Salt Lake City Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

Fighting Sex Crime Accusations in Utah

They are some of the most heinous acts a human being can be accused of. As such, if you are charged with a sex crime, you may face severe life-long consequences. Utah has some of the harshest penalties for sex crimes in the nation. Charges of rape, child molestation, and child pornography can leave your life in shambles. If you are facing sex crime charges in Salt Lake City, reach out to a sexual assault attorney by calling (801) 448-0683 now.

Do not fight these charges alone.

Sex crimes carry a heavy price. Not only could you face years in prison, but your reputation is also permanently stained. Thus, it is vital to clear your name as quickly as possible. As a Salt Lake City sex crimes defense lawyer, I utilize a vast amount of legal resources to help my clients achieve optimal results.

It is vital to seek immediate legal counsel from an experienced Salt Lake City defense attorney who can protect your rights and look after your interests. I, Catherine Cleveland, am a seasoned sex crimes defense attorney. Over the last 20 years, I have successfully represented countless people who were accused of sex crimes and helped them regain or maintain their freedom.

Sex Crime Cases We Handle

I have represented men and women from all walks of life for the following offenses:

• Rape
• Statutory rape
• Mandatory sex offender registration
• Internet sex crimes
• Chat room solicitation
• Illegal pornography charges
• Computer search and seizure
• Date rape
• Molestation

Sex Crimes Penalties in Utah

Depending on the severity of your offense, the victim’s identity, and your prior conviction history (if applicable), you may face the following consequences:

Rape: First-degree felony

• Imprisonment for 5 years to life.
• If you caused serious bodily injury to another or were under 18 years old and previously convicted of a grievous sexual offense: Imprisonment for 20 years to life.
• If you were previously convicted of a grievous sexual offense: Imprisonment for life without parole.

Statutory rape: Third-degree felony

• Imprisonment for up to 5 years.
• Class B misdemeanor: If the defendant proves they were less than 4 years older than the minor at the time of the alleged incident. You may face up to 6 months in prison.

Aggravated sexual assault: First-degree felony

• For aggravated sexual assault such as rape, object rape, forcible sodomy, or forcible sexual abuse:
  • Imprisonment for 20 years to life.
  • Life without parole if you were previously convicted of a sexual offense and were not under 18 years old at the time of the offense.
• For aggravated sexual assault such as attempted rape or attempted forcible sodomy:
  • Imprisonment for 10 years to life.
  • Life without parole if you were previously convicted of a sexual offense and were not under 18 years old at the time of the offense.
• For aggravated sexual assault, such as attempted forcible sexual abuse:
  • Imprisonment for 6 years to life.
  • Life without parole if you were previously convicted of a sexual offense and were not under 18 years old at the time of the offense.
• Unlawful sexual activity with a minor
  • Third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
• Sexual exploitation of a minor
  • Second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Understanding Charges That Our Salt Lake City Sex Crime Lawyers Defend Against

Our dedicated team of Salt Lake City sex crime attorneys has years of experience defending clients against a wide variety of sex crime charges. We understand that each case requires a unique defense strategy tailored to the specific charges and details. Our experienced attorneys pay attention to detail, ensuring that our clients’ rights and interests are protected from arrest to trial to appeals, if necessary. Regardless of the sex crime charges you face, we are here to represent you.

Rape and Sexual Assault Charges

Rape and sexual assault charges are some of the most serious types of criminal charges. They can lead to serious legal penalties like mandatory registration as a sex offender, long prison sentences, substantial fines, social stigma, and isolation. Having a rape or sexual assault crime on your criminal record can have long-term collateral consequences, impacting your ability to secure housing, employment, and professional opportunities.

Date rape, which is a sexual assault crime, refers to instances where sexual activity occurs in a non-consensual manner between two people who know each other through previous meetings, dating, or socializing. These types of cases can be particularly complicated, as they include showing or proving elements of consent, typically do not involve large amounts of evidence, and are subject to public stigma and bias.

An experienced sex crime defense lawyer from Catherine Cleveland, Attorney At Law, can defend you against sexual assault charges, such as date rape, by calling into question the prosecution’s evidence and pointing out inconsistencies or insufficiencies. A lawyer can gather evidence on your behalf to prove that the encounter was entered into as a mutual agreement, such as through evidence of communication and text messages.

Statutory Rape Charges

Statutory rape happens when an individual who is of the age of consent engages in sexual activity with a party who is not of the age of consent. Even if each party commits these sexual acts willingly, statutory rape charges can still be brought forward due to the minor’s inability to give their consent for sexual relations recognized under the law.

The age of consent in Utah is 18 years old. However, there are some statutes that allow for minors who are close in age to engage in sexual activity without facing criminal charges. Therefore, statutory rape cases in Utah typically involve a large age difference, lack of consent due to age, and strict liability.

An experienced sexual assault attorney from our firm can leverage their knowledge from existing cases to craft a tailored criminal defense strategy that strongly represents your rights and interests. For example, an attorney may work to prove that there was a mistake of age, lack of intent or coercion, or that your case falls under the close in age or “Romeo and Juliet” exemption. They may also work to challenge the evidence brought forward against you.

Child Pornography and Illegal Pornography Charges

Child pornography crimes include the manufacturing, distributing, or possessing of material that depicts minors in a sexually explicit manner. These crimes fall under the wider umbrella of illegal pornography charges in Utah, which can include crimes such as non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images, revenge porn, and solicitation and online enticement.

As penalties for child pornography and other illegal pornography charges can be very severe, it’s important to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side who can advocate fiercely for positive outcomes. Depending on the details of your case, it may be ideal to argue that you did not knowingly have the illegal material in your possession. Such cases include instances where content is unknowingly downloaded onto the defendant’s computer.

Our dedicated legal team also has extensive experience defending those who have been implicated in pornography crimes after a computer search and seizure. A lawyer from our firm can help analyze the details of the search and seizure process, determining whether your computer was taken as evidence according to protocol. If the computer was seized under illegal conditions, we can work to have this evidence against you suppressed.

Illegal pornography charges can also commonly involve cases where content is misidentified and does not meet the legal definition of child pornography or illegal pornography. Our experienced sex crime lawyer can thoroughly examine the evidence against you to determine whether specific legal criteria are met. If it is not, we can call into question any outstanding ambiguities that could weaken the prosecution’s case.

Molestation Charges

In Utah, molestation charges are generally charged under the framework of sexual abuse of a child or sexual abuse of a minor. The charges are brought forward depending on the alleged victim’s age and other details associated with the instance. Sexual abuse of a child can involve any type of sexual contact with a minor, and aggravated sexual abuse of a child is an even more serious crime.

Molestation charges that involve unlawful sexual activity with a minor typically apply when the alleged victim is between 14 and 16 years old and the defendant is 18 years or older. Regardless of the type of molestation charges you may be facing, these charges come with severe social stigma, prison time, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

An experienced attorney from our firm can help you leverage common defense strategies for molestation charges, depending on the specific details of your case. For example, we may argue that there is a lack of physical evidence to prove that you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, or we can work to challenge the credibility of witnesses.

If multiple individuals were present during the alleged crimes, we can also work to prove that you were not involved.

Internet Sex Crime Charges

With the rise of internet use and the various technologies that are used daily by people in Utah and across the country, internet sex crime charges have evolved to include a variety of offenses that involve internet communication to carry out unlawful sexual conduct. Internet sex crime charges that our law firm has experience defending against include those ranging from chat room solicitation to online enticement or grooming.

Internet sex crimes can lead to severe charges, with potential penalties including mandatory registration as a sex offender, long prison sentences, substantial fines, social stigma, isolation, and a crippling criminal record. If you have been accused of internet sex crimes, the sex crime lawyer from Catherine Cleveland, Attorney At Law, can consider various criminal defense tactics, such as proving a mistake of age, entrapment, insufficient evidence, or lack of intent to champion your case.

Salt Lake City Sex Crimes Defense Strategy

As an experienced Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney, I am fully committed to providing the highest level of defense for my clients. Accusations of a sex crime can damage your reputation, and it can feel like the entire world is against you. However, with me on your side, I can help you overcome your charges using the following defenses:

• False Charges: Far too many people are the victims of false charges brought by the police or an angry and spiteful accuser. What was thought to be consensual sex can suddenly turn into allegations of rape.
• Entrapment: This happens whenever someone is placed in a situation to commit a crime that they would otherwise not normally commit.
• Computer Hacking: Sometimes, computer systems can get hacked and lead to people being falsely accused of child pornography. Hackers can illegally download pornographic photos onto someone else’s device.
• False Memory Syndrome: This can occur when a child accuses an adult of a sex crime. Sometimes, while children are being asked questions, they can remember or say things that did not happen.
• Illegal Search & Seizure: Any evidence that was collected by law enforcement without a proper search warrant is not admissible in court.

Don’t face this troubling, complicated experience without a personable and compassionate defense lawyer. I, Catherine Cleveland, am here for you when all odds seem to be against you.

A Breakdown of the Criminal Defense Process Against Sex Crime Charges in Utah

Navigating the criminal defense process after being charged with a sex crime in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas can seem overwhelming and almost impossible. Fortunately, an empathetic and experienced criminal defense lawyer from Catherine Cleveland, Attorney At Law, can walk you through each step of the process, fighting to protect your rights and interests from start to finish. Specifically, I can help you navigate the following:

• Initial consultation. During an initial consultation with your sex crime defense lawyer, we can review the specific charges you are facing. Our team can ensure you understand what they mean and the potential penalties associated. I can explain the general legal process that you can expect and begin evaluating the evidence available to start building your criminal defense strategy.
• Evidence collection. To build a strong defense strategy, I can work to collect crucial evidence, including any forensic evidence, police reports, and electronic data. I may interview witnesses and consult with certain professionals to get a better understanding of your case. I can also look at how all evidence stacks up against the prosecution’s case, working to challenge any inconsistencies or weaknesses.
• Pretrial motions and hearings. Depending on the details of your case, I can introduce various pretrial motions, including a motion to dismiss, a motion for discovery, and a motion to suppress evidence. During pretrial hearings, these motions can have a significant impact on how your case may go.
• Plea negotiations. For some defendants, it may be optimal to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution, especially if the evidence against them is strong. In exchange for pleading guilty, a prosecutor may reduce the severity of the charges, or your attorney may be able to argue for alternative sensitive sentencing as opposed to prison time.
• Trial. A sexual assault attorney from our firm can work to develop strong opening and closing statements and present legal arguments and evidence to call into question whether you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. An attorney can carry out cross-examination to bring to light any biases, inconsistencies, or lack of sufficient evidence from the prosecution’s side.

After trial, a verdict is issued. An experienced criminal attorney can help fight for just sentencing if you are found guilty or assist you with exploring your further legal options, including filing an appeal.

Navigating Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in Salt Lake City, Utah

Individuals who are convicted of certain sex crimes in Utah are required to register as a sex offender. The sex offender registry requirement is in place so that law enforcement can continuously monitor and control the activities of people who have been convicted of certain sex crimes to advance public safety measures. However, sex offender registration can be extremely damaging for those who are required to do so.

Individuals that may be required to register as a sex offender include those who have committed sex offenses such as child molestation, aggravated sexual assault, internet solicitation of a minor, child pornography crimes, sexual abuse of a minor, and rape. The amount of time an individual will need to be registered is dependent on the severity of the crime they committed and whether it was a felony or misdemeanor.

Those required to register as sex offenders are subject to various requirements, including providing detailed personal information, promptly reporting any changes in this information to law enforcement, and checking in for regular updates. The regularity with which individuals are required to check in with law enforcement is dependent on the severity of their offense.

An experienced sex crime defense lawyer from Catherine Cleveland, Attorney At Law, can assist you with navigating the complex processes associated with sex offender registration to ensure that you comply with all requirements and avoid further incrimination. Depending on your case, we could assist you with pursuing modifications to your registration requirements or fighting for expungement or deregistration.

Penalties for Sex Offender Registration Violations

Those who fail to comply with the sex offender registration requirements can face severe legal consequences, depending on whether a violation has previously occurred and the severity of the violation. Common sex offender registration violations include the following:

• Failure to update personal information. If an individual has a change of address, employment, or car registration, they are required to report these changes to law enforcement promptly. If they fail to do so on time, they can face criminal charges.
• Not checking in regularly. If a registered sex offender does not check in with law enforcement regularly according to the conditions outlined by state or federal law, they may have criminal charges brought against them.
• Failure to register as a sex offender. Individuals who commit certain sex crimes must register as sex offenders upon being released. If they fail to do so, they can face a whole new set of charges that can lead to even more prison time.

If you are facing charges for sex offender registration violations, a sex crime defense lawyer from Catherine Cleveland, Attorney At Law, can help defend your rights and fight for a positive outcome. We can work to show that you were genuinely unaware of a particular reporting timeline or requirement, or you may not have complied due to circumstances that were beyond your control, such as an emergency health issue.

Protect Your Rights and Interests With a Sex Crime Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake City

Being accused of committing a sex crime can be overwhelming and devastating due to the potential legal and social impacts that a conviction and even a charge can have on your life. Even if you believe that you are completely innocent, it’s important to know that the criminal justice system will not simply accept your not-guilty plea. It takes an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer to defend you.

Arrested for a sex crime? Arrange your free phone consultation with me online or by calling (801) 448-0683!