Defending yourself against claims of sexual abuse is critical but incredibly challenging, even if you know you are not guilty.
At Suzuki Law Offices, our trusted and experienced former federal prosecutor, a Tempe sex crimes lawyer, has helped many individuals navigate these challenging cases, dedicating everything we can to protecting your future. If you are facing accusations, contact our Tempe sexual abuse defense lawyer now.
How a Tempe Sexual Abuse Defense Attorney Can Help You
With the guidance of our team, we can provide you with support as you navigate the challenges of sexual crime charges. Throughout our decades-long careers, we have worked to help many people avoid the worst times of charges they did not deserve. Our extensive experience in the courtroom, including as a former federal prosecutor, gives our legal team the extra support necessary to navigate these challenging cases.
When you hire our legal team, you gain an advocate. Our sole responsibility and commitment are to you, our client. You can expect us to provide you with transparent and honest information about your rights as well as the worst possible outcome. We always provide you with authentic legal guidance.
Sex crimes charges carry a significant amount of stigma with them. Even if you are not guilty and prove that in a court of law, the damage to your reputation may be significant. Let our Tempe criminal defense lawyer work with you now, early in the process, to minimize even being charged with such crimes.
What Is Sexual Abuse Under Arizona Law
Sexual abuse falls under ARS §13-1404, a law that differentiates sexual abuse from sexual assault. Sexual abuse involves intentional or knowing sexual contact with a person who is 15 years of age or older without that person’s consent. It can also apply to those who are under the age of 15 if the only sexual conduct involves the female breast.
The difference between sexual assault and sexual abuse stems from the differences in actions. In sexual assault, sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact occurs without consent. In sexual abuse, there is no sexual intercourse, but any other type of sexual conduct that is unwanted.
It is also important to know that Arizona law does not allow a defense of lack of consent to be used in situations where the alleged victim is 15, 16, or 17 years of age and the defendant was considered a person in a position of trust. In every situation, having a sexual abuse defense lawyer in Tempe from Suzuki Law Offices is critical to preserving your rights.
Potential Penalties for Sexual Abuse Convictions in Tempe
Those who are convicted of sexual abuse under Arizona law face an uphill battle in reducing their charges or pleading out their case. The risk of serious consequences is very high. Some of the following may apply in your case.
- If the individual is under the age of 15: In this situation, you could be convicted of a dangerous crime against a child, which means facing a minimum sentence of 13 to 27 years in prison. If the child is under the age of 12, this elevates to the risk of life imprisonment.
- If the individual is over the age of 15: In situations where you are charged with sexual assault of a person over the age of 15, you could face six months to up to 2 years in prison. This can also be elevated if the defendant was in a position of trust.
There are various situations in which this charge can be amplified. If you are convicted of a second sexual abuse charge, you may face significantly longer prison sentences, which is why you need a Tempe violent crimes lawyer on your side. Additionally, anyone convicted must remain on the Arizona Sexual Offenders Registry.
Know the Risks to Your Future
Those who are facing a conviction of sexual assault in Tempe will face more than just the risk of prison time. It becomes challenging to obtain or maintain employment, and you may no longer qualify for education or housing loans.
In many situations, where you live may be restricted as well. For these reasons, it is beneficial to work with a sexual abuse defense attorney in Tempe to overcome these challenges.
How Our Lawyer Builds Your Case
Our objective is to build a strong defense strategy for you. To do that, we analyze all components of your case, investigate the available and unexplored evidence, and then build a defense strategy. Every defense is unique, but it is meant to provide you with the best possible outcome. Some of the factors that may contribute to your defense strategy include:
- Alibi: The most direct way to prove your innocence is to prove you were not where they claim you were. Our attorneys will help you build a strong alibi when possible.
- Lack of physical evidence: It is quite common for those who are facing sexual abuse charges to only have the victim’s word working against them.
- Illegally obtained evidence: In situations where no warrant was issued for the collection of DNA or there was an improper method of collecting evidence, that can be used to build your case.
- Coerced confessions: In some situations, the defendant may have made a confession due to the pressure they were under. We may work to show that this was an illegal effort.
- Allegations are false: Proving the allegations are false may be possible in situations where we can demonstrate that the other party was vindictive against you or made threats of making such claims.
Our objective is to develop a defense strategy personalized to your situation. Expect our legal team to explore every possible avenue. Our experience enables us to be highly detailed in this process. Our frequently asked questions section has more information about sexual abuse charges.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Tempe Sexual Abuse Defense Attorney
Turn to Suzuki Law Offices now to discuss your case with our team during a free consultation. Let our Tempe sexual abuse defense lawyer provide you with some peace of mind.
We are here to help and guide you through this entire process.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form