Sex crimes fall into a category of crimes that are prosecuted extremely aggressively. As a result, many charged with such crimes are often assumed guilty before they are even tried in a court of law. And because of this, it is essential to take immediate action to protect your rights and to defend yourself against such charges. If you are ever charged with a sex crime, it is important not to panic. While you are certainly in serious legal jeopardy, there are defense strategies that can be implemented to give you a chance at beating these serious charges brought against you.

When charged with a sex crime, the first step you should take is to hire an experienced sex crimes defense attorney. An experienced attorney may be familiar with various defense strategies and will work with you to decide which strategy may help your situation. Today, we are going to review some of those defense strategies.

Defense Strategies Against Sex Crimes 

One of the most common defense strategies in a sex crime case is challenging the evidence that the prosecution has gathered against you. This may involve questioning the reliability of eyewitness testimony, challenging the admissibility of certain types of evidence, or presenting evidence that undermines the prosecution’s case. Another strategy that may be effective is to argue that the alleged sexual encounter was consensual. If you can provide evidence that the other party willingly participated in the activity, it may be difficult for the prosecution to prove that a crime was committed. 

As is true in virtually every state in the United States, sex crimes are among the most severe offenses someone can be arrested for and charged with. This is particularly true when children are involved. When an adult is charged with child-related sex offenses, the police, media, and community often consider the alleged offender guilty of the charges against them before any trial has begun and, thus, before the defense has had a chance to present its case. 

Being convicted of a sex crime involving children can quickly decimate one’s life and career. This is why it is imperative to retain experienced counsel if you are ever charged with such a crime to try to avoid the devastation a conviction will wreak on your life. A knowledgeable criminal attorney will work tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected while also pursuing a favorable case outcome.  

In modern society, there is often a preconceived notion that sexual activity between a married couple is, by definition, consensual. However, you may be surprised that this is not the case. In Utah, regardless of whether you are married to someone, you can still be charged with rape if you engaged in sex through a means of force or coercion. Notably, the only instance when marriage protects against a rape charge is if someone is charged with statutory rape but was married to the underage person in question. Nevertheless, that exception only applies if the underage spouse consented to the sex.

In this blog, we will take a look at specific circumstances that often surround marital rape. It cannot be stressed enough that if you are facing charges of rape against your spouse, it is crucial that you seek out aggressive legal representation to have a chance at avoiding a conviction.

A Brief History of Marital Rape

For many years, marriage acted as a shield against accusations of rape. Spouses could not be charged with raping their spouse, even if the sex was non-consensual. It is only in the recent past that the laws acknowledging marital rape began to change on a state-by-state basis. Even today, marital rape varies on a state-by-state basis. In Utah, however, marital rape is treated as any other rape. 

In Utah, cases involving sex crimes are investigated and prosecuted with the utmost seriousness. However, the law involving such crimes can be confusing, especially for charges involving statutory rape. Under Utah law, statutory rape occurs when a defendant engages in consensual sexual contact with a minor who, because they are a minor, is too young to consent to the sexual contact. Moreover, the defendant must know or should have reasonably known the age difference before engaging in the sexual encounter. For this blog, we will delve deeper into what strategies are available for those charged with statutory rape.

At the outset, if you have been charged with statutory rape, understand you are in serious legal jeopardy. Being convicted of such a charge can land someone in prison while also requiring the convicted individual to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life, which can devastate someone’s life and career. Therefore, if you have been charged with statutory rape, do not hesitate to reach out to a knowledgeable sex crimes attorney who will work to ensure your rights are protected and that the most favorable outcome possible is pursued in your case.

Strategies for Defending Against Statutory Rape Charges in Utah

Depending on the state, few strategies are generally available to combat a statutory rape charge. Luckily, in Utah, there are options available for one’s defense. These options include the following: 

Being charged with a crime can be a terrifying experience. This is especially true when being charged with a serious crime, such as a sex crime. Defending yourself against a sex crime charge is no easy task. Due to the severity of such crimes, the police and community may assume you are guilty before any trial has taken place. 

To put yourself in the best possible position for a positive outcome in your case, there are several things you should do when you are charged with a sex crime. At the outset, strongly consider consulting with an experienced sex crime defense attorney. This is the first step you should take to help prevent the prosecution from securing a conviction against you. A sex crime conviction could mean decades of prison time and the lifetime designation of being a sex offender. 

What to Do When Faced with Sex Crime Charges

When faced with serious criminal charges, besides immediately hiring an attorney, there are several other things you should do, including: