If you have been accused of sexual assault, you might feel like your life is over. The legal and social ramifications of a conviction can stay with you forever. Sexual assault is a very serious crime, and prosecutors will punish violators to the fullest extent possible.
You may think you have no choice but to accept your charges, even if you know you have been treated unfairly. But, sometimes, the legal system gets it wrong. You have rights, and a Costa Mesa sexual assault lawyer can help you fight for your future.
At Simmrin Law Group, our Costa Mesa sex crimes lawyers have decades of experience advocating for people accused of criminal activity. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how we can help.
Do You Need an Attorney for a Sexual Assault Charge?
When you are facing prison time, and worse, it is smart to hire an attorney with the skills and experience to give you a fighting chance. Many public defenders are fine lawyers, but they are often overworked and lack the resources to present your case to its fullest.
Our Costa Mesa criminal defense lawyer can investigate your charges and help you choose the best course of action. We will defend your civil rights and ensure that the legal system treats you fairly.
While every case is different, some of the ways we may be able to help include:
Investigate Your Charges
We’ll review your case and let you know where you stand. You deserve an honest assessment of your situation and your chances. We can present options for you to consider and help you choose the best way forward with your case.
Contest Your Charges
If you are innocent, we will contest your charges and put together a defense to show you didn’t do what the prosecution claims. We will review their evidence and conduct our own investigations into the events surrounding your alleged sexual assault.
Plead for Reduced Charges
Depending on the circumstances, we can argue for lesser charges. A clean criminal background can go a long way toward leniency, especially if the prosecution’s case against you isn’t as strong as they would like.
Get Your Charges Dropped
If it is clear that the prosecution has it wrong, we will do our best to see your case never makes it to court. While nothing is guaranteed, in some cases, we can prove a case has no merit and either get it thrown out or get the prosecutor to drop the charges.
Fight for an Aquitteal
If the case goes to trial, our Costa Mesa sexual assault attorneys will fight for you in court and work to prove your innocence. As your attorneys, we have an obligation to defend you to the best of our ability, and we aren’t going to back away from a fight.
Negotiate for Reduced Sentencing
If you are found guilty, we aren’t giving up. We can negotiate for reduced sentencing, such as probation instead of prison time or a reduction in fines.
Appeal Your Conviction
We can help you appeal your conviction. This is most successful when we can prove your rights were violated or show procedural errors. We can also file for an appeal if new evidence becomes available.
Defend Your Civil Rights
You have rights, even when you are facing sexual assault charges. One of our most important jobs is to make sure you are treated fairly throughout the process. You are innocent until proven guilty, and we will make sure the prosecution remembers that.
For a free legal consultation with a sexual assault lawyer serving Costa Mesa, call (310) 896-2723
What Is a Sexual Assault in California?
In California, sexual assault is the unwanted touching of another person’s intimate body parts, such as the breasts, genitals, or buttocks, for sexual gratification, arousal, or abuse. Intercourse is not required for an act to be considered assault.
Lack of consent is a key component of sexual assault, meaning the victim:
- Verbally or otherwise made it known the contact was unwelcome
- Was unable to give consent due to being disabled
- Was unconscious, intoxicated, or otherwise unaware of the contact
- Was lured into the contact via fraud or false pretenses.
Depending on the circumstance and severity, penalties for sexual assault in California can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. A misdemeanor sexual assault change can mean a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. A felony can be four years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
Costa Mesa Sexual Assault Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Can You Beat Sexual Assault Charges in California?
Proving innocence in a sexual assault case between people who are familiar with each other can be tough, though there are some potential avenues. In other circumstances, it may be easier to introduce doubt into the prosecution’s case.
Some of the tactics your sexual assault lawyer in Costa Mesa may use to beat your charges include:
- Mistaken Identity: If events unfolded in a way that the victim could reasonably have made a mistake as to who assaulted them, we could potentially show the prosecution has charged the wrong person.
- False Accusations: Unfortunately, sometimes people use the law to settle vendettas. If you have been falsely accused of sexual assault, it is possible they intentionally fabricated the story to bring you grief.
- Establishing an Alibi: Proving you were somewhere else at the time of the alleged assault is a surefire way to get your case thrown out.
- Proving Consent: While it may be difficult, in some cases, it is possible to prove the contact was consensual.
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Get Help from a Costa Mesa Sexual Assault Attorney
A sexual assault charge is serious business. You can face prison time, fines, and a lifetime brand as a sex offender. If convinced, it can change the course of your career and your personal relationships. With so much on the line, it is tough to know what to do.
Sometimes, it is easy to forget that the prosecution has the burden of proof and you are innocent until they can show otherwise. Overzealous prosecutors can also forget this. Our Costa Mesa sexual assault attorney will help them remember, and we will defend your rights.
Our team at Simmrin Law Group has helped thousands of clients, and we can help you, too. Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation so you can tell us your story.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form