Sexual assault charges, by their very nature, are inflammatory and upsetting. When people hear about such charges in the news, they are likely to feel a wave of anger and grief on behalf of the victim. This is normal and understandable. Sexual assault charges are very serious, and cases that involve sexual assault need to be properly handled and fully investigated.
Given the emotional nature of these charges, it can be difficult to remember that the person accused of the crime is innocent until proven guilty. Sexual assault charges are brought against someone when they are accused of performing unwanted or offensive sexual advances and touching. The consequences for such crimes, if they are proven true, are very serious.
However, the consequences vary from state to state, just like the definition of sexual assault. Every state has different laws to deal with sexual assault and sex crimes, so it is tough to comment on the specifics of a case without knowing, well, the specifics. Every case is unique. This is important to note because the prosecution has to prove the case against you.
In this regard, it is imperative to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to build your side of the case. There are defense tactics that can help people who are accused of crimes that are serious in nature, such as sexual assault crimes. It is also important to note that there are sexual assault laws on the federal level too, which carry immensely punishing consequences.
Source: FindLaw, “Sexual Assault Overview,” Accessed Nov. 25, 2016