Stamford Sex Crimes Lawyer

When facing any kind of sexual offense, help from a Stamford sex crimes lawyer is critical to building a comprehensive defense and preserving your best interests. With a qualified defense attorney by your side, you stand a much better chance of mitigating the penalties you might face in court and minimizing the impact this accusation has on your personal and professional life.

How is Sexual Assault Defined in Stamford?

Like many states, Connecticut state law has replaced the term “rape” with the term “sexual assault,” allowing for a broader definition of nonconsensual sexual activity that is meant to protect victims and allow for easier prosecution of perpetrators. In addition to several unique variants of sexual assault, Connecticut General Statutes §§53a-70 through 53a-73a define four specific degrees of this offense.

Sexual assaults in the third– and first-degrees involve the perpetrator using force to compel a sexual encounter, while sexual assaults in the fourth– and second-degree cover statutory rape and other sexual encounters in which one party materially cannot consent. Likewise, fourth- and third-degree sexual assaults criminalize nonconsensual sexual contact, while second- and first-degree sexual assault criminalize nonconsensual sexual intercourse. A lawyer in Stamford could help someone accused a sex crime involving assault.

What Are The Penalties of Sexual Assault Involving Minors?

Each degree of sexual assault may be prosecuted more severely it involves a victim under the age of 16. For example, a person accused of fourth-degree sexual assault—nonconsensual sexual contact with someone who cannot consent— typically will be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, but if the alleged victim is under 16, the charges will be elevated to a Class D Felony.

What Are The Other Types of Sex-Related Criminal Offenses in Stamford?

In addition to the four degrees of sexual assault, there are a slew of other miscellaneous sex offenses such as:

  • Risk of injury to the intimate parts of a minor, under C.G.S. §53-21(a)(2)
  • Promoting prostitution in the first degree if the person being prostituted is under 18 years of age, under C.G.S. §53a-86(a)(2)
  • Enticing a minor online to engage in sexual activity, under C.G.S. §53a-90a
  • Voyeurism for sexual purposes, under C.G.S. §53a-189a
  • Paying for or promoting an obscene performance involving a minor, under C.G.S. §§53a-196a and 53a-196b
  • Possessing or distributing child pornography, under C.G.S. §§53a-196c through 53a-196f

A lawyer in Stamford could provide further clarification about what any of these sex crimes entail and how best to go about fighting them in court.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Stamford Sexual Offenses Attorney?

Sex offenses are unique in that they often require mandatory registration as a sex offender and upon release from jail you may face special sex offender probation. Avoiding a conviction can help keep your name off of that list. Even before that, a skilled Stamford attorney could work diligently to gather evidence to show the prosecutor why the sex crime charges against you should be dropped. The goal of a dedicated attorney is to help make this part of your life as painless as possible and to be an advocate for you at every step of the way.

Consider Working with a Stamford Sex Crimes Attorney

In order to effectively preserve both your legal defense and your personal prospects outside of court for a sex crime, you may need help from an experienced professional who has handled cases like yours before. Head over to Avvo.com today to learn more about our firm’s dedication, then give our Stamford sex crime lawyers a call to set up a consultation.

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