Defending Against Student Sexual Assault and Rape Charges

For help with defending against student sexual assault and rape charges in Michigan, reach out to an accomplished defense attorney. A dedicated student sexual assault and rape lawyer can fight for you throughout the legal process. These allegations are serious and carry severe penalties. Therefore, you may want to call today and set up a consultation.

Proving consent in rape and sexual assault cases can be difficult to do. When alcohol or illegal substances are involved, it becomes increasingly difficult to prove consent due to the fact that a person's ability to think cogently is lowered. This could lead to a potential miscommunication amongst the parties involved.

In other cases, there is a clear lack of respect for personal boundaries. An individual who forces themselves upon another person, fully knowing that the other person did not want to engage in such actions, could be penalized not only by the school but by the state as well. It is always important to make sure that the other person consents to any type of sexual activity.

There is a stark difference between a campus code of conduct and criminal charges. Penalties can range from a simple demerit, being kicked out of a club, team, class, or school. A criminal conviction could potentially result in incarceration, which also involves the guilty person being placed on the sexual offender registry.

Due to these consequences, a person should never face these charges without the assistance of an attorney. By having the appropriate representation, a person gives themselves the best chance of developing an effective defense strategy. An experience student defense lawyer can help with defending against student sexual assault and rape charges in Michigan.

An attorney can advise the defendant about what not to do while waiting for adjudication. For example, the defendant should not have contact with the individual making the allegations and should not speak to law enforcement or investigators without having their attorney present. Also, they should not agree to any testing that is not mandatory. The attorney can represent the person in the criminal proceedings, prepare them for trial, assist with decision making regarding a plea deal, or move forward with a trial.

Having an attorney is important because of the serious nature of rape crimes. Someone facing rape charges needs to hire an attorney with significant experience and success handling rape cases. They should find a student defense attorney who understands how to conduct the investigation, prepare the most appropriate defense, and avoid collateral consequences.

A defendant wants an attorney who will listen to their side of the story with an open mind and identify all possible defenses to the rape charge. An attorney strives to find a resolution of the case that does not destroy the defendant's life. In some rape cases, there is a clear misunderstanding that could lead to the destruction of one person's life. Sometimes it is a case of "he said/she said." Sometimes, the person charged with rape has a valid alibi. This is why if you are you are facing charges, contact a lawyer with experience defending against student sexual assault and rape charges in Michigan.