Sexual Assault Charges
If you have been charged with sexual assault, you are facing serious repercussions if convicted. Sexual crimes are some of the most harshly punished offenses in the criminal justice system. If convicted, not only will you likely face time in jail or prison, you will be required to register as a sex offender. The sex offender registration makes it possible for anyone to find you on the internet, your name, where you live and the offense for which you were convicted. This creates a dangerous situation for individuals who are accused of the crime, as their lives are forever altered by a conviction. Any person accused of sexual assault requires a criminal defense lawyer to defend the case if they hope to fight to avoid the consequences of a conviction.
Defending Sexual Assault Charges
Some sexual assault accusations are related to what was a consensual act that one party later regretted. In other cases, an argument or relationship breakup can cause one partner to accuse the other of assault. If you are innocent of the accusation, you are still required to defend yourself in court; innocence is no guarantee that you will avoid conviction. The prosecutor in the case is determined to convict you and will make every legal effort to ensure that you get the penalty for the crime. There are many individuals who have been sent to prison who did not commit the crime. No matter what the circumstances are surrounding the charges against you, there are possible options for your defense.
Each case requires fast action on the part of the attorney representing you. A careful review of the evidence against you and how the evidence was obtained is an important part of the process. In many cases, serious flaws in the chain of custody of evidence or violations of the rights of the accused in the arrest procedure can be identified. When flaws or errors in the case are found, court challenges will be filed to suppress evidence. In cases in which you are accused based on one person's testimony about the incident, an intensive investigation into the person who has accused you of this crime will likely be necessary. No matter how dire the situation may appear, it is clear that a strong sexual assault defense lawyer is absolutely critical if you hope to increase the chances of a "not guilty" verdict in your case. |