Should you Hire a Lawyer for a Sex Crime

If you are charged with a sexual offense, you  need the best legal representation you can find. It is not an exaggeration to say that a sex crime has the potential to negatively impact the rest of your life – your freedom, your reputation, your career, your family, and your future are all at risk if you are convicted of sex crime charges.

Due to the time and possible expense involved, you might be tempted to opt for a public defender, but that is not in your long-term best interests. Sex crime cases are legally complicated, and this is not the time to settle for less than the best.

It is also not the time to bury your head in the sand and hope it all blows over. Even if the sex crime allegations are completely false, the criminal charges are not going to go away on their own. You need to fight – and fight hard – if you are going to emerge from this situation with your future intact.

With that said, you cannot do it alone!

If you are going to beat sex crimes charges, you need specialized legal representation – an experienced sex crimes attorney who deeply understands this practice area of law and who can use this knowledge to create the most effective sexual assault defense strategies possible.

To help you better understand why you should hire a criminal defense lawyer for a sex crime, let’s first take a closer look at some of the potential consequences of a sex crime conviction, and, more importantly, how having the right criminal sexual conduct lawyer can make all the difference.

Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Sex Crime?

If you are innocent of the sexual offense false allegations against you, you might think that there is really nothing to worry about – that  these are false allegations or just some misunderstanding that can easily be cleared up if you just talk to police.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

The district attorney filed charges and the police arrested you because they had probable cause. They have some testimony, evidence, or witnesses that they believe can lead to a  successful sex crime conviction.

In other words, it’s gone past the “misunderstanding” phase by this point. In fact, if you try to explain or tell your side of the story to investigators, anything you say can and will be used against you in court. If you try to clear your name, you could end up incriminating yourself.

This is why you should always exercise your right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions without your attorney present.

Misdemeanor or felony, there is no such thing as a minor sex crime. If you are convicted, you can expect any or all of the following:

●       Prison, up to and including life without the possibility of parole

●       Expensive fines

●       Ruined reputation

●       Termination of your job or position of trust

●       Permanent placement on the sex offender registry

●       Disgrace for your family

●       Child Protective Services involvement

●       Loss of custody of your own children

●       Restrictions about where you can live and work

●       Social ostracization

With so much at stake, this is precisely why you need a CSC defense attorney who is experienced and skilled at handling sex crime cases. This is a very specific practice area, which is why some criminal law firms do not accept clients who are facing sexual offense charges.

Examples of Sex Crime Penalties

Since prison is the harshest penalty for a sex crime conviction, take a look at the maximum penalties for the most common charge – Criminal Sexual Conduct, aka sexual assault.

• Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree (Unlawful Sexual Penetration) – Felony, up to life in prison; see: CSC 1st degree Michigan penalty
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree (Unlawful Sexual Contact) – Felony, up to 15 years in prison; see: CSC 2nd degree Michigan penalty
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree (Statutory Rape) – Felony, up to 15 years in prison; see: CSC 3rd degree Michigan penalty
• Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree (Criminal Sexual Contact) – Misdemeanor, up to two years in prison; see: CSC 4th degree Michigan penalty

The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for a Sex Crime

So why a sex crimes lawyer?  After all, don’t all criminal defense lawyers receive the same legal training? Why can’t you just hire any criminal defense attorney?

As mentioned above, sexual offenses can be complicated and difficult to defend. Not just any lawyer is capable of handling a sexual assault case. To create an effective strategy that results in a successful outcome, your criminal defense lawyer needs each of the following:

Experience

A top Michigan criminal sexual conduct lawyer needs the specialized legal knowledge that is only earned by handling cases just like yours. This wealth of experience provides them with multiple criminal defense strategies that they can use on your behalf.

An experienced sex crime defense lawyer knows what works and what doesn’t. They can focus their efforts on employing only the best, most effective defense tactics on your behalf.

Blank Law, PC is the Michigan law firm with the exact experience you need.

Founding sex crimes attorney Nicole Blank Becker has more than 20 years experience as both an Assistant Prosecutor and as a private criminal defense attorney. She has even served as Chief of the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Crimes Units in Macomb County.

Just as relevant, attorney Christopher Coyle spent over 30 years in the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant Prosecutor. Eventually, Chris rose to the position of Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Unit.

That is a combined 50-plus years of specialized experience in sex crime defense that should be working on your case right now. If you need to hire a sex crimes lawyer, contact Blank Law, PC today.

Expertise

Expertise means knowing how to use that experience.

The best Michigan sexual abuse defense lawyers understand how to use their years of criminal defense experience and apply it to your sexual offense case. They know how to submit the correct pretrial motions, make the most compelling arguments, introduce the strongest challenges, and negotiate the best plea bargain agreements.

Nicole and Christopher have worked sex crimes cases from both sides – as prosecutors and as defense counsel – throughout the state of Michigan. Thanks to their extensive professional experience, they can craft a criminal sexual conduct defense strategy that will help you beat sex crime charges.

To learn more about how the Michigan sex crimes law firm Blank Law, PC can help, call today for a free initial consultation.

Reputation within the Michigan Criminal Justice System

For a sexual abuse defense attorney, their good reputation is one of the most powerful weapons at their disposal.

When you are in a courtroom facing life-changing sex crimes charges, you need legal representation that is taken seriously by both the presiding judge and the prosecution.

Nicole and Christopher are well-regarded and have earned their outstanding reputations within the Michigan legal community. Local prosecutors facing what they recognize as the best sex crimes law firm in Michigan, they often become far more open to reducing or dropping charges or otherwise making favorable plea bargain deals.

If you want Michigan’s top sex crime law firm on your side, contact Blank Law, PC today.

Negotiation Skills

Plea bargain agreements are common within Michigan’s criminal justice system process. District Attorneys labor under massive backlogs, so to save time, manpower, and money, they try to successfully resolve as many criminal cases as possible before going to trial.

To that end, they negotiate a plea bargain favorable to both sides. As elected public officials, they can show another successful prosecution, and you as the defendant receive a better and  more predictable outcome than you might have receive gotten if you were convicted at trial:

• Reduced charges
• Smaller fines
• Less jail time
• Mental health services
• Community service
• Drug court
• Probation

If  you are wondering if a negotiated plea bargain is in your best interest, contact Blank Law, PC today for a free initial case consultation.

Courtroom Skills

If your sex crimes case actually does go to trial, you will definitely want specialized sex legal representation. Sexual assault, statutory rape, or accessing sexually explicit material charges can bankrupt you and send you to jail for years…perhaps for the rest of your life.

To beat these sex crimes allegations, you need a defense attorney who will strenuously challenge every witness, statement, or piece of evidence that the prosecution presents. This is how they create the reasonable doubt that will get you acquitted.

To discuss the best strategies to help you beat sex crime charges, reach out to Nicole or Chris at Blank Law, PC for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Passion

The best Michigan sex crime lawyers also protect your due process and Constitutional rights to:

• Remain silent
• Have an attorney present during questioning
• Freedom from self-incrimination
• Protection from unlawful search and seizure
• Appropriate bail
• A speedy trial
• Trial by a jury of your peers
• A presumption of innocence

If your rights have been violated, contact Nicole or Christopher for a free consultation.

When your freedom and your entire future are on the line, never settle for less than the best. For the best sexual assault lawyers in Michigan, look no further than Blank Law, PC.