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Columbus Sex Crimes Attorneys
There are few criminal cases more sensitive or consequences more life altering than when a person is charged with a sex-related crime. Being charged as a sex offender can have long-term consequences. Depending on the severity of the allegations, rape, gross sexual imposition or sex crimes against minor charges can range from a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail to a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison.
If you are convicted of rape, gross sexual imposition, or a sex offense against a minor, you will be classified as a sex offender. The sex offender classification is a tiered system, based on the severity of the offense.
Here are the penalties for each tier:
Required registration as a sex offender every year for 15 years (10 if you were a minor when the offense was committed); no community notification required
Required registration as a sex offender every 180 days for 25 years (20 if you were a minor when the offense was committed); no community notification required
Required registration as a sex offender every 90 days; community notification of sex offender status
Simply put, if you are convicted of a rape, gross sexual imposition, or a sex offense against a minor charge, it will be on your criminal background for the rest of your life. No matter what the circumstances were in your case, your life will never be the same. Therefore, it is critical that you give your rape, gross sexual imposition, or sex offense against a minor charge the level of importance it deserves.
The experienced Columbus sex crimes attorneys from Luftman, Heck and Associates take an aggressive and comprehensive approach when representing clients charged with rape, gross sexual imposition, or sex offense against a minor. First and foremost, we will figure out if the charges are fabricated, what mistakes the police or detectives made during their investigation, whether your arrest was lawful, if there were any problems in the collection, storage or testing of evidence and any other legal issues that can be raised on your behalf.
We do this by requesting discovery from the prosecutor and by conducting our own investigation. The discovery will generally consist of police reports, additional investigative notes, lab reports and potentially video or audio.
Our investigation will consist of going to the scene, interviewing all witnesses and potentially hiring a private detective or forensic specialist for further investigation. As our client, you will receive a copy of everything received from the prosecutor and our investigation for your review
Based on the legal weaknesses in the State of Ohio’s case and any other mitigating factors, we will negotiate the best possible plea available with the prosecutor for you to consider in resolving your case.
If your case cannot be resolved satisfactorily with a plea, it would then proceed to a motion hearing (a hearing where the judge issues a ruling on an evidentiary issue) or a trial to the judge or jury, depending on the circumstances.
How the Columbus Sex Crimes Attorneys from LHA Can Help You
For nearly ten years, the experienced Columbus sex crimes attorneys have successfully represented clients charged with criminal offenses from minor misdemeanors to first degree felonies. That extensive previous experience will enable us to better help you.
Are you in trouble? Contact us.
Use the links at right as guides to the offense you’re facing. If you have any questions about the material or if you need an experienced, competent sex offense attorney to help with your case, please contact Luftman, Heck & Associates either by calling or emailing us via advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com.
