Weston Sexual Assault Lawyer
If you are accused of any degree of sexual assault in Weston, you should retain the services of a seasoned criminal defense attorney to help you avoid a criminal conviction. An experienced Weston sexual assault lawyer could provide crucial assistance planning your legal defense and help you protect your future.
What Are The Consequences for Non-Consensual Sexual Contact?
Connecticut state law splits sexual assault into four categories—or “degrees”—based on whether they entailed illegal sexual contact or sexual intercourse, and whether they involved the use of force. First, sexual assault in the fourth degree involves illicit sexual contact with someone who materially cannot consent to such contact, such as a person over whom the perpetrator has disciplinary, educational, or professional authority, or any child under the age of 16.
Fourth-degree sexual assault is a class A misdemeanor offense under Connecticut General Statutes §53a-73a unless the victim of the non-consensual contact is under 16 years of age, in which case the offense is a class D felony. The former offense could be punishable by up to one year in county jail and a $2,000 fine, while the latter could result in up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Under C.G.S. §53a-72a, third-degree assault involves someone using force to engage in sexual contact with a non-consenting individual, and it is classified as either a class D felony or class C felony depending on whether the victim is over or under the age of 16. Since class C felony convictions come with mandatory minimum prison sentences of one year up to a maximum of ten, as well as a possible $10,000 fine, representation from a Weston sexual assault attorney may be especially important for anyone accused of this degree of assault.
What is Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in Weston?
In Connecticut, second-degree and first-degree sexual assault involve the same respective circumstances as fourth-degree and third-degree assault, with one crucial difference: instead of sexual contact, second- and first-degree sexual assault involve nonconsensual sexual intercourse. According to C.G.S. §53a-65(2), “intercourse” can entail any penetrative sexual act or any oral contact with another party’s intimate areas.
The applicable penalties for these offenses also vary depending on the age of the alleged victim—second-degree sexual assault can be a class C or class B felony under C.G.S. §53a-71, and first-degree sexual assault can be a class B or class A felony under C.G.S. §53a-70. Various other circumstances such as the presence of a deadly weapon or the victim suffering serious physical harm can further escalate potential consequences upon conviction, as a sexual assault lawyer in Weston could explain in further detail.
Seek Counsel from a Weston Sexual Assault Attorney Today
A knowledgeable Weston sexual assault lawyer could help you with every aspect of your case, including pre-trial negotiations and interactions with law enforcement authorities. You can read satisfied client reviews by following this link, and then give us a call today to begin building a strong defense.