Sex Crime Lawyers In Dublin, OH

Sex Crimes Attorneys Serving Dublin, OH

If you have been charged with a sex crime, your future is on the line. With a conviction, you can face harsh criminal and collateral penalties. Fortunately, a formidable defense can make a big difference in how your charges play out.

At The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc., we understand the far-reaching impact a sex crime conviction can carry. If you are facing sex crime charges, it’s vital to reach out to us as soon as possible to give your case its best chance of success. Contact our sex crime defense attorneys to get started today.

Why Choose Us?

The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc. is a nationally recognized law firm with a heart for its community. Our mission is to vigorously protect Dublin and other Ohio residents from criminal charges. We leverage our extensive experience and resources to pursue optimal results, including:

Dropped charges
Reduced charges
Reduced sentences
No jail or prison time
DIsmissed cases
Acquittal at trial

Don’t delay if you have been charged with a sex crime in Dublin. The stakes are too high, and your future is too important to hesitate. Contact The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc. for a consultation today.

Sex Crime Charges and Punishments in Ohio

The criminal code in Ohio details a number of sex-related crimes and their punishments, which involve loss of liberty and monetary penalties. Whatever your charge, you can expect our team to aggressively defend you from a conviction.

Rape

Rape is among the most serious sex crimes charges. It involves engaging in sexual contact with another person through the use of force or threat of force. Under Ohio law, rape also occurs when:

Deception is used to achieve sexual intercourse
The victim is under 13 years old
A physical or mental condition prevents the victim from consenting or resisting
Alcohol or drugs were forced on the victim to facilitate the rape

As one of the most serious sex crimes on the books, rape is charged as a first-degree felony. Punishments can vary according to the circumstances of the crime, with prison terms for first-degree felonies ranging between 3 and 11 years.

However, aggravating circumstances, such as a history of rape charges or a victim under 13, can lead to much more extensive punishments. For example, a rape charge with a victim under 13 can lead to life in prison.

Sexual Battery

Sexual battery in Ohio refers to unlawful sexual contact, which includes any of the following acts with someone other than your spouse:

Sexual activity with a party known to be too impaired to assess the situation and repercussions of their actions
Sexual activity with someone who is unaware that sex is or will be occurring
Sex with a son, daughter, stepchild, or child under one’s guardianship
Sex between a student and a teacher, coach, or other person of authority over the student
Sex between a client and a mental health professional who falsely states the sex to be part of the patient’s treatment
Sex between a minor and those in positions of trust in the community, such as peace officers and clergy

Sexual battery is charged as a third-degree felony. Third-degree felonies in Ohio come with the possibility of up to five years in prison, depending on the circumstances of the crime, and fines reaching $10,000. When the victim is less than 13 years old, the penalties increase to a maximum of nine years in prison and $15,000 in fines.

Sexual Imposition

Sexual imposition is a serious charge as well, but less serious than rape or sexual battery. In Ohio, sexual imposition occurs when a person has sexual contact or causes others to have sexual contact under any of the following circumstances:

The defendant knows the sexual contact to be offensive to the victim or is reckless in their knowing
The defendant knows that the victim is unable to appraise or control the offender’s conduct
The defendant knows the victim to be unaware that they are submitting to sexual contact
The victim is under 16 but older than 12, and the defendant is at least 18 and four years older than the victim
The defendant is a mental health professional who falsely claims sexual contact with them to be part of the victim’s therapy

Sexual imposition is a misdemeanor of the third degree and, thus, worthy of less punishment than felony sex crimes. Convicted individuals can face up to 60 days in Franklin County Jail and pay up to $500 in fines.

Gross Sexual Imposition

Gross sexual imposition, on the other hand, is a felony of the fourth degree and occurs in the absence of consent or the ability to consent. It is an aggravated form of sexual imposition and comes with up to 18 months in prison — 5 years if drugs or alcohol are involved. A criminal record may also exacerbate the consequences.

Additional Sex Crime Charges in Dublin

Other criminal sex charges include:

Unlawful sexual contact with a minor
Child pornography
Child prostitution
Different forms of pandering
Kidnapping with sexual motivation
Murder with sexual motivation

Keep in mind that legal penalties do not address the collateral penalties and impacts of a sex crime conviction, such as damage to your reputation.

Non-Criminal Repercussions of Sex Crimes Convictions

The collateral consequences of a sex crime conviction can be extensive. Most individuals convicted of sex crimes must register as either Tier I, II, or III sex offenders. Tier III offenders must register regularly for life, while Tier I offenders need only register annually for 15 years.

Convicted offenders also face loss of gun and voting rights and significant employment problems. Additionally, registered offenders must abide by rules that restrict them from participating in community activities and visiting certain locations, such as Bridge Park.

How Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help

If you have been recently arrested, your first step should be to contact our office. The sooner we can get started on crafting a defense for your case, the more opportunities we will have to gather evidence and develop our strategy.

As our client, you can benefit from the following services from our team.

Thorough Investigations

One of our first tasks is to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation of your case. We have significant resources and seasoned investigators who get results. To build your case, we diligently explore crime scenes, interview witnesses, and gather and safeguard evidence.

Evidence Analysis

We spare no effort when it comes to evidence analysis because evidence is the backbone of your defense. Our team will pore over and attack any weaknesses in the proof against you. We’ll also seek and leverage powerful exculpatory evidence to fight for your freedom.

Effective Defense Strategies

Depending on the circumstances of your sex crime charge, we may have numerous potential defense opportunities, including:

Constitutional defenses, such as illegal searches, seizures, and arrests
Unreliable and lying witnesses
The presence of consent
Mistaken identity
Questionable forensic evidence
Chain-of-custody issues

For constitutional defenses attacking violations of your rights, the remedy is typically the exclusion of any evidence obtained as a result of rights violations.

For example, if the police seize evidence illegally from your home, we can argue to have said evidence excluded from your case. If the evidence is material, its exclusion may result in dropped or dismissed charges.

Trust Us With Your Sex Crimes Case Today

Sex crime charges can be devastating, but they are not convictions. At The Law Offices of Saia, Marrocco & Jensen Inc., we use every resource at our disposal to challenge the state and protect your future. Contact our award-winning Dublin sex crimes attorneys to find out how we can fight for you today.