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    Stamford Rape Lawyer

    In Stamford, Connecticut rape is called sexual assault in the eyes of the law. The most common way a person sees this charge brought forward is when someone compels someone else to engage in sexual intercourse using force or the threat of force.

    If you are facing a rape charge, you should not hesitate before contacting an attorney. This offense is penalized severely in Connecticut, and should only be defended using the experience of a Stamford rape lawyer.

    When is Rape Charged?

    There are a handful of ways that an individual can be charged with rape in Stamford. There is forcible rape, which is commonly charged as sexual assault in the first degree. This offense might also involve the use of a weapon or a threat of a weapon. This person would be liable for a Class B felony if the alleged victim was 16 or older and a Class A felony if the alleged victim was under the age of 16.

    A person can also be charged with statutory rape or sexual assault in the second degree. Both rape charges can be effectively defended using a knowledgeable Stamford lawyer.

    Are There Any Aggravating Factors?

    If the alleged victim is under the age of 16, the charge becomes a higher class of felony and imposes mandatory jail time. If someone is found guilty of sexual assault in the first degree and the victim is under the age of 16, they are going to face a mandatory 10 years in jail. The severity of the charge increases severely when any aggravating factors are in play.

    If someone is mentally incapacitated and cannot consent, the charge could be sexual assault in the first degree. Due to the severity of such rape penalties, it is critical that an individual contacts a Stamford lawyer as soon as possible.

    Defenses to a Rape Case

    Many times, when a person is charged with sexual assault in the first degree, like a forcible rape allegation, the defense often is that the complaining party consented to it. Often, it comes down to one person’s word against another’s.

    A Stamford attorney has to work hard if the defendant in a rape case is saying that it was consensual and find evidence to show that it was. This could be in the form of a text message or communication between the two parties, scientific evidence, and statements from witnesses that may have seen the parties interacting.

    Persistent Offender Laws in Stamford

    When someone with a history of sex-related criminal offenses is arrested again for the same offense or a similar one, they may be subject to harsher penalties upon conviction. A Stamford attorney could help determine whether this aggravating factor might play a role in the sentence a particular defendant might receive following a rape charge.

    In Connecticut, a person is considered a serious sexual offender if they are convicted of first-degree or second-degree sexual assault, or unlawful sexual contact with a minor after having already served at least one year of a prison term related to a previous conviction for any of those same offenses. Someone identified as a serious sexual offender may be subject to a term of imprisonment and special parole period that, when combined, amount to the maximum allowable sentence for the next most severe degree of felony. This is instead of the penalties associated with the offense they were most recently convicted of.

    Similarly, a persistent dangerous sexual offender is someone convicted of first or third-degree sexual assault, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, or third-degree sexual assault with a firearm who was previously convicted of and served at least one year of prison time for any serious felony, including but not restricted to felonies involving unlawful sexual conduct. The combined prison term and special parole period that a court may sentence a persistent dangerous sexual offender with can be equivalent to a life sentence in length. A lawyer in Stamford could help someone determine if they could be categorized as a persistent offender following rape charges.

    Sex Offender Registration Following a Rape Conviction

    Anyone convicted of rape in Stamford would be subject to mandatory sex offender registration requirements. Within three days of their release from any period of incarceration they were sentenced to, the convicted individual must provide all the following information to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Safety in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §54-280b:

    • Their name, including any aliases or other names they have gone by in the past
    • The address of their current place of residence
    • A description of their offense, their date of conviction, and what sentence they received
    • Personal identifying information, including a physical description
    • Their dated signature

    First-time offenders convicted of statutory rape are generally required to register as sex offenders for 10 years after their release from incarceration. Anyone convicted of statutory rape more than once or of any variant of first-degree sexual assault is required to remain in the sex offender registry for life.

    Speak with a Stamford Rape Attorney

    Our experienced Stamford rape lawyers understand how the state thinks about these charges. We understand all the steps that must be taken to show our client’s innocence, whether it was consent, a case of the wrong identity, or whatever the defense may be. An individual needs someone who has defended rape cases before and knows how to effectively prepare a defense.

    The lawyers at Mark Sherman Law are highly rated and ready to talk to you now, give us a call to get started.