Defending Against Charges of Sexual Assault

Wyoming takes sexual assault crimes seriously and prosecutes these cases aggressively. The mere allegation of sexual assault can cause significant damage to your reputation and can change your life forever. A sexual assault conviction can result in severe penalties, including fines and jail time. You might also be required to register as a sex offender, which could limit your employment options and choices for where to live.

If you have been charged with sexual assault in Wyoming, you need an experienced and tenacious criminal defense team on your side who will thoroughly and independently evaluate the charges against you and mount a vigorous and aggressive defense designed to have the charges reduced or the case against you dismissed.

Penalties for a Sexual Assault Conviction

Sexual assault charges are serious. A conviction for first-degree sexual assault carries a prison term of 5 to 50 years. If you are convicted of second-degree sexual assault, you face 2 to 20 years in prison. And if you are convicted of third-degree sexual assault, you face up to 15 years in prison.

You may also be required to register as a sex offender, which could limit your employment options and where you can live.

Sexual Assault Defenses

If you are facing sexual assault charges, be prepared for a long and difficult fight. Working with the experienced criminal defense team at Just Criminal Law can significantly improve the likelihood of a successful result. Christina L. Williams is a former prosecutor who leads a team of talented professionals, many of whom also worked in the prosecutor’s office or with law enforcement. Our team works together to protect our client’s rights and achieve fair and just results.

When defending you against sexual assault charges, we will evaluate every possible defense. Some defenses acknowledge that the events occurred but claim they were not criminal. Others argue that the events in question did not occur the way the victim says they did or that they did not happen at all.

Consent

If the alleged victim is older than the legal age of consent, consent can be a defense to sexual assault charges. We can use text messages, emails, and social media evidence to show the encounter was consensual.

Many sexual assault cases are “he-said-she-said” situations where an effective cross-examination of the alleged victim and the investigating officers is crucial. A consent defense can be strengthened by a thorough analysis of circumstantial evidence the prosecution will use to try to prove the sexual encounter was non-consensual.

Lack of Evidence

Many sexual assault cases rely almost exclusively on the alleged victim’s testimony. An effective defense against sexual assault charges should address the lack of physical evidence that supports the victim’s claims.

Innocence

Factual innocence is often the strongest defense against sexual assault charges. If the defendant can show they could not have committed the crime because they were in another location when the crime occurred, the charges may be dropped. A defense attorney might also present evidence that the victim misidentified their attacker to aid in this defense.

False Allegations

Some allegations of sexual assault result from a mistake or confusion on the victim’s part or are rooted in regret, revenge, jealousy, or fear over someone else’s reaction to sexual activity involving the defendant. Other times, false allegations of sexual assault are caused by mistakes by law enforcement during the investigation. Our team will identify these mistakes or the true reason for the sexual assault allegations and use them as part of your defense.

Improperly Gathered Evidence

Evidence should not be considered if it is unreliable or was gathered improperly. If police lineups or photo identifications were conducted in a way that suggested a particular suspect committed the crime, our defense team can try to have this evidence excluded.

Our criminal defense team will also analyze the investigation to identify violations of the defendant’s civil rights. Illegally obtained evidence could be excluded, which can lead to a reduction in charges or dismissal of the case.

Contact the Team at Just Criminal Law for Aggressive Defense Against Charges of Sexual Assault

Sexual assault charges are serious. If you have been charged with sexual assault, you need an experienced criminal defense team on your side. Our team will thoroughly analyze the evidence and how it was gathered. We will raise any constitutional and procedural defenses. And, when necessary, we will mount a vigorous defense at trial.

If you have questions about a sexual assault charge or want to understand mandatory sex offender registration laws better, Just Criminal Law can help. Learn more about us and the communities we serve. Read about our successful defense of other people who have been charged with crimes and why people choose us in their moment of need. Then contact us today to schedule your personalized case review and strategy session.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is offered for educational purposes only. This information is not offered as legal advice. A person accused of a crime should always consult with an attorney before making decisions that have legal consequences.