Connecticut Sex Crimes

 Posted on October 15,2019 in Sex Crimes

Being the victim of a sex crime is one of the most devastating events that can happen to a person. However, being accused of a sex crime that you did not commit can be a terrifying process that can essentially ruin lives. If you are in that position, it is absolutely critical to engage an experienced Stamford sex crimes defense attorney who understands the stakes of your situation.

Different Degrees

Sex crimes in Connecticut run the gamut from Class B misdemeanors to Class A felonies, and they can require varying degrees of intent. Generally, the degree charged will be higher the more evidence of force is present. For example, if someone engages in a sexual act with someone who is legally ineligible to consent, but without force, they will likely be charged with sexual assault in the fourth degree, but if they engage in sex while using force, they will be charged with third-degree assault, or possibly rape, which is sexual assault in the first degree.

Other crimes that are classified as sex crimes include prostitution, pandering, any kind of obscenity with a minor such as child pornography, and any other crime that can be shown to be sexual in nature. Sentences will vary depending on whether or not any penetrative contact happened, and also if there was any type of aggravating factor, such as a weapon or if the crime was committed against a vulnerable person such as a child or an elderly person.

How Can I Defend Myself?

Prosecutors often make a point of aggressively pursuing harsh sentences for alleged sex offenders, but it is nonetheless possible to argue your innocence. For example, one of the most commonly offered affirmative defenses to a sex crime accusation, at least when the parties are adults, is consent - providing evidence that establishes the alleged victim’s consent to any kind of sexual activity. Consent can later be withdrawn, according to Connecticut law, but it is nonetheless a defense that can succeed if the evidence is there.

It can be tempting to simply try and argue mistaken identity or that this all must be some mistake, but your word is not enough to exonerate you. An experienced attorney knows the vagaries of the law and will have an idea of what to argue to give you the best chance to show your innocence and help you avoid the stigma that so often clings to those accused of sex offenses, regardless of guilt or innocence.

Contact a Fairfield County Sex Crimes Lawyer

Being convicted of a sex crime can not only lead to jail time, but also to registration as a sex offender and bearing a lifetime of stigma. If you have been accused of a sexually-based offense, you are entitled to your day in court, and you are entitled to an experienced Stamford sex crimes defense attorney who is well versed in these matters. The Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner is ready to try and assist. Contact our office today at 203-348-5846 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm#sec_53a-70

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/paep7v/in-most-states-forcibly-continuing-sex-after-a-partner-says-no-is-not-rape