Richmond Date Rape Lawyer
Date rape, under Virginia law, is a case where the victim either has a casual or preexisting relationship with the offender. These cases often involve individuals who either were friends, dating, or co-workers and are more common among young adults or college students and typically involve alcohol or substance abuse.
If you have been accused or charged, a Richmond date rape lawyer is available to go over your case and help you minimize the harm of your charges. Contact a capable sex crimes attorney today and find out what they can do for you.
What Typically Makes Date Rape Different From Other Sex Crimes?
What makes date rape cases different from most other sex crimes is that typically, the parties know each other. In most date rape cases the parties were either dating, friends, or coworkers. Also, with these cases usually one or both parties were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The majority of date rape cases involve issues of intoxication where the individual’s memory of the events is clouded. In cases where one or both parties are intoxicated, their testimony is highly impeachable and their recollection of events skewed. As an attorney, you must establish how the levels of intoxication may have influenced the events and claims alleged.
Typically, what people are dealing with in a date rape case is a he said/she said type of situation where the victim is telling one story and the defendant another. The job of a Richmond date rape attorney in a case like that is to find holes in each story and then determine how to attack the prosecution’s case and witnesses. These cases can involve an issue of retaliation, a scorned lover, or a case where the victim is dealing the other issues that manifest itself in these claims.
Penalties For Date Rape in Richmond
The penalties for date rape and rape are actually very similar because the person is dealing with an issue of non-consensual intercourse. The penalties for rape can include incarceration of up to a lifetime in prison. It also comes with substantial fines and requires a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender in the state of Virginia. Besides the incarceration, there is the lifetime stigma of being labeled a sex offender. A skilled attorney could attempt to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.
Consulting a Richmond Date Rape Lawyer
It is important to contact a Richmond date rape lawyer immediately after being notified of an investigation. These cases can hinge on statements made to police and evidence collected within the first few hours after an investigation beings. Your attorney will seek uncover what claims and statements the alleged victim has made and then speak with authorities on your behalf to determine what level of cooperation, if any you should provide. Call and schedule a consultation today to learn more.
