Defending People Accused of Sex Crimes
Very few allegations can damage your reputation and future as much as a charge involving a sexual offense. Charges are very often made by someone without any type of physical evidence to support the charge. These charges are pursued very aggressively by prosecutors for many reasons, including the heightened attention by the news media in recent years. It is imperative that you hire an aggressive, competent attorney who is highly experienced in handling these cases.
Your future, your job, your family and your reputation are at stake.
Some of the most common sex crimes include rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, statutory rape, indecent exposure, incest, date rape, lewd and lascivious behavior, open and gross lewdness, sexual harassment, child pornography and pedophilia, and prostitution.
Boston criminal defense attorney Steven J. Topazio is not afraid to aggressively defend against sexual charges. Mr. Topazio knows from experience as a criminal defense lawyer that many times, allegations of sexual abuse are made up. He knows what to look for. He knows the defenses. Contact Mr. Topazio's office to schedule a free consultation.
Handling Alleged Victims
Attorney Steven J. Topazio knows how to handle the alleged victims. Many sex crime charges are based upon false accusations, stemming from anger, revenge or jealousy. It is the job of an experienced criminal defense to prove these accusations are false and therefore protect his clients' rights and future.
Rape
No means NO in today's society. Rape is the non-consensual sexual intercourse that is achieved by the use of physical force, threat of injury, or other duress. If the alleged victim of a rape claims that there was a lack of consent due to the effects of drugs and/or alcohol, thereby preventing the alleged victim from saying no, a person can be charged with rape. Any time non-consensual intercourse occurs that is committed by the use of physical force, threat of injury or other duress, it is deemed to be rape. Thus, rape can occur between a boyfriend and a girlfriend who have an existing relationship. This is commonly referred to as "date rape". A rape can occur even between a husband and wife. This is commonly referred to as "marital rape."
Another form of rape is "statutory rape". It is unlawful for an adult to engage in sexual intercourse with a person who is under age or under the age of consent. The age of consent is determined by law. Statutory rape is deemed to be a strict liability crime. Whether there was consent or not, is irrelevant.
Why Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you are here, chances are you need an attorney to defend you or someone you know against a sex offense charge. Being charged with this type of crime has the potential of ruining your or your loved one's life.
If you are convicted of a sex crime, you may be required to register as a sex offender, which can have a life-long negative effect on your personal and professional reputation. Furthermore, if you are convicted of a sex crime you may face jail time, probation, monetary fines, community service and psychological evaluation, in addition to the already damaging toll being taken on your professional and personal life.
Boston criminal defense attorney Steven J. Topazio is committed to representing each client to the utmost of his vast abilities. If you are concerned that reputation, liberty, or life is at stake, contact Boston criminal defense attorney Steven J. Topazio for a free consultation.
Rape, (G.L. c. 265 § 22)
Whoever has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a person, and compels such person to submit by force and against his will, or compels such person to submit by threat of bodily injury and if either such sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse results in or is committed with acts resulting in serious bodily injury, or is committed by a joint enterprise, or is committed during the commission or attempted commission of an offense defined in section fifteen A, fifteen B, seventeen, nineteen or twenty-six of this chapter, section fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen or eighteen of chapter two hundred and sixty-six or section ten of chapter two hundred and sixty-nine shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years.
Rape of child (G.L. c. 265 § 22A)
Whoever has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child under 16, and compels such child to submit by force and against his will or compels such child to submit by threat of bodily injury, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.
Open and Gross Lewdness and Lascivious Behavior (G.L. c. 265 § 16)
A man or woman, married or unmarried, who is guilty of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than three years or in jail for not more than two years or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars.
Indecent Assault and Battery on Child Under Age of 14 (G.L. c. 265 § 13B)
Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.
In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 14 years shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.
Indecent Assault and Battery on Person 14 or Older (G.L. c. 265 § 13H)
Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age fourteen shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.
Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on an elder or person with a disability, as defined in section 13K, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, and whoever commits a second or subsequent such offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years. A prosecution commenced under this paragraph shall not be placed on file nor continued without a finding.
Unnatural and Lascivious Acts (G.L. c. 265 § 35)
Whoever commits any unnatural and lascivious act with another person shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail or the house of correction for not more than two and one half years.
Engaging in Sexual Conduct for a Fee; Engaging in Sexual Conduct With Child Under Age 14 for a Fee (G.L. c. 265 § 53A)
(a) Whoever engages, agrees to engage, or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee, or whoever pays, agrees to pay, or offers to pay another person to engage in sexual conduct, or to agree to engage in sexual conduct with another natural person, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $500 or by both such imprisonment and fine, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not.
(b) Whoever pays, agrees to pay, or offers to pay any person with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 14, or whoever is paid, agrees to pay, or agrees that a third person be paid in return for aiding a person who intends to engage in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 14, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not.
Contact a Boston Lawyer Experienced in Sex Crimes Defense
For additional information about Attorney Topazio's ability to protect your rights and liberties involving sex offenses, contact his Boston office at 617-245-0218 or toll-free at 1-866-726-4590.
