Legal Guidance For Defendants Facing Prosecution Near Kent
Kent is the sixth-largest city in Washington and the county seat of King County. Located 19 miles south of Seattle and 19miles northeast of Tacoma, it has transformed from an agricultural area to a thriving manufacturing and distribution city. Notable people from Kent include actress Josie Bissett, bowler Earl Anthony, former NFL kicker Jeff Jaeger, and the food personalities The Fung Brothers. If you are facing prosecution for a sex crime near Kent, you should be aware that these offenses are taken very seriously. You should consider consulting criminal defense attorneys at Vindicate Criminal Law Group for assistance in fighting the charges against you.
Accusations of Sex Offenses Can Change Your Life
Washington sex crimes, such as rape, child molestation, indecent liberties, voyeurism, and more, are listed in Chapter 9a.44 RCW. Each offense is separately defined, and many of them are described and punished based on the victim’s age and the degree of force used. Often, there will be multiple sex crimes charged in a single trial.
The offense that most people immediately recognize and associate with sex crimes is probably rape in the first degree, which is a class A felony. A person can be found guilty of this crime if the prosecutor proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she had sexual intercourse with someone by forcible compulsion, which means using something that appeared to be a deadly weapon, kidnapping the victim, or inflicting serious injury such as rendering the victim unconscious.
This means, for example, that an individual can be found guilty of rape in the first degree if he or she was committing a burglary, was discovered by the owner of the house, and forced that person to have sex with him or her. Another example of rape in the first degree could include a person who pushes a toy gun against someone’s back to force that person to engage in intercourse.
Rape in the third degree, which is a class C felony, most closely corresponds to the concept of “date rape.” This is sexual intercourse in which there was no consent and the lack of consent was clearly expressed, or when there was a threat of substantial harm to the victim’s property rights. Under RCW 9A.44.010, “consent” means that at the time of the sexual acts, there were words or conduct that showed freely given agreement to engage in them. For example, if the perpetrator initiates sex with the victim after a date, and the victim tries to push the perpetrator off or says “stop,” this likely would be rape in the third degree. Or if the perpetrator stopped the defendant behind an ATM and said her choice was to give him money from her bank account or have sex, this could also be criminally prosecuted.
Fight Your Charges with the Assistance of a Knowledgeable Kent Attorney
A sex crimes conviction in the Kent area can haunt you for many years. It can be very difficult for defendants to find jobs or housing, and even an accusation of this type of offense can wreak havoc in your personal life. It is important to find a lawyer you trust who has substantial experience in these sensitive cases. Contact us today for your confidential case evaluation, or call (888) 212-4824.