Top Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorney

The worst thing about criminal sexual conduct (CSC degrees) and criminal sexual assault cases is the stigma surrounding the allegations and charges. Even without a conviction, your life will never be the same. This is especially true if the CSC charges involve a child. Our Michigan sex crimes lawyers are here to help you.

While an accused person is innocent until proven guilty under Michigan law, almost all parties involved in a sexual assault case (i.e. jurors, prosecutors, etc.) will have a preconception of guilt simply based on the allegations, even if you 100% did not commit criminal sexual conduct, leaving you feeling that you have to prove yourself innocent.

Upon conviction, the offender faces lengthy prison sentences, fines, or both, with the penalties increasing according to the severity of the sex crimes. On top of that, someone convicted of a sexually assaultive crime must register as a sex offender with their local law enforcement agencies for varying amounts of time, i.e. the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.

Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorney

If you have an ongoing Michigan sexual assault case, are the subject of an investigation, or are currently charged, involving a skilled sex crimes lawyer from a reputable defense firm at the very start can help you avoid a conviction and, in turn, the consequences that come with it. Attorney Nicole Blank Becker of Blank Law, PC is one of Michigan’s best sex crime trial attorneys and is always ready to help when you need her most. She focuses solely on sexual crime cases and has the experience to back it up.

What to Look For in a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Lawyer

1. Their Understanding of the Laws Related to Sex Offenses

Persons intending to get into the practice of law must have a law degree and have been admitted to their practicing state’s bar. While these two requirements are important, those alone do not necessarily make for a good lawyer when it comes to sex crimes. Instead, a lawyer stands tall from the crowd when they have a deep understanding of their field of practice. A lawyer can be said to have deep knowledge of criminal sexual conduct charges if their practice is focused solely on that particular field.

If you live in Michigan, or anywhere in the U.S., attorney Nicole Blank Becker of Blank Law, PC is a great lawyer to choose for your defense. Besides being solely focused on sex crimes, Nicole has served in different capacities as an attorney which puts her a step ahead of her peers when it comes to matters of criminal sexual conduct cases.

Nicole was both a prosecutor and a defense attorney before opening Blank Law, PC. As a prosecutor in Macomb County, she was the Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit and the Child Abuse Unit. That experience alone has had her running circles around the prosecutors on the other end of the table.

The Laws Related to Sex Crimes: Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Laws

Michigan law classifies criminal sexual conduct offenses into four degrees:

• Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree

This classification is based on the severity of the criminal charges, which also determines the penalties that go along with each sex offense. The most severe of the four degrees is first-degree criminal conduct, while the least severe is fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The severity of a criminal sexual conduct act offense is determined by the victim’s age, physical state, and whether or not the offense involves sexual penetration.

First Degree CSC

Criminal sexual conduct in the first degree involves sexual penetration. If a person under 13 years of age claims the sexual act of sexual intercourse has happened to them, that is considered CSC 1st degree, which, again, is the severest of all types of sexual criminal offenses. Other than age, other factors may allow penetration crimes to be charged as criminal sexual conduct 1st degree. Other aggravating factors may include:

• Blood affinity for complainants ages between 13 and 15
• The offender was committing another felony at the time of the commission of the offense
• There is teacher sexual misconduct with a student
• The complainant is physically or mentally incapacitated

Upon a conviction, the offender could be looking at up to life in prison, per the CSC 1st degree Michigan penalty guidelines.

Second Degree CSC

A person is guilty of CSC 2nd degree if the sexual act of unwanted sexual contact is alleged by the complainant, including touching another person’s intimate areas or the clothing covering them.

Criminal sexual conduct convictions of this degree carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, per the CSC 2nd degree Michigan penalty guidelines.

Third Degree CSC

3rd-degree sexual assault, also known as statutory rape, is similar to 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct in that it involves penetration. However, the age of the complainant determines if it is a CSC 1st-degree or a CSC 3rd-degree crime. Besides penetration, a person will be guilty of 3rd-degree CSC if any of the following exist:

• The victim is a person 13 thru 15 years of age
• The accused person used force or coercion to achieve penetration
• The alleged victim was physically helpless

Upon a conviction, the defendant will be guilty of a felony of up to 15 years in prison, per the CSC 3rd degree Michigan penalty guidelines.

Fourth Degree CSC

CSC 4th degree is the least severe of all Michigan criminal sexual conduct offenses. A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the 4th degree if they touch another person on either their breasts, butt, penis, anus, inside of the thigh, etc., and that other person did not consent to the touching.

Upon conviction, the accused will be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison, per the CSC 4th degree Michigan penalty guidelines.

Sex Offender Registration is a Must for All CSC Offenses

One of the worst parts of a criminal sexual conduct conviction is the fact that you have to register as a sex offender on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. No degree of criminal sexual conduct is immune from sex offender registration.

With that said, the length and the nature of registration may differ with the severity of the crime. For example, first degree CSC offenders are on the public website of the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for a lifetime. Second and third degree CSC offenders, on the other hand, are on the public sex registry list for 25 years, while 4th degree CSC offenders stay on the registry list for 15 years, with the exception of some sexual crimes that are not on the public registry list.

2. Honesty/Managing their Clients’ Expectations

When looking to hire a criminal attorney for your criminal sexual conduct or sexual assault charges, you want someone who will be honest with you about the outcome of your case based on the prevailing circumstances. You want a criminal defense lawyer who can help you get an acquittal, but noting that an acquittal may not be possible for all cases.

A reliable lawyer should be able to review a case based on its strengths and weaknesses and help the defendant understand all possible outcomes. From 20+ years of experience as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, Nicole Blank Becker will provide you with the truth about your case and your chances. She has experienced and seen enough criminal sexual conduct cases to be able to share with you what she believes is the best sexual assault defense strategies for your case. Nicole uses her years of knowledge to offer her clients the best legal advice possible, without making unachievable promises.

3. Experience in Going to a Jury Trial for CSC Offenses

Years of practice matter when choosing a criminal sexual conduct attorney. However, besides experience, a lawyer has to have a record of getting their client the best possible outcomes based on what each individual defendant is facing.

Defense attorney Nicole Blank Becker has over two decades of experience doing state and federal sex crimes with a success record to back it up. Her experience goes way beyond learning how to defend sexual crime charges from a book, she has actual experience that no other attorney in Michigan has.

Prior to opening Blank Law, PC, Nicole was the Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit and the Child Abuse Unit for years. This experience exposed her to every facet of the legal system when it comes to sexual crimes. Having served as the head of the Child Abuse Unit, Nicole understands the art of communicating with children and has been certified in how to properly interview a child. This skill is imperative when the person alleging you of a sex crime is a minor.

If you are facing sex crime allegations, an investigation, or charges, call Blank Law, PC at (248) 515-6583 to book your free consultation today and have the best Michigan sexual assault lawyer on your case.

How a Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You with a Sexual Assault Crime

● They Understand the Legal Language

You could be falsely accused of CSC and have strong evidence, or even witnesses, to back you up, but still be convicted because whoever is representing you does not understand the unique legal language and penalties that come along with sexual crimes. Lawyers spend years learning legal language and how to apply it in court. Lawyers who focus on sex crimes can use the legal language they have learned, specifically for sex crimes, and appropriately apply it in court.

● Collecting and Analyzing Evidence

Every case stands or falls on its evidence. A reliable lawyer knows the art of collecting evidence, of which can help destroy the prosecution’s case. A lawyer who only focuses on sex crimes has a much better chance at analyzing the prosecution’s evidence and using it against them by poking holes in their case.

The prosecution holds the responsibility of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When prosecuting a sex offense, the complainant’s word is enough to move forward with a sexual charge. Oftentimes, not only will the prosecution use the testimony of the complainant, but they will also use evidence to support their theory. Unless an attorney has done hundreds of sexual assault trials and can do sexual crime cases in their sleep, they may miss some crucial evidence that may make a difference between you going home at night or going to prison.

● Handling Everything Related to Your Sex Crimes Case on Your Behalf

Sex crime cases involve a lot of work. If that work is done wrong, it could seriously jeopardize your case. As if being charged with a sexual crime is not enough, the stigma and mental anguish you may experience is often impossible to explain. You need a lawyer who knows how to help you and handle everything related to your sex crime case.

The right defense attorney for your case can help bring order and rid you of all the anxiety you have from your case, which is extremely important in order to build a criminal sexual conduct defense for success.

Call Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Nicole Blank Becker to Help You Handle Your Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Today

Criminal sexual assault charges, investigations, or allegations can make you cringe in shame and feel like you don’t want to talk to anybody. This is understandable because people are quick to pass judgment without getting your side of the story.

Criminal defense attorney Nicole Blank Becker has worked with countless people accused of sexual offenses and understands the need for professionalism, honesty, and hard work. For this reason, she works to build a strong attorney-client relationship that helps put her clients at ease when going through the treacherous waters of the legal system.

With Nicole by your side, you will never feel judged. To have Nicole Blank Becker on your sexual assault case, contact her at (248) 515-6583 or fill out this online form to book your free consultation session.