Sexual assault is a sexual act in which a person is coerced or physically forced to engage against their will, or non-consensual sexual touching of a person.

Rape is unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent—compare sexual assault, statutory rape.

To clarify, rape is on the continuum of sexual assault. Rape requires the use of threat or force and involves sexual penetration. Sexual assault, on the other hand, includes any act of intercourse or contact that is done without consent. Rape is considered a more serious crime (a felony of the first degree) and carries heavier penalties than does sexual assault (a felony of the second degree, except in cases of rape). That said, there are several degrees of sexual assault, including rape, based on whether weapons were used, whether the perpetrator had authority over the victim and whether permanent injuries resulted.

Sexual violence is a violation of a person’s trust, safety and liberty

http://www.crimevictimlawyerusa.com/rape-vs-sexual-assault/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rape

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault

Bill Cosby