Richmond Sexual Battery Lawyer
Sexual assault or sexual battery refers to the unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact between two individuals. This typically can be grabbing or groping but it actually excludes actual intercourse. Sexual battery is an act committed with the intent to either molest, arouse, or gratify any person where the defendant or the aggressor touches that person in intimate parts or forces someone else to touch that person. If you have been accused of committing this crime it is imperative you consult with a Richmond sexual battery lawyer as soon as possible to begin building a defense for your case.
Call today and schedule a consultation with a Richmond sex crimes lawyer to learn more.
Sexual Battery Charges in Richmond
This is a very serious charge in the state of Virginia and in Richmond in particular. The charge can be anywhere from a class 1 misdemeanor up to an aggravated felony. If convicted you could face a lifetime registration as a sex offender and severe criminal penalties from one to 20 years of incarceration.
It’s considered a violent offense because it amounts from a battery or an unwanted touching. In other words, an individual is forcibly touching another person in a manner that they did not consent to. For that purpose, it’s viewed as a violent offense and it is therefore a sexual battery lawyer in Richmond is contacted as soon as possible.
What Exactly Are The Penalties For Sexual Battery?
The penalties for sexual battery vary from a misdemeanor to a felony, if it’s an aggravated case, the felony charge can come with up to 20 years in jail in an aggravated case. Aggravated cases are ones that involve minors are the use of force that involves serious bodily or mental injury. To learn what charges you may be facing, call and schedule a consultation with a Richmond sexual battery lawyer today.
Importance of Consulting With a Richmond Sexual Battery Lawyer
The importance of consulting with an experienced criminal offense attorney in this kind of case is due to the risk of exposure and the severity of penalties involved. In a lot of these cases, the exposure and the penalties are largely dependent on the victim’s claims and pretrial preparation, which is vital in a case like this. You’re going to want to speak to a Richmond sexual battery attorney before you give statements to the police, or if you even choose to give a statement. You going to want an attorney to speak with investigators and negotiate with prosecutors. There are rarely independent witnesses in these cases and evidence presented usually involves a he said/she said situation.
In addition to that, you’re looking for a defense attorney that can challenge the Prosecution’s case and determine the credibility of any witnesses involved. In addition, showing inconsistencies with the prosecution’s witness’s testimony can be the difference between a conviction or an acquittal.
Aggravated Factors in Sexual Battery Cases
The aggravating factors in a sexual battery case involve the use of force in the commission of the offense. Virginia law requires that serious bodily harm or mental injury be is incurred by the victim. The case is also aggravated if the victim is under the age of 13 and/or if the victim is a minor and any amount of force is used. If there are aggravating factors found, the charge goes from a simple misdemeanor up to a felony and a felony, which carries up to 20 years in jail.
Role of a Richmond Sexual Battery Lawyer
A Richmond sexual battery attorney in any case like this plays a very crucial role in the final outcome. The attorney will investigate the case, investigate the statements of the witnesses, particularly the victim, and try to make a determination as to the credibility of the victim. What an attorney is also going to do is try and establish how to challenge and impeach the witnesses and/or the victim if possible, but also examine any physical evidence that’s taken on the case.
Last but not the least, an attorney is also going to attempt to do is negotiate with the prosecutors if possible, to try and either resolve the matter and/or get the charge reduced if they can.
