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Stabbing and Sexual Assault. What Are the Possible Defenses?

Okabe & Haushalter Jan 13, 2018 Sexual Assault

It goes without saying that stabbing and sexual assault are both very serious offenses, both jointly and severally. A recent incident in Chicago, where a young woman was stabbed several times during an attempted sexual assault illustrated the horrors of these crimes in no uncertain terms. Luckily, the victim, in this case, was not seriously injured, although the psychological effects are likely to run deeper.

While either stabbing, sexual assault, or both, can be highly distressing and life-changing crimes, the fact remains that there can, sometimes, possibly be some defense for the accused. If you find yourself in the position of needing a Chicago-based sexual assault attorney, here are some of the ways in which an experienced criminal defense lawyer could help you.

What Qualifies as Sexual Assault?

Any physical contact or sexual advances made towards an individual who did not consent to these is sexual assault. It may have involved forced sexual contact where the victim expressly said “no”, or a scenario where one person was not fit, physically or mentally, to give or refuse consent. As sexual assault or rape can occur without the victim said no, lawsuits of this kind have the potential to become very complex. While the law tends to protect the alleged victim, and rightly so, it can be a difficult process to prove your innocence.

There are quite a few sexual assault or rape charges which could be made against you, including:

  • Groping
  • Molestation
  • Attempted rape
  • Touching
  • Assault and battery
  • Rape, which can further be classified as date rape, spousal rape or statutory rape

How Chicago Sexual Assault Attorneys Can Defend You

Whichever type of sex crime you’re being charged with, the penalties involved are severe, and can amount to:

  • Up to 8 years in prison
  • Lifetime sex offender registration
  • Probation
  • Fines
  • Mandatory counseling

With this in mind, if you’re facing sexual assault or rape charges, you should instruct a qualified Chicago attorney to prepare a strong defense on your behalf.

At Okabe & Haushalter, our sexual assault and rape defense attorneys will fight to protect your rights and save you from facing severe penalties unnecessarily. If you’re accused of, or arrested for, sexual assault or rape in the Chicago area, our lawyers could potentially defend on the grounds of:

  • False accusation
  • Consent being given, although denied by the alleged victim
  • A lack of physical evidence
  • A case of mistaken identity
  • Lack of witnesses, or a lack of reliable witnesses
  • Alleged victim having a motive to make a false accusation
  • Past behavior of the alleged victim

Our sexual assault and rape defense attorneys have aggressively and successfully defended those accused of such offenses in the Chicago area, and can do the same for you if you’ve found yourself in this position.

Whether you’re accused of sexual assault, rape, or another criminal offense, to find out exactly how our attorneys could assist with your specific case, contact us today on 310-430-7799 to arrange your free consultation.