Trusted Yakima Sex Crimes Attorney: Do Not Despair Even As You Face Life-Altering Sex Offense Allegations
Simply being suspected of a sex crime can lead to serious repercussions. Even before you are convicted, the fact of your arrest may put your career at risk and affect your personal life and your standing in the community.
Are your friends, co-workers or family members already treating you differently after you were arrested on suspicion of rape or the abuse of a minor? Are you rightfully worried that your situation will grow worse when you appear before a prosecutor, judge or jury? To protect your good name, your freedom and your future, turn to a trusted advocate at Scott Law Firm sooner rather than later.
If applicable, our criminal defense attorney can monitor the news and manage your reputation as word of the arrest may seep into local broadcasts and publications.
Defending Against Sex Crime Allegations
A sex crime case often rests on one person’s account, so small details carry great weight. Attorney Gregory L. Scott starts with everything the prosecution has gathered, from police reports and recorded interviews to forensic and digital records, looking for inconsistencies and evidence that officers handled improperly.
His own investigation may uncover witnesses police never interviewed or messages worth preserving before they disappear. The strategy then follows the charge: A case involving illegal images may turn on how investigators searched your devices, while a rape allegation may hinge on consent or identity. With more than 100 jury trials behind him, attorney Scott challenges weak evidence through pretrial motions and prepares every case as though it is headed to trial.
Types Of Sex Crime Charges We Defend
Sex-related offenses include a wide range of alleged activities, including the following:
- Sexual assault
- Gang rape, date rape, statutory rape and other types of rape
- Sexual abuse of a minor
- Solicitation of a minor
- Possession of and/or distribution of banned images through the internet and computers
- Indecent exposure
- Failure to register as a sex offender in violation of a court order to do so
Considering the great harm that you may endure if you are convicted, it is worth your while to pull out the stops and defend yourself vigorously.
What Happens After A Sex Crime Arrest In Washington?
After an arrest, officers take you to jail for booking, which includes fingerprints and a photograph. Detectives may ask for an interview, and you have the right to stay silent and to have a lawyer present. Using both rights protects you.
If you remain in jail, you will typically see a judge by the next court day. The judge reviews whether probable cause supports the arrest and may set bail or a no-contact order. Investigators keep working the case through forensic exams, phone searches and interviews.
Prosecutors then decide whether to file charges and which ones. After arraignment, pretrial hearings give your attorney the chance to obtain the evidence, file motions to suppress or dismiss and negotiate before trial.
Potential Consequences Of A Sex Crime Conviction
Many sex offenses in Washington are felonies. Depending on the offense, a conviction can mean years in prison, and the gravest charges carry a possible life sentence. Fines for a Class A felony, the state’s most serious category, can reach $50,000, plus court costs and restitution.
Most felony sex offense sentences also include community custody, Washington’s form of supervised probation, with regular reporting and treatment requirements. Courts commonly restrict contact with minors, internet use, travel and sometimes where you live or work.
A conviction may also require registration as a sex offender with the county sheriff, sometimes indefinitely. That status can surface in background checks for jobs and housing for years to come.
Don’t Stall On Getting Your Defense Underway
The sooner you have a respected, accomplished defense attorney on your side, the more likely it is that your case will be dismissed or fall through the cracks.
Let us hear from you at your earliest convenience. To schedule a meeting with attorney Gregory L. Scott in person, by phone or in a videoconference, call 509-574-0991 or complete an online inquiry form.
Do not include detailed information about your criminal accusations.