A famous comedian is accused of having sex with his wife's 20-year-old daughter. Could he be charged with incest?

• A. No, this behavior is not defined as incest.
• B. Yes, it is clearly a case of incest.
• C. No, but it is certainly a case of child abuse.
• D. Yes, but only if his wife brought the charges against him.

Answer: (C)

Incest is about sexual relations with someone who is a close relative. A wife’s daughter is a family member through marriage (a stepchild), so in many jurisdictions this relationship can be treated as incest, regardless of the other person’s age. The age matters for child abuse statutes, which are typically about minors; a 20-year-old would not fall under child abuse in that sense.

So the key idea is: sexual activity with a close family member (including a stepchild in many legal frameworks) can be charged as incest, while child abuse charges target minors. Jurisdictional differences can change whether step-relations are included in incest provisions, which is why these items can be tricky. If your materials indicate the provided choice, remember that laws vary by place, and always note how incest and child abuse are defined in your specific jurisdiction.