that is not less than twelve years but may extend to imprisonment for life."

text: Section 47.2

text: "Every person who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a person who is above the age of fourteen years but under the age of sixteen years, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term that is not less than five years but no more than ten years."

text: Bermuda and British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)

text: This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2018)

text: Age of sexual consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender.[11]

text: Canada

text: The Tackling Violent Crime Act took effect on 1 May 2008, raising the age of consent from 14 to 16.[12]

text: There exist two close-in-age exemptions, depending on the age of the younger partner. A youth of twelve or thirteen can consent to sexual activity with an individual less than two years older than they. A fourteen- or fifteen-year-old can consent to sexual activity with a partner who is less than five years older than they.[13]

text: Criminal law (including the definition of the age of consent) is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, so the age of consent is uniform throughout Canada. Section 151 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a crime to touch, for a sexual purpose, any person under the age of 16 years. Section 153 then goes on to prohibit the sexual touching of a person under 18 by a person in three circumstances: if he or she is in a "position of trust or authority" towards the youth, if the youth is in a "relationship of dependency" with him or her, or if the relationship is "exploitative". The term "position of trust or authority" is not defined in the Code but the courts have ruled that parents, teachers, and medical professionals hold a position of trust or authority towards youth they care for or teach. Section 153 (1.2) of the Code provides that a judge can infer whether or not a relationship is "exploitative" by considering its nature and circumstances including how old the youth is, the difference in ages between the partners, how the relationship evolved, and the degree of control or influence that the older partner has over the youth.

text: The "position of trust under 18" anti-exploitation rules were expanded in 2005 by Bill C-2 where a judge may choose to term a situation to be sexual exploitation based on the nature and circumstances of the relationship including the age of the younger party, age difference, evolution of the relationship (how it developed, e.g. quickly and secretly over the Internet), the control or influence over the young person (degree of control or influence the other person had over the young person). This passed before the 2008 amendments, and they were not repealed so they are still in effect and can apply towards adults in these situations with young persons over the age of consent and under 18 (16-17).

text: Where an accused is charged with an offence under s. 151 (Sexual Interference), s. 152 (Invitation to sexual touching), s. 153(1) (Sexual exploitation), s. 160(3) (Bestiality in presence of or by child), or s. 173(2) (Indecent acts), or is charged with an offence under s. 271 (Sexual assault), s. 272 (Sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party, or causing bodily harm), or s. 273 (Aggravated sexual assault) in respect of a complainant under the age of sixteen years, it is not a defense that the complainant consented to the activity that forms the subject-matter of the charge.

text: Anal intercourse in Canada

text: Section 159 of the Criminal Code criminalizes anal intercourse, but provides exceptions for a husband and wife, and any two persons 18 years of age or older. These exceptions do not apply if a third person is present, or if the anal intercourse takes place anywhere but in private.[14] However, courts in Ontario,[15] Quebec,[16] and Alberta[17] have independently declared s. 159 to be unconstitutional as violations of the equality provision of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

text: History of the Canadian age of consent

text: During the 19th century, the age of consent for heterosexual vaginal sex was 12; in 1890, the Parliament raised the age of consent to 14.[18]  The punishment for anyone who had sexual intercourse with someone younger than 14 was life imprisonment and whipping, while the punishment for anyone who attempted to seduce an underage girl was two years' imprisonment and whipping.[19] Canada had also laws against "seducing" minor girls who were over the age of consent. In 1886, a law was enacted that made the "seduction" of a girl over 12 and under 16 "of previously chaste character" a criminal offence; the "seduction" of a female under 18 "under promise of marriage" was also made illegal in 1886, and amended in 1887 to apply to females under 21.[20]  After the raising of the age of consent to 14, the laws against "seducing" minor girls were amended to apply to those older than 14, and various laws of this kind have remained in force through the 20th century.[20] The age of consent was raised from 14 to 16 in the spring of 2008, when the Tackling Violent Crime Act became effective. The new measures still allow for close-in-age exceptions between 12 and 16: if there is no more than a two-year gap for those 12 and 13, or a five-year gap for those 14 and 15. Anal sex remains illegal with exceptions for those over 18, if they comply with the restrictions set out under section 159.

text: Female homosexuality was never illegal in the former British colonies; oral sex was legalized in 1969 with the same age of consent as vaginal sex. Also introduced in 1969 were the exceptions regarding criminal anal sex (effectively legalizing it), but with a higher age barrier set at 21, under section 159; in 1988, the age barrier for these exceptions was lowered to 18. As of 2008 there are no plans to repeal section 159, even though it has been ruled unconstitutional in some Canadian provinces.

text: Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)

text: The age of consent in Cayman Islands is 16.[21]

text: Defilement of girls under sixteen years of age, etc.

text: 134. (1) Whoever unlawfully and carnally -

text: (a) knows any girl under the age of twelve years is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for twenty years; or

text: (b) knows any girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen years is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for twelve years.

text: Indecent assaults on females

text: 132. (1) It is an offence for a person to make an indecent assault on a woman.

text: (2) A girl under the age of sixteen cannot in law give any consent which would prevent an act being an assault for the purposes of this section.

text: Caribbean Netherlands

text: The age of consent in the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius) is 16, as specified by the Criminal Code BES, Articles 251, which reads:

text: Art 251: "A person who, out of wedlock, with a person who has reached the age of twelve but has not reached sixteen, performs indecent acts comprising or including sexual penetration of the body is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than sixteen years". Before prosecution, the public attorney will, if possible, allow the minor to indicate if prosecution is deemed desirable.[22]

text: Clipperton Island (France)

text: Clipperton Island is an uninhabited nine-square-kilometre (approx. 3.5-square-mile) coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a state private property under the direct authority of the French government, administered by the Minister of Overseas France. The laws of France where applicable apply.[23] See Age of consent Europe#France.

text: Costa Rica

text: In Costa Rica under the Penal Code of 2004, the age of consent is 18, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender.

text: Spanish: Artículo 159.- Será sancionado con pena de prisión de dos a seis años, quien aprovechándose de la edad, se haga acceder o tenga acceso carnal con una persona de uno u otro sexo, mayor de trece años y menor de quince años, por la vía oral, anal o vaginal, con su consentimiento. Igual pena se impondrá si la acción consiste en la introducción de uno o varios dedos, objetos o animales por la vía vaginal o anal.

text: Translation: Article 159. Anyone who, taking advantage of age, attempts to obtain or obtains carnal access, by oral, anal or vaginal penetration, to a person of either sex who is over 13 and under 15 years of age, with his or her consent, shall be punished with two to six years' imprisonment. A similar penalty shall be imposed if the act involves the introduction of one or more fingers, objects or animals into the vagina or anus.

text: The age of consent used to be 15, but it was increased in recent years after legal reform.[further explanation needed]

text: Cuba

text: This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Section relies solely on a dead link. Please help improve this section if you can. (August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: The age of consent in Cuba is 16.[24][further explanation needed]

text: Curaçao (Netherlands)

text: The age of consent in Curaçao is 15, as specified by the Criminal Code of the Netherlands Antilles (which Curaçao didn't change after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles), Articles 251, which reads:

text: Art 251: "A person who, out of wedlock, with a person who has reached the age of twelve but has not reached fifteen, performs indecent acts comprising or including sexual penetration of the body is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than sixteen years".[25]

text: For children 12-14 prosecution only takes place upon a "complaint" by the minor, his parents, teacher, or the guardianship board.

text: Dominica

text: In Dominica the age of consent is 16.

text: "Defilement of girls between fourteen (14) and sixteen (16) years of age", Article 4 of the Sexual Offences Act

text:
" (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), any person who -
a) unlawfully and carnally knows, or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of any girl of or above the age of fourteen (14) years and under the age of sixteen (16) years (...) - is liable to imprisonment for seven years.[26]

text: Dominican Republic

text: The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18.[27]

text: El Salvador

text: In El Salvador, the age of consent appears to be 18 (although the laws are not clear cut in regard to sexual acts with persons aged between 15 and 18).

text: CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 15:

text: VIOLACIÓN EN MENOR O INCAPAZ

text: Art. 159.- El que tuviere acceso carnal por vía vaginal o anal con menor de quince años de edad o con otra persona aprovechándose de su enajenación mental, de su estado de inconsciencia o de su incapacidad de resistir, será sancionado con prisión de catorce a veinte años.[28][29]

text: Approximate translation: "Anyone who has vaginal or anal sexual intercourse with a minor younger than fifteen years of age or of another person by taking advantage of their insanity, their state of unconsciousness or inability to resist, shall be punished with imprisonment of fourteen to twenty years."

text: CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 18:

text: Several laws apply to sex with persons aged between 15 and 18.

text: Article 169 makes it illegal to "promote, facilitate, manage, finance, instigate or organize in any way the use of persons under eighteen years of age in sexual or erotic acts individually or organized, publicly or privately".

text: Art. 169.- El que promoviere, facilitare, administrare, financiare, instigare u organizare de cualquier forma la utilización de personas menores de dieciocho años en actos sexuales o eróticos, de manera individual u organizada, de forma pública o privada, será sancionado con pena de tres a ocho años de prisión.

text: En igual responsabilidad incurrirá quien con conocimiento de causa autorizare el uso o arrendare el inmueble para realizar cualquiera de las actividades descritas en el inciso anterior.[28]

text: Approximate translation: Article 169 .- Any person who promotes, facilitates, manages, finances, instigates or organizes in any way the use of persons under eighteen years of age in sexual or erotic acts, individually or organized, publicly or privately, shall be punished with penalty of three to eight years in prison.

text: Similarly, anyone who knowingly authorizes the use or rents a property to perform any of the activities described in the preceding paragraph, incurs criminal liability.

text: Article 167 makes it illegal to "promote or facilitate the corruption of a person under eighteen (...) through various sexual acts of carnal knowledge, even if the victim consents to participate in them".

text: CORRUPCIÓN DE MENORES E INCAPACES

text: Art. 167.- El que promoviere o facilitare la corrupción de una persona menor de dieciocho años de edad o de un deficiente mental, mediante actos sexuales diversos del acceso carnal, aunque la víctima consintiere participar en ellos, será sancionado con prisión de seis a doce años.[28]

text: Approximate translation: Article 167 .- Any person who promotes or facilitates the corruption of a person under eighteen years of age or a mentally handicapped through various sexual acts of carnal knowledge, even if the victim consents to participate in them, shall be punished with imprisonment of six to twelve years.

text: Article 171 deals with "obscene exhibition", and also appears to set the age of consent at 18.

text: EXHIBICIONES OBSCENAS

text: Art. 171.- El que ejecutare o hiciere ejecutar an otros actos lúbricos o de exhibición obscena, o indecorosa, en lugar público o expuesto al público o bien ante menores de dieciocho años de edad o deficientes mentales, será sancionado con prisión de dos a cuatro años.[28]

text: Approximate translation: Art. 171. Anyone who performs or makes others perform acts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, or indecency in a public place or a place open to the public or to minors under eighteen years of age or mentally handicapped, shall be punished with imprisonment from two to four years.

text: Articles 163 and 154 of the Penal Code (Código Penal) deal with estupro and make it illegal to use deception (engaño) or to take advantage of one's superiority (superioridad) that arises from a relationship in order to gain sexual access to teenagers aged between 15 and 18.

text: ESTUPRO

text: Art. 163.- El que tuviere acceso carnal por vía vaginal o anal mediante engaño, con persona mayor de quince años y menor de dieciocho años de edad, será sancionado con prisión de cuatro a diez años.[28]

text: Approximate translation: Art. 163. "Anyone who has vaginal or anal intercourse, by using deception, with a person over fifteen and under eighteen years of age, shall be punished with imprisonment of four to ten years".

text: ESTUPRO POR PREVALIMIENTO

text: Art. 164.- El que tuviere acceso carnal por vía vaginal o anal con persona mayor de quince y menor dieciocho años de edad, prevaliéndose de la superioridad originada por cualquier relación, será sancionado con prisión de seis a doce años.[28]

text: Approximate translation: Art. 164. "Anyone who has vaginal or anal intercourse with a person over fifteen and under eighteen years of age, relying on the superiority arising from any relationship, shall be punished with imprisonment from six to twelve years."

text: Greenland (Denmark)

text: The laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply.[30] See Ages of consent in Europe#Denmark.

text: Grenada

text: The age of consent in Grenada is 16. Penalties are 30 years' imprisonment if the victim is less than 14, and 15 years' imprisonment if the victim is 14 to 16 years of age.[31]

text: Guadeloupe (France)

text: Guatemala

text: In Guatemala, the age of consent is 18, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender. The Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking in Persons was passed in February 2009, and provides sentences ranging from 13 to 24 years in prison, depending on the young persons age, for sex with a minor.[32]

text: Haiti

text: The age of consent in Haiti is 18.[33][further explanation needed]

text: Honduras

text: Honduras, the age of consent is considered to be 14.[34]

text:
Article 142. The stupor of a person older than fourteen (14) and under eighteen (18) years taking advantage of trust, hierarchy or authority, is punishable by six (6) to eight (8) years of imprisonment.
When rape is committed by deception is punishable by five (5) to seven (7) years of imprisonment.

text:
Article 143. The sexual intercourse with parents or children, brothers, or relationship between adopter and adopted, with stepparent, when the victim is over eighteen (18) years constitutes the crime of incest, will be punished with four (4) to six (6) years of imprisonment and shall proceed under complaint by the injured party or his legal representative.
When the victim is older than fourteen (14) and under eighteen (18) years, the penalty shall be increased in a medium (1/2).

text:
Article 144. Whoever for sexual character and by force, intimidation or deceit abducts or retains a person shall be punished by imprisonment of four (4) to six (6) years.
When the victim of this crime is a person under eighteen (18) years of age, it is punishable with the penalty prescribed in the preceding paragraph increased by half (1/2).

text: Jamaica

text: In Jamaica the age of consent is 16.

text: "Above twelve (12) and under sixteen (16)", Article 50, Offences Against the Person

text:
" Whosoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl being above the age of twelve (12) years and under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and
being convicted thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years;[35]

text: Martinique (France)

text: Mexico

text: Legislative framework

text:
In Mexico, criminal legislation is shared between the federal and state governments. The federal law establishes the age of 12 as the minimum age of consent, while the age at which there are no restrictions for consensual sexual activities is 18 (sex with someone 12-18 is not illegal per se, but can still be open to prosecution under certain circumstances). Local state laws may override the federal law. In practice, the decision as to whether or not to prosecute is left to state authorities regardless of the younger person's age.
At state level, the minimum ages of consent vary between 12 (and puberty in a few states) and 15, while the age at which there are no restrictions for consensual sexual activities vary from 16 to 18 (most common 18).

text: "Estupro"

text: Estupro is a crime existing across Mexico, as well as in other Latin American jurisdictions. Although the definitions vary by state, it is usually defined as sexual conduct with a child who has reached the minimum age of consent but is under 18 (16 or 17 in some states) when the consent of the child is obtained by seduction and/or deceit. For instance the law of Aguascalientes reads: "El estupro consiste en realizar cópula con persona mayor de doce y menor de dieciséis años de edad, obteniendo su consentimiento por medio de seducción o engaño." (translation: Estupro consists in copulating with a person over twelve and under sixteen years old, obtaining his/her consent through seduction or deceit). Traditionally, estupro applied only to acts committed with a girl, and required "chastity" or "honesty" of the girl. The vast majority of Mexican states have modernized their laws by removing the requirement of "chastity" or "honesty" and by making the laws gender neutral. However, traditional laws still exist in some states: for instance, the law of Baja California reads: Al que realice cópula con mujer de catorce años de edad y menor de dieciocho, casta y honesta, obteniendo su consentimiento por medio de la seducción o el engaño (translation: "Whoever copulates with a chaste and honest female over fourteen and under eighteen years old, obtaining her consent through seduction or deceit"). Some states have removed the requirement of "chastity" or "honesty", but continue to define estupro as applicable only to girls. For instance, in Campeche the law states: Al que tenga cópula con mujer mayor de doce años pero menor de dieciocho, obteniendo su consentimiento por medio de la seducción o el engaño (translation: "Whoever copulates with a female over twelve and under eighteen years old, obtaining her consent through seduction or deceit"). The exact type of coercion that must be used varies by state, for example the Federal Law only makes reference to "deceit", omitting "seduction" (it reads: Al que tenga cópula con persona mayor de doce años y menor de dieciocho, obteniendo su consentimiento por medio de engaño, translation: "Whoever copulates with a person over twelve and under eighteen years old, obtaining his/her consent through deceit").[36][37]

text: Federal Law

text: Article 261 of the Federal Criminal Code (PDF) states that: "Whoever, without the purpose of reaching copulation, performs a sexual act in a person under 12 or in a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the act or that for any reason cannot resist, or demands that the act is performed, will be punished with a term of 2 to 5 years in prison". If the offender uses moral or physical violence, an extra half term is added to the initial time.

text: Article 266 refers to the previous article 265, which covers the rape of adults in general and establishes a term of 8 to 14 years in prison for sex obtained through physical or moral violence. Article 266 then states that: "It is equivalent to rape and will be punished with the same penalty: (1st Clause) – who without violence performs a copulation with a person under 12". The 3rd Clause of this article punishes with the same penalties also "the vaginal or anal introduction of objects, without violence and with lascivious goals", in a person under 12 or in a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the fact, or for any reason cannot resist. If any of the aforementioned acts is performed with physical or moral violence, the sentence is raised in up to a half.

text: A further article, 266 Bis, determines an extra penalty of up to a half under certain circumstances – (a) when there are multiple offenders; (b) when the offense is committed by a parent, legal guardian, stepfather or "companion" (amasio) of the mother; (c) when there is an abuse of authority of someone as a civil servant; (d) when the crime is committed by a person who has the minor under his or her custody, guard or education, or yet through the abuse of trust.

text: There is another crime in Article 262 for consented sex with adolescents aged 12 to 18, when consent is obtained through deceit. The penalty is 3 months to 4 years in prison. This crime, however, is prosecuted only through a complaint of the minor or his/her parents or legal guardians, as determined in Article 263.

text:
Artículo 262 del Código Penal: " Al que tenga cópula con persona mayor de doce años y menor de
dieciocho, obteniendo su consentimiento por medio de engaño, se le aplicará de tres meses a cuatro
años de prisión."[38]

text: Translation: Article 262: "Whoever copulates with a person over twelve and under eighteen years old, obtaining his/her consent through deceit"

text: Article 201 prohibits the "corruption" of a minor under 16.[38]

text: Further reading:

text:
Official version - Mexican Chamber of Deputies website (PDF) (in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 22 November 2007)
Copy in HTML/PDF, browsable by section (in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 August 2007)
Interpol website (in Spanish) at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 27 September 2001))

text: Local laws

text:
State

Minimum age of consent(sex with persons under this age is always illegal)

Age at which there are no restrictions(sex with persons below this age is not illegal per se, but it is still open to prosecution)

"Violación equiparada"

"Estupro"

Aguascalientes

12

16

125

122

Baja California

14

18

177

182

Baja California Sur

12

18

286

290

Campeche

12

18

234[permanent dead link]

230[permanent dead link]

Chiapas

12

18

157 bis

155

Chihuahua

14

18

172[permanent dead link]

177[permanent dead link]

Coahuila

12

16

386

394

Colima

14

18

209

211

Distrito Federal

12

18

181 bis

180

Durango

14

18

394

388

Guanajuato

12

16

181

185

Guerrero

12

18

140

145

Hidalgo

12

18

180

185

Jalisco

12

18

176

142-I

México

15

18

273

271

Michoacán

12

16

240

243

Morelos

12

18

154

159

Nayarit

Puberty

18

260

258

Nuevo León

14

18

266

262

Oaxaca

12

18

247

243

Puebla

12

18

272[permanent dead link]

266[permanent dead link]

Querétaro

12

18

161

167

Quintana Roo

12

18

127

130

San Luis Potosí

12

16

152

149

Sinaloa

12

18

180

184

Sonora

12

18

219

215

Tabasco

12

17

150

153

Tamaulipas

12

18

275

270

Tlaxcala

14

18

221

291

Veracruz

14

16

182

185

Yucatán

13

16

315

311

Zacatecas

13

18

237

234

text: All Mexican states (as well as Mexico City) have corruption of minors statutes that can, upon complaint of the family (or minor), be used to punish sexual relations with persons under eighteen. Although actual prosecutions for violations of Corruption of Minors statutes (and age of consent statutes in general) tend to be sporadic, regional, and very situation dependent, many Mexican states nonetheless classify Corruption of Minors as a "Delito Grave" (Major Crime) in their penal codes.

text: Additionally, all the states have "Estupro" laws that can, upon complaint of the family (or minor), be used to prosecute adults who engage in sexual intercourse with minors by seduction or deceit (the exact definitions of this crime vary by state, see section estupro, above).

text: In some Mexican jurisdictions prosecutors have chosen to prosecute consensual sexual activity involving adults and underage minors only upon complaint by the minor, or a custodial complaint.

text: Federal District

text: The age of consent in the Federal District (Mexico City) is 12, one of the lowest in the world, and the overall criminal legislation of Mexico's capital is close to that of the federal law regarding this subject, although tougher in some aspects – higher penalties and broader definitions.

text: According to the Estatuto del Gobierno del Distrito Federal (PDF)(in Spanish) (Government Statute of the Federal District), Article 42, Clause XII, the District's Legislative Assembly has powers to legislate in criminal law.

text: Article 175 of the Federal District Criminal Code refers to the previous Article 174, which stipulates a term of 6 to 17 years of prison for the rape of adults, while defining copulation as "the introduction of the penis in the human body through the vagina, anus or mouth". Article 175 (violación) then states that: "It is equivalent to rape and will be punished with the same penalty:" (first clause) – "who performs a copulation with a person under 12 years of age or with a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the act or that for any reason cannot resist"; the second clause defines whosoever "introduces in the vagina or anus any element, instrument or any part of the human body different from the penis" as having committed the same crime, in relation to these same persons.

text: Article 177 covers "sexual abuse" and punishes other acts referred as "unintentional" acts –"who without purpose of reaching copulation, performs a sexual act with a person under 12 or a person that has no capacity of understanding the meaning of the act or that for any reason cannot resist it, or that demands that such act is observed or performed, will be punished with 2 to 7 years in prison".

text: In both Articles (175 and 177), there is an extra half term in case of physical or moral violence. And according to Article 178, there is also a punishment of an extra two thirds of the term under the same circumstances foreseen in Article 266 Bis of the Federal Law (see above), added by two new circumstances – (clause V) when the victim is inside a private vehicle or a public service vehicle; and (clause VI) when the crime is committed in a desert or isolated place.

text: There is a crime called estupro stipulated in Article 180, which refers to consented sex with adolescents aged 12 to 18, when consent is obtained through any means of deceit. The penalty is 6 months to 4 years of prison. This crime needs a complaint (querella) to be prosecuted.

text: There is a Corruption of Minors statute (Article 184) that can be used to punish by imprisonment, for seven to twelve years, adults who engage in sexual relations with persons under eighteen. This situation exists all over Mexico, and can be prosecuted upon complaint of victim or the victim's family.

text: Montserrat (United Kingdom)

text: The age of consent in Montserrat is 16.[39]

text: Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under age of sixteen

text:
121.(1) Subject to the provisions of the section, a man who has unlawful
sexual intercourse with a girl above the age of thirteen and under the age of
sixteen shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for two
years.

text:
(2) It is immaterial in the case of a charge for an offence under this
section that the intercourse was had with the consent of the girl concerned.

text: Indecent assault on a woman

text:
122.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any man who makes an
indecent assault on a woman shall be guilty of an offence and liable— (...)

text:
(2) A girl under the age of sixteen years cannot in law give consent
which would prevent an act being an assault for the purposes of this
section.

text: Nicaragua

text: In Nicaragua, the age of consent is 18, although, in regard to young people 16-17, the law (Article 175) is not clear cut.

text: Article 170. Statutory rape[40]

text: Anyone who is married or in a stable de facto union or who is of age and who, without violence or intimidation, has or allows carnal access with a person aged between 14 and 16 shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of two to four years.

text: Article 175. Sexual exploitation, pornography and paid sexual acts with adolescents

text: Anyone who induces, provides, promotes or uses persons aged under 16 or a disabled person for sexual or erotic purposes, forcing them to witness or participate in an act or show in public or in private, even if the victim consents to witness or participate in such an act, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of five to seven years, or four to six years if the victim is aged between 16 and 18.

text: Article 168. Rape of children under the age of 14

text: Anyone who has or allows carnal access with a person aged under 14 or who, for sexual purposes, inserts or forces the victim to insert a finger, object or instrument, by way of the vagina, anus or mouth, with or without consent, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 12 to 15 years.

text: Article 172. Sexual abuse

text: Anyone who engages in lewd acts with or improper touching of another person, without their consent, (...)

text: In no circumstances shall the victim be considered to have given consent if the victim is under the age of 14 or has a mental disability or illness.

text: Panama

text: In Panama, the age of consent is in general 18, although sexual conduct with children aged 14 to 18 is not always illegal.[41]

text: Artículo 176. Quien, valiéndose de una condición de ventaja, logre acceso sexual con persona mayor de catorce años y menor de dieciocho, aunque medie consentimiento, será sancionado con prisión de dos a cuatro años

text: Translation: Article 176. Whoever, using a condition of advantage, achieves sexual intercourse with a person over fourteen and under eighteen, even with consent, shall be punished with imprisonment from two to four years

text: This does not apply if the age difference is less than 5-years and the partners are in a stable couple relationship.

text:
No se aplicarán las sanciones señaladas en este artículo cuando entre la víctima y el agente exista una relación de pareja permanente debidamente comprobada y siempre que la diferencia de edad no supere los
cinco años.

text:
Translation: The sanctions provided in this article do not apply if there is a couple relationship duly established between the victim and the agent, and the age difference does not exceed
five years.

text: Puerto Rico (United States)

text: The age of consent in Puerto Rico is 16. There is a 4-year close-in-age exception subject to a minimum age of 14.[42]

text: Article 130.- Sexual Assault.- Any person who performs sexual penetration, whether an orogenital act or vaginal or anal sex penetration, whether genital, digital, or instrumental ... shall be punished...when the victim has not attained the age of sixteen (16) years, except when the victim is over fourteen (14) years old and the age difference between the victim and the accused is four (4) years or less.

text: Article 133.- Lewd Acts.- Any person who, without the intention to consummate the crime of sexual assault described in Article 130, subjects another person to an act that tends to awaken, excite or satisfy the sexual passion or desire of the accused ... shall be punished ... when the victim has not attained the age of sixteen (16) years at the time of the act.

text: Saint Kitts and Nevis

text: The age of consent in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 16.[43]

text: Saint Lucia

text: The age of consent in Saint Lucia is 16.[44]

text: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

text: The age of consent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is 15.[45] The penalty for statutory rape of a girl over 13 but under 15 is five years' imprisonment; under 13 it is life imprisonment.[46]

text: Sint Maarten (Netherlands)

text: The age of consent in Sint Maarten is 15, as specified by the Criminal Code of the Netherlands Antilles (which Sint Maarten did not change after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles), Articles 251, which reads:

text: Art 251: 1. "A person who, out of wedlock, with a person who has reached the age of twelve but has not reached fifteen, performs indecent acts comprising or including sexual penetration of the body is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than sixteen years".[25]

text: Prosecution for the violation of the above article only takes place upon a "complaint" by the minor, his parents, teacher, or the guardianship board (Art 251, 2. 3. 4.)[47]

text: Trinidad and Tobago

text: The age of consent in Trinidad and Tobago is 18, as per the Children Act, 2012.[48]  It was raised from 16 to 18 in 2015.[49]

text: The Children Act, 2012 defines a "child" as "a person under the age of eighteen years".

text: 18. Subject to section 20, a person who sexually penetrates a child commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

text:
19. (1) Subject to section 20, where a person touches a child and–
(a) the touching is sexual; and
(b) the child is under sixteen years of age,
the person commits an offence.

text:
(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable–
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine of fifty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for ten years; or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for twenty years.
(3) Where a person commits an offence under subsection (1), and the touching involves the placing of any body part or of an object onto the penis or bodily orifice of a child, that person is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.

text: Three close-in-age exemptions exist, as per section 20:

text:
20. (1) A person sixteen years of age or over but under twenty-one years of age is not liable under section 18 if–
(a) he is less than three years older than the child against whom he is purported to have perpetrated the offence;
(b) he is not in a familial relationship with the child nor in a position of trust in relation to the child;
(c) he is not of the same sex as the child; and
(d) the circumstances do not reveal any element of exploitation, coercion, threat, deception, grooming or manipulation in the relationship.

text:
(2) A person fourteen years of age or over but under sixteen years of age is not liable under section 18 or 19 if–
(a) he is less than two years older than the child against whom he is purported to have perpetrated the offence;
(b) he is not in a familial relationship with the
child nor in a position of trust in relation to
the child;
(c) he is not of the same sex as the child; and
(d) the circumstances do not reveal any
element of exploitation, coercion, threat,
deception, grooming or manipulation in the
relationship.

text:
(3) A person twelve years of age or over but under fourteen years of age is not liable under section 18 or 19 if–
(a) he is less than two years older than the child against whom he is purported to have perpetrated the offence;
(b) he is not in a familial relationship with the child nor in a position of trust in relation to the child;
(c) he is not of the same sex as the child; and
(d) the circumstances do not reveal any element of exploitation, coercion, threat, deception, grooming or manipulation in the relationship.

text: United States

text: In the United States, the age of consent laws are made at the state, territorial, and federal district levels. There exist several federal statutes related to protecting minors from sexual predators, but none of them imposes an age limit on sexual acts. On 26 June 2003, both heterosexual and homosexual sodomy became legal in all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia under the U.S. Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas[50] (between non-commercial, consenting adults in a private bedroom). In State v. Limon (2005), the Kansas Supreme Court used Lawrence as a precedent to overturn the state's "Romeo and Juliet" law, which proscribed lesser penalties for heterosexuals than homosexuals convicted of similar age of consent related offenses.[51]

text: Each U.S. state has its own age of consent, as does the District of Columbia. As of August 1, 2018, the age of consent in each state in the United States was either 16 years of age, 17 years of age, or 18 years of age. The most common age of consent is 16.[52]

text: Virgin Islands (United States)

text: The age of consent is 18. There is however a close-in-age exemption that allows minors 16 and 17 years old to consent with someone no more than five years older than themselves and minors 13 to 15 years old to consent with one another, but not with anyone 16 or over.

text: Article § 1700. Aggravated rape in the first degree bans sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child under 13. Sexual acts with minors are aggravated by the use of force, intimidation, or the perpetrator's position of authority, and by the fact that the minor, being under 16 and not the perpetrator's spouse, is residing in the same household as the perpetrator.(see Article § 1700, Article § 1702,  Article § 1708).

text: Other relevant articles of the criminal code are:

text: § 1702. Rape in the second degree

text: (a)  Any person over 18 years of age who perpetrates under circumstances not amounting to rape in the first degree, an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a person not the perpetrator's spouse who is at least 16 years but less than 18 years of age, and the perpetrator is 5 years or older than the victim, is guilty of rape in the second degree and shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years.

text: § 1703. Rape in the third degree

text: Any person under 18 years of age but over 16 years of age who perpetrates an act of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a person not the perpetrator's spouse who is under 16 years of age but over 13 years of age, under circumstances not amounting to rape in the first degree, is guilty of rape in the third degree and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Family Division of the Superior Court

text: "Sexual contact", that is, non-penetrative sex, defined as "the intentional touching of a person's intimate parts, whether directly or through clothing, to arouse or to gratify the sexual desires of any person" is not permitted with children under 16, but a close-in-age exemption allows those aged at least 13 to engage in such acts with partners under 18.

text: § 1708. Unlawful sexual contact in the first degree

text:
A person who engages in sexual contact with a person not the perpetrator's spouse—
(..)(2) when the other person is under thirteen years of age;

text: § 1709. Unlawful sexual contact in the second degree

text:
A person over eighteen years of age who engages in sexual contact with a person not the perpetrator's spouse who is over thirteen but under sixteen years of age is guilty of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree and shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year
Paraphrasing Virgin Islands Code: V.I.C. § 1700-1709 Virgin Islands Code
and appeals records Francis vs. VI
NOTE: "mistake of fact as to the victim's age is not a defense".