Skilled Lawyer Helping Auburn Residents Facing Prosecution
Originally incorporated as the town of “Slaughter,” Auburn is a suburb of Seattle, located in both King County and Pierce County, Washington. Its name was changed based on an Oliver Goldsmith poem. The White River and Green River run through Auburn, which has many open spaces and parks. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, the only reservation in King County today, is located within the city’s limits, and it is home to the Muckleshoot Casino and Bingo, one of the largest casinos in the Pacific Northwest. Emerald Downs, Washington’s only Class One thoroughbred racetrack, is located in the area. As with other cities around the country, sex crimes and domestic violence complaints occur in Auburn. If you have been accused of this type of offense, a capable criminal defense attorney may make a big difference to your case. Enlist the experience of Vindicate Criminal Law Group to protect your rights.
Defending Against Sex Crimes or Domestic Violence Complaints
Sex crimes in Washington include a broad range of detailed statutory felonies and misdemeanors. If a sex crime is a felony it can be a Class A, B, or C crime, with Class A crimes being considered the most serious and having the harshest penalties. For example, a prosecutor bringing a charge of rape in thesecond degree must show that the perpetrator used force, the victim was unable to consent because he or she is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated, and the victim is a person with a developmental disability to whom the perpetrator is not marriedand over whom the perpetrator does not have any authority specified by the statute at the time of the incident. This type of rape is a second-degree felony.
In Washington, domestic violence is not a separate crime inthe way that rape or voyeurism are separate crimes described by statute. Instead, it is a designation placed on many different crimes where the alleged perpetrator and alleged victim share a familial or household relationship.
Although many people assume that a couple must be married for violence to be considered “domestic violence,” under RCW 10.99.020(3), a family or household relationship is one between spouses, former spouses, those with a child in common even if they are not married, adults related by marriage or blood, adults who live together or used to live together, those who are 16 or older who have had a dating relationship with another person 16 or older, and those with a parent-child relationship, including stepparents and grandparents. This broad range of what counts as domestic violence can have more serious consequences than many people in Washington realize.
The state takes domestic violence complaints seriously. This means that a partner who makes a complaint for the wrong reasons—for revenge or to gain the upper hand in a child custody battle—can recant or not want to press charges, and the prosecution can proceed anyway. For example, a man who calls the police in a rage claiming that the mother of his child hit him might change his mind a few days later when his emotions have calmed down. But the prosecution can still pursue charges against the mother of his child. This may have consequences for the couple that the man did not foresee, and a conviction can tear the family apart.
Consult an Auburn Attorney to Fight Your Charges
At Vindicate Criminal Law Group, we understand how stressful domestic violence or sex crime allegations can be. However, we also have the knowledge and strategic thinking necessary to build a strong defense against allegations of sex offenses or domestic violence in the Auburn area. For a confidential case evaluation, call (888)-212-4824 or contact us via our online form. Our phone is answered 24/7.
Contact us today for your confidential case evaluation, or call (888) 212-4824.