New York Sex Crimes Attorney
Protect Yourself Against Sex Crime Allegations with our Help
Sexual offenses are among the most serious crimes chargeable in New York. Even the allegation of a serious sex crime can derail a suspect’s life, affecting their relationships, their reputation, their living situation, and their livelihood. The government does not lightly charge defendants with sex crimes, and when they do, they zealously pursue all means of punishing the defendant. Unfortunately, innocent people are investigated for and charged with sex crimes, but by the time a defendant is found innocent, severe damage to their reputation may have already occurred. Sex crime convictions carry severe punishments, including not only incarceration but ancillary consequences such as placement on the sex offender registry, limitations on employment and choices for residence, immigration issues, and others.
A strong and effective sex crimes legal defense team will not only protect you from unjust incarceration and other punishments. Your defense team should keep the government in check from waging any sort of “trial in the media” by leaking details of your allegations, and prevent the government from brow-beating you into a false confession. Even where allegations do bear out, defendants to any criminal charge deserve effective and qualified legal representation and should not be coerced into taking draconian plea bargains.
The criminal defense attorneys at Dupée & Monroe, P.C., will fight for your rights from investigation through plea negotiation and, where appropriate, trial and beyond. We will utilize all available defenses and other legal means to ensure that you get the benefit of the due process to which you are owed following a sex crime arrest. We will ensure that the government is held to their high bar of proving their case, and we will stand by your side every step of the way.
Sex Crimes in New York
In New York, there are a variety of crimes that fall under the gamut of sexual offenses, generally including any unlawful sexual act to which an individual did not consent or was legally unable to consent. Sex crimes chargeable in New York include rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse of adults or minors, possession of child pornography, sexual misconduct, and statutory rape.
Prosecutors have the discretion to choose which crimes to charge. In sex crime cases, prosecutors tend to charge defendants with the most serious crime possible to scare them into taking an unfair plea bargain. A zealous New York criminal defense attorney will help you fight such charges and keep the prosecution from forcing an unjust plea upon you.
Consent as a Defense
Sex crimes often turn on the question of consent. Consent can, unfortunately, be unclear in some cases, leading to “he said, she said” disputes in court. Certain classes of people can never give consent, however. Individuals are deemed incapable of consent under New York law when they are:
- Under the age of seventeen;
- Mentally disabled;
- Mentally incapacitated; or
- Physically helpless
Consent is, therefore, not a defense in cases involving minors or where the alleged victim was unable to give consent due to, for example, intoxication, mental disability, or unconsciousness.
Criminal Penalties and Sex Offender Registration
Penalties for sexual offenses are generally very severe. Many sex offenses such as rape, sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography can lead to long terms of incarceration. Felony first-degree rape, for example, carries a penalty of two to 25 years in prison.
Additionally, individuals convicted of sex offenses are typically required to register as sex offenders under the New York Sex Offender Registration Act. Sex offender registration means that your name, address, birth date, race, sex, address, and other private information will be collected and made available to the public. Registration will affect where you can live (for example, proximity to schools) as well as restrict you from certain types of employment. Because registration is public, it can generally affect your ability to get a job, apply for a loan, sign a lease, as well as impact your personal and professional reputation.
Seek Help from Experienced Attorneys after Your New York Sex Crime Arrest
If you are under investigation or have been arrested for a sexual offense or other serious crime in New York, contact Dupée & Monroe, P.C., in Goshen for immediate assistance. A sex crime arrest can be an incredibly jarring experience, and you may worry that your life is already over just from the arrest. Do not give up without a fight. In Orange County and throughout the Hudson Valley, call our office at 845-294-8900 to find out how we can help you.
