Redmond Sexual Assault Defense Attorneys
Rape and Sexual Assault Defense
Being accused of sexual assault in Washington can leave one feeling intimidated, confused, and emotionally distressed. It is during this challenging time that quality legal guidance from a skilled Seattle sexual assault defense attorney can make all the difference in shielding your future and ensuring that your rights are protected under the law.
Simply defined, sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual contact. Penalties for sexual assault can affect a person’s quality of life in respect to reputation, relationships, marriage, holding a current job, getting a new job, or maintaining finances. If convicted for such serious sexual assault offenses as rape, child molestation, and/or sexual misconduct, one potentially faces significant jail time, heavy fines, and sex offender registration.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, about 1 in every 6 adult women in Washington has suffered in her lifetime due to one or more completed forceful rapes. The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs claims that about forty percent of women in Washington State have reported experiencing being victims of rape, attempted rape, forced sexual contact or child sexual abuse. One fifth of women have said to have more than one sexual assault experience and almost one third of experiences involve multiple episodes. It has been reported by The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network that men are not exempt from becoming victims of rape. About three percent of American men (1 in 33) have experienced rape or attempted rape.
Rape is a serious felony crime committed by someone who has sexual intercourse with another person by force either through kidnapping, use or threat to use a deadly weapon, infliction of serious physical injury which may or may not make the victim unconscious, or entering a building or vehicle where the victim is located. To many people, child molestation is the most serious sexual offense a person can be accused of. An estimated fifteen percent of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of twelve. Child molestation in the first degree is a class-A felony, as is rape of a child in the first degree.
Under a broad range of sexual offenses in Washington, if a person is convicted, he or she may have to register as a sex offender, in which they will be required to fulfill many obligations such as providing private information subject to public display on the Internet. Since the Community Protection Act of 1990, law enforcement agencies have routinely tracked where sex offenders live within specified communities. As a registered sex offender, you may even be required to report to the Sheriff County’s office every ninety days. If an offender complies with reporting for a period of at least five years, then the offender may petition the superior court to be relieved of the duty of reporting every ninety days.
It is clear that an accusation of sexual assault should not be made or taken lightly considering that the penalties can be quite severe and long-lasting for the accused. In order to execute every possibility to make sure that your future is free of sex offender registration, jail time, fines, and a tainted name, you need the experienced Washington sexual assault defense lawyers at McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC. We have handled thousands of felony cases involving sexual assault and know what it takes to defend your rights when faced with serious penalties.
In providing expert analysis of your case, the attorneys at McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC will utilize our broad knowledge and effective resources to assist you in your time of need. To find out how we can help you accomplish a positive outcome in your Washington sexual assault case, call 206-332-1918 for a free consultation.