Columbia Sex Crimes Lawyer
If you are facing charges of a sex crime in Columbia, you need to be aware of the potential penalties and consequences, such as the social stigma of potentially being registered and labeled as a sex offender. Whether someone gets 30 days in jail, six months in jail, or no jail at all, someone should be aware of the social consequences that come with a conviction as well. It is a strict registration and if you are found guilty, you have to register for years to come and be monitored. For the more serious crimes, the registration requirements are longer and the registration period is different depending on the nature of the crime, but the minimum is 15 years for even the lowest level of sex offenses.
An experienced Columbia sex crimes attorney will work hard to fight to beat the charge or get a more positive result in your case. Therefore if you have been charged it is important to consult with an experienced attorney in Columbia as soon as possible to begin building a defense.
Types of Offenses
There are numerous varieties of sexual offenses and several categorizations of the degree of the offense. For any degree level, a Columbia sex crimes attorney is necessary to build a defense for someone’s case. A sexual offense in the fourth degree is the lowest level offense, and it is considered an improper sexual contact. A fourth-degree sex offense is a misdemeanor and carries up to one year in jail as well as a fifteen-year registration requirement. A third-degree sexual offense is considered a sexual contact where a weapon was used, or someone was put in fear and there were physical injuries, such as if they are suffocated or choked. There are other varieties within this offense, such as if the person is mentally incapacitated or an aging person, that is considered a third-degree offense, and a felony and that carries up to 10 years’ incarceration.
The second-degree sex offense is considered similarly as the third and fourth, but it is a sexual act by force or threat of force. It is a felony that carries up to 20 years’ incarceration. There is also a first-degree sexual offense, considered as a sexual act with the use of a weapon, but enhanced, such as in cases of kidnapping, or if it was aided by another, it connects with a burglary, if someone breaks into a house, and commits to that sexual act. That is a felony that potentially carries life without the possibility of parole. There are two categories of rape, rape in the second degree and rape in the first degree. Rape is forcible sexual intercourse and is a felony that carries 20 years, and first-degree rape is sexual intercourse with a dangerous, deadly weapon, primarily, and life imprisonment is the maximum penalty making it imperative a sex crimes attorney in Columbia is contacted as soon as possible.
Common Felony Crimes
Common felony sex crimes will occur when an individual takes advantage of another while they are impaired by alcohol, because if somebody is that impaired, they cannot consent. It does not matter if they fight or do not fight, if they are that impaired, they do not have the ability to consent.
Statutory rape in Maryland will also be considered a felony crime and the age of consent is 16. However, if one of the parties is 14 or 15, the other cannot be 21 years or older. There is a variety of potential child sexual abuse charges, such as child pornography charges, which can be considered felonies. If you have been charged with any of these crimes, it is essential that you retain the help of a Columbia sex crimes attorney who will be able to begin building your defense.