Stamford Date Rape Lawyer
Date rape accusations can lead to serious legal penalties and cause permanent damage to your reputation. If you were arrested for this or any other sex offense, reach out to a Stamford date rape lawyer today. A top defense attorney could protect your rights and fight for a positive resolution to your charges.
What Constitutes Date Rape?
Connecticut law does not have a specific definition for date rape. Most of these situations would fall under sexual assault in the second degree. This charge encompasses situations in which the accused has sexual intercourse with a person who is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated. If the alleged actor gives someone a date rape drug and the person passes out, they could not consent.
Mental incapacitation means a person is rendered temporarily unable of controlling their own conduct because of drugs or other intoxicating substances administered to the person without their consent. Some common date rape drugs that cause mental incapacitation are GHB, Rohypnol, and ketamine. If someone has been accused of date rape, they should reach out to a Stamford lawyer as soon as possible.
Unique Aspects of Date Rape Cases in Stamford
Date rape cases can be different from other sexual assaults because the alleged victim often does not remember exactly what happened. Typically, the alleged victim woke up in a strange place with some physical symptoms. They may not know exactly what occured, but they sense that something is wrong. It is a matter of piecing together what happened in that situation.
It can be difficult to secure sources of credible evidence in date rape cases. The alleged victims often delay their reporting until they get a handle on everything that is going on. At that point, the evidence is often destroyed. People take showers, they clean sheets, and they move on with their lives, not realizing that reports about the incident were made. These cases also frequently involve drugs that make a person incoherent and lead to memory loss. For this reason, testimony may be unreliable. A Stamford lawyer could help someone build a defense if they have been accused of date rape.
How Does the State Decide to Move Forward With a Date Rape Case?
The state may choose not to move forward with the case for a variety of reasons. If they do not find the victim credible, if the evidence is not enough to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, or if some other disposition is agreed to, the state could choose to not move forward.
Contact a Stamford Date Rape Attorney Today
Many people charged with date rape believe their cases are unwinnable. While these cases can be difficult to win, juries often make the right decision after effective arguments from a skilled attorney. If you need help building a strong defense, contact a Stamford date rape lawyer at Mark Sherman Law today.