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Why Being Charged with a Sex Crime Is a Serious Offense in New York

On Behalf of | Dec 14, 2020 | Sex Crimes |

New York criminal defense attorney sex crimes

If you find yourself accused of rape, sexual assault, date rape, or any other number of sex crimes, you should know that the consequences of the allegations alone can be devastating. While a conviction itself can lead to harsh penalties, a mere allegation has equally detrimental effects on your life. Below is an overview of the penalties and other consequences of being charged or convicted of a sex crime in the state of New York.

New York Sex Crime Laws

Sex crimes are serious offenses, and the penalties that come with their convictions are also quite serious as well. For instance, rape in the third degree is considered a class E felony, carrying with it a fixed term of 1-4 years in prison for sexual intercourse with a victim age 17 or older who did not express consent. Predatory assault in which rape in the first degree is determined with at least one of the following factors: physical injury to the victim, the use or threat of a weapon, multiple victims, or with prior felony sex crimes convictions. This is considered a class A-II felony and can lead to life in prison.

In addition, anyone convicted of a sex crime must be classified as a registered sex offender with a specific level of risk assigned to them. High-risk offenders must be on the sex offender list for their entire lives; moderate-risk offenders can petition to be removed from the list after 30 years. Low-risk offenders must remain on the list for 20 years.

As you can see, sex crime convictions run the gamut of penalties. But in many cases, the mere accusation of a sex crime can have major adverse effects on your life. For instance, if someone alleges you raped them or committed another sex crime against them, the following could result:

  • If it is sexual harassment in the workplace, you might not only face criminal charges, but you will most certainly lose your job and lose your opportunities at other prospective employers.
  • Sex crime allegations could spell the end to your spotless reputation. Depending on your career field or your level of interaction with the public, a sex crimes accusation could prevent you from living your life the way you always have in terms of your career, going out on a night on the town, or even simply keeping friends in certain social circles.
  • Even if the allegations are false, the mere fact that sex crimes have been alleged against you can have negative effects on you for a long time, possibly taking months or even years to clear from your reputation even after you have been exonerated in a court of law.

Contact a Manhattan Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

Due to all the aforementioned reasons, it is important for you to hire an experienced NYC rape defense attorney with four decades of experience in the courtroom defending people just like you. At JOEY JACKSON LAW, PLLC, we will fight for your rights if these serious charges were based on false evidence. Call our office today at 833-563-9522 to see how they can help you take on sex crimes charges in what could be a very challenging case.

 

Sources:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/70.80
https://ag.ny.gov/victim-rights/rape-and-sexual-offenses-state-statutes-2006
https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/criminal/sexOffenderConsequences.shtml