Maryland Date Rape Lawyer
As defined by Maryland law, date rape is not defined by law. Date rape in Maryland falls under one of the rape statutes depending on what allegedly took place during the course of the interaction.
Date rape is rape between two parties that know each other and might have a relationship with each other or might have even been in a sexual or romantic relationship with each other. However, the sexual intercourse that took place was not consented to or one of the parties did not have the capacity to consent to at the time it took place.
If you have been accused of date rape or a similar offense, an experienced sex offense attorney can help you build a defense sufficient for your desired outcome. A Maryland rape lawyer has the local experience that can benefit your pre-trial process.
Aspects of Date Rape Allegations
The elements of date rape allegations are the same as other rape case allegations. It depends on what took place in the rape and how the prosecution intends to proceed with the allegations. The only difference between a rape and a date rape is that someone says they knew the other party in a date rape. Whereas, a regular rape can be a stranger-on-stranger act. An individual should contact a Maryland date rape lawyer who can help mitigate these charges on their behalf.
Difficulty to Secure Sources of Credible Evidence
Sometimes when date rape allegations are made between parties that know each other or are still in a relationship with each other, the cases can be difficult for the state to prove. The parties consent to knowing each other, have a relationship history with each other and might have even had sexual relations with each other on previous occasions.
If there are questions about DNA being found, perhaps it was present as a result of a sexual encounter that was consensual. These cases can sometimes be difficult for the state to pursue. The credibility of a complaining witness is far more likely to be challenged in these kinds of cases than with a stranger-on-stranger case.
Potential Penalties Following Conviction
A date rape conviction carries the same penalties as a regular rape conviction depending on the degree of rape one is charged with or convicted of. Penalties could involve lengthy periods of prison time all the way up to life imprisonment, periods of probation, and a lifetime registry if convicted of a rape offense.
Maryland date rape lawyers have seen similar penalties from other rape cases. The consequences and penalties are exactly the same for rape across the board whether it is a stranger-on-stranger rape, a date rape, or a statutory rape.
Other Possible Repercussions
In some cases, simply being charged with a sexual crime such as date rape can have negative repercussions throughout other areas of the accused’s life. Tthe crime of rape is regarded as second only to homicide in terms of severity.
Those accused of such a crime, whether convicted or not, may find themselves ostracized in many areas of normal life. Hiring a Maryland date rape lawyer can help protect their reputation.
Finding housing, loans, and gainful employment may be difficult for those convicted of a sex crime, but can also be challenging for even those accused and acquitted – as the reputation of the accused can be permanently damaged, however unfairly, following such a charge.
Risk of Self-Representation
A person can make the false assumption that because they know the other party, or had a sexual relationship or a prior romantic relationship with the other party, that there is no way they would be criminally prosecuted.
They might delay or decide not to hire a Maryland date rape lawyer. That is a big mistake. Prosecutors take date rape cases as seriously as any other kind of rape case and prosecute them to the fullest extent if they believe they have the evidence to do so.
Maryland Date Rape Attorney
If charged with date rape or another sexual offense, retaining the representation of a qualified Maryland date rape lawyer to protect your reputation is essential. In addition, following an acquittal, it would be wise to petition for all records related to the arrest to be formally expunged in order to avoid future challenges.