Maryland Rape Lawyer
As defined by Maryland law, rape is an unconsented-to sexual act or intercourse with another person. Rape can be defined as something done by way of force, but could also be done by way of collusion or deception. A person blackmailing another person into a sexual relationship has been previously charged with rape in Maryland courts.
Even though the person did not necessarily reject the sexual advances in a colloquial sense, they were coerced into the sexual relationship by way of blackmail, or a physical or emotional threat. There are statutory rape laws where someone is in a sexual relationship with a young person who consented to it but by law, is unable to consent based on proper ages of consent as defined by the Maryland court system.
If you have been accused of a rape offense, a skilled sex offense lawyer can help you begin collecting the major facts of your case. A Maryland rape lawyer can work with you on building the most appropriate defense for your future.
Types of Rape Offenses
Maryland rape lawyers have seen specific rape cases that are different from other sex crime are usually the act of sexual intercourse. Other sex crimes might involve touching of some kind, or physical penetration of some kind, or perhaps do not graduate to the level of actual vaginal or anal intercourse that is generally required by the rape statute.
A person can be charged with rape in the first degree, which is a rape by force. Rape in the second degree does not necessarily require force. A person could be charged with statutory rape. A statutory rape charge is still considered a rape offense despite the fact that a party might not have the capacity or ability to consent according to the law based on their age according to the law.
Potential Consequences of Conviction
A rape conviction can lead to somebody being incarcerated for a lengthy period of time depending on the degree of rape they are convicted of. A person can be placed on up to five years of supervised probation. There is the consequence of being on the sex offender registry for the rest of their life. Rape in the first or second degree requires a lifetime registry on the sex offender list.
Aggravating Factors for Rape Charges
Rape can be aggravated by the use of a weapon or the incapacity of the other party. This could be if the person was drugged or given large quantities of alcohol by another party with the intent to incapacitate them. Perhaps the person is specifically considered vulnerable by the community or suffers some kind of a disease, debilitation, or mental disorder.
Most commonly, the person is in a familial relationship with the individual who attacked them or is under the age of consent, which is considered a particularly heinous violation of the rape statute. An individual should contact a Maryland rape lawyer when facing charges that involve aggravating factors.
Perhaps the person is specifically considered vulnerable by the community or suffers some kind of a disease, debilitation, or mental disorder. Most commonly, the person is in a familial relationship with the individual who attacked them or is under the age of consent, which is considered a particularly heinous violation of the rape statute.
Contacting a Lawyer
Felony charges are among the most serious kinds of criminal charges in the State of Maryland. They can carry consequences of significant periods of incarceration, probation and lengthy periods or a lifetime on the sex offender registry for sexual offenses.
Having an attorney who has experience with these kinds of cases and the ability to prepare a complete defense based on a thorough investigation is extremely important in protecting a person’s rights through this process.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can make sure that a thorough evaluation is done on all of the evidence the state collected. Most importantly, the lawyer conducts an investigation independent of the state’s investigation using their own private investigators.
The investigators and Maryland rape lawyers talk to witnesses about the incident and about potential issues regarding the credibility of the party making the accusation. The defense attorney uncovers the whole story to make the best presentation on behalf of their client in court.