Darien Sexual Assault Lawyer
Sexual assault charges are often taken extremely seriously by both prosecutors and criminal court judges, and unless you act quickly to retain legal counsel and start construction a thorough legal defense, you may find yourself facing significant fines and jailtime.
Before talking to anyone else about your case, you should prioritize speaking with a Darien sexual assault lawyer about your legal options.
How is Sexual Assault Defined?
Sexual assault in the fourth and third degrees entail someone engaging in nonconsensual sexual contact with someone else, while second- and first-degree sexual assault involve nonconsensual penetrative sexual intercourse and/or contact between the mouth of one party and the intimate parts of another. Importantly, a lack of consent does not necessarily have to be verbalized for a sex act to be considered assault, nor can all types of people affirmatively give consent in the first place.
For example, people under the age of 18 cannot legally consent to sexual contact or intercourse no matter the circumstances, so any sexual interaction with a minor is considered sexual assault in Connecticut. Likewise, it is illegal for a person to engage in sexual acts with someone who is physically or mentally impaired, or someone they have authority over in a supervisory, professional, or correctional capacity. To learn more about consent in sex assault cases, click here.
Can I Go to Jail for Sex Assault?
The vast majority of sexual assault offenses in Connecticut are felonies, with fourth-degree sexual assault of someone over 16 years of age—a class A misdemeanor—being the only exception, under Connecticut General Statutes §53a-73a. Successive degrees of sexual assault are punished more severely, as are offenses committed by adults over the age of 18 against minors under the age of 16. A Darien sexual assault attorney could offer further clarification about how severely a particular offense is treated under state law.
What is the Sexual Assault Case Process in Darien?
Typically, law enforcement authorities in Darien will only bring criminal charges for sexual assault after an investigation into a victim’s allegations produces sufficient evidence to arrest. You may be picked up at random by the police, or you may be called to alert you that a warrant is out for your arrest. A Darien sex assault defense lawyer who has worked with the police in the past can help arrange for you to turn yourself in, avoiding a surprise arrest.
After you’re arrested, you’ll appear before a Connecticut Judge rather quickly for your arraignment. You’ll learn the nature of the charges against you, bail will be set, and you will have your first opportunity to enter a plea. In many cases, the judge will also issue a restraining order against the defendant barring them from contacting their alleged victim at least until their trial concludes. To learn more about restraining orders, click here.
Most cases can be resolved before going to trial; however, you have the right to go to trial and have your day in court. To learn more about building an effective defense in sex assault cases, follow this link.
Discuss Legal Options with a Darien Sexual Assault Attorney
If you have been accused of sexual assault, you should seek help from a seasoned attorney as soon as possible. Consider retaining a knowledgeable Darien sexual assault lawyer who has handled similar cases before and could help you throughout every stage of legal process. Our certified 5-star client reviews can be read here, a testament to the help a dedicated lawyer can provide.