McKinney Sexual Assault Lawyers
Attorneys for Charges of Rape or Sexual Assault in McKinney, TX
Some of the most serious sex crimes will involve accusations of sexual assault or rape. A conviction for sexual assault charges can lead to a long prison sentence and other penalties, but an accusation on its own can also cause a great deal of damage. A person's reputation, career, and personal relationships may be affected, and they may feel that they are treated as if they are guilty long before a trial is held. Many of these cases involve conflicting stories about what happened between two people, and a person will need to understand how to respond to accusations and defend against a conviction.
At Texas Defense Firm, our lawyers have the knowledge, skills, experience, and compassion to provide effective legal representation for people who are facing charges related to rape or sexual assault. We understand how much is at stake in these cases, and we work to ensure that a person will have someone in their corner fighting for their rights. We can challenge accusations against a person, take steps to prove their innocence, and determine how to resolve sex crime cases successfully.
Situations That Can Lead to a Sexual Assault Accusation
Sexual assault generally involves sexual conduct that occurs without consent. A person may be accused of having sexual intercourse against the other party's will, touching or fondling a person without receiving permission, or other nonconsensual sexual activities. Many cases involve people who knew each other before the alleged incident occurred. Accusations of sexual assault leading to criminal charges may arise in situations such as:
- A disagreement between former or current romantic partners can lead to an accusation that one partner forced the other to have sexual intercourse during their relationship.
- An encounter between people who met socially at a party, bar, or other activities may lead to accusations of sexual assault when one party claims that they were intoxicated or were unable to give consent.
- In workplace settings, an employee may accuse a coworker or supervisor of touching them inappropriately or pressuring them into sexual conduct.
- College students may be accused of committing sexual assault at parties or in other situations involving alcohol or drug use.
In some cases, accusations of sexual assault may be based on misunderstandings in which one party believed that they had consent but the other party felt that they did not agree to engage in sexual activities. In others, people may make false accusations of sexual assault based on motivations such as revenge or to gain an advantage in a divorce or child custody case.
In many cases, sexual assault charges may be based on the word of one person against another. Limited physical evidence may be available. Our lawyers can review the specific facts surrounding accusations, communications between the parties, and other information as we work to defend against a criminal conviction for sexual assault.
Penalties for Sexual Assault
The offense of sexual assault generally involves non-consensual sexual intercourse. It is generally classified as a second-degree felony, and a conviction can lead to a sentence lasting from two to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. A conviction may also result in a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.
Penalties for Aggravated Sexual Assault
Some sexual assault cases may be more serious due to aggravating factors. These may include accusations that a person caused someone to suffer a serious bodily injury when committing sexual assault, attempted to kill the alleged victim, threatened to injure or kill the alleged victim, acted in ways that caused the alleged victim to fear that they would be seriously injured or killed, or used a firearm or another deadly weapon. Aggravated sexual assault may also involve "gang rape" committed by two or more people or purposely administering a drug or another substance that prevented the alleged victim from resisting sexual assault. Aggravated sexual assault is classified as a first-degree felony with a potential sentence that may include five to 99 years in prison.
Penalties for Indecent Assault
When accusations of sexual assault involve sexual conduct other than intercourse or penetration, a person may be charged with indecent assault. This offense may involve touching someone's private parts without consent, indecent exposure of private parts, or other related activities. Indecent assault is generally classified as a Class A misdemeanor, with a potential jail sentence that may last for up to one year.
Defense Strategies in Sexual Assault Cases
Consent is often the central issue in sexual assault cases. Evidence related to the nature of the relationship between the parties, communications before and after the alleged incident, and other facts related to a sexual encounter may need to be reviewed. Our lawyers may help a client show that they did not commit the alleged conduct, or we may highlight inconsistencies in the statements given by the accuser or other witnesses as we take steps to show that consent was given.
In some cases, we may be able to challenge the forensic evidence involved in a case. We can look at how physical evidence was collected from the scene of an alleged offense, stored, transferred, and tested by laboratories to determine what steps may be taken to show that the evidence is unreliable or does not prove a person's guilt. We will work to ensure that our clients can respond to accusations and avoid convictions that could lead to sex offender registration and other serious penalties.
Contact Our McKinney, Texas Sexual Assault Attorneys
Because of the serious criminal penalties and other lifelong consequences that a person may face when they have been accused of sexual assault, legal representation is essential in these cases. The attorneys at Texas Defense Firm can provide the legal help needed to resolve these cases successfully. Contact our McKinney sexual assault defense lawyers at 972-369-0577 to schedule a free consultation.
