Greenwich Rape Lawyer

Rape in Greenwich is typically codified under Connecticut General Statute 53a-70, and is referred to as sexual assault in the first degree. This is considered forcible sexual intercourse either by force or by the threat of force. Such crimes are often punished harshly, and can impact both an individual’s personal and professional lives in the long term.

If you have been charged with rape and are seeking a robust defense, it is imperative to consult with a Greenwich rape lawyer as soon as possible. A knowledgeable sex crimes attorney in Greenwich can fight to help lessen or dismiss any consequences associated with your charge.

What is Rape Charged Under?

There are many ways an individual could be charged with rape. The first is the charge of sexual assault in the first degree, which would be forcible rape or the threat of force to have intercourse with somebody.

An individual could also be charged under the statutory rape theory with sexual assault in the second degree. Date rape would also be charged under second-degree sexual assault because it would include an individual who cannot consent to the intercourse. That could be charged as a felony as well.

What Are The Potential Penalties for Rape in Greenwich?

If an individual is charged with rape they will often serve jail time. Especially if a person is charged with sexual assault in the first degree, there will likely be both jail time and a period of sex offender probation that results from the charge.

If convicted, an individual will likely have to pay a fine and register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of their lives. The reputation and stigma that results from these penalties will stay on an individual’s permanent record.

Such severe penalties cement the need for an experienced Greenwich rape attorney. A seasoned lawyer can help minimize any consequences associated with the charge.

Aggravating Factors

If a person is charged with first degree sexual assault and the alleged victim is under the age of 16, the crime will be considered a Class A felony as a opposed to a B felony. A conviction will require a mandatory 10 years in jail. The seriousness of this charge should not be handled without the assistance of a Greenwich rape attorney.

If the person is charged with sexual assault in the first degree and the alleged victim is 16 or over, there is no mandatory jail time.

If someone is mentally incapacitated to the point where they do not actually know what is going on and cannot consent because of that, then the charge will be raised to sexual assault in the first degree. That makes the crime a Class B felony instead of a D.

Investigating Relationship History

When an individual is facing a charge of sexual assault in the first degree, it is usually a forcible rape allegation. Often, the defense is that the complaining party had consented to the act. It becomes an issue of credibility with one person’s word against another.

A rape lawyer in Greenwich will investigate the history between the two individuals, see if they are in a relationship, and examine the scientific evidence and any statements from witnesses who may have seen the two interacting to find out whether there was truly consent or not.

Preserving Evidence

Preserving any relevant evidence is key in a rape case, especially electronic communication evidence where there is an issue of consent.

Often the text messages between the two parties, emails, or any other communication reveal that the act may have been consensual. This evidence might get overwritten or disappear over time, so an experienced Greenwich rape lawyer must make sure to preserve the evidence as soon as possible.

Benefits of an Experienced Greenwich Rape Attorney

When defending a rape charge, an individual needs a Greenwich rape lawyer that is familiar with all of the steps that must be taken to prove the person’s innocence, to prove that the act was consensual, to prove that the prosecution has the wrong person, or demonstrate any other relevant defense.

An accused individual needs a reliable attorney who has tried these cases before, knows how to read the scientific reports, and can carefully scrutinize all of the evidence that the state is claiming to have.