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Phoenix Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer

If you were recently arrested for sexual assault in Phoenix, AZ, it’s important to know that you have rights and an opportunity to defend yourself. The criminal defense attorneys at Orent Law Offices,PLC are dedicated to providing top-notch legal counsel for those facing allegations of sexual assault in Phoenix. 

We understand that any allegation has the potential to leave lasting emotional and psychological damage, and we take our responsibilities to our clients seriously. A Phoenix sexual assault defense lawyer at Orent Law Offices can help you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our team at (480) 656-7301.

How Orent Law Offices Can Help If You’re Arrested for Sexual Assault 

When it comes to criminal defense, experience and expertise are key. At Orent Law Offices, we focus on providing our clients with the best possible legal representation and strive to secure not-guilty verdicts on all sexual assault charges. Here’s why you should work with our Phoenix sex crimes lawyer:

 

• Our firm has been helping people defend themselves against criminal charges for more than 30 years.
• Craig Orent has received many prestigious accolades for his work in the field of criminal defense law. He was selected as one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Arizona, and he is also a Board-Certified Specialist in Criminal Law
• As an ex-prosecutor, Attorney Orent knows exactly how the other side sees the case and can use that knowledge to provide a better defense for his clients

If you need help with a sexual assault charge in Phoenix, Arizona, don’t hesitate to contact Orent Law Offices to schedule your free consultation.

Overview of Sexual Assault in Arizona

Sexual assault is a serious crime in Arizona. It’s important for anyone accused of sexual assault to understand the laws, penalties, and potential defenses in order to protect their rights.

What Is Sexual Assault? 

Sexual assault is a criminal act that occurs when one person engages in non-consensual sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with another individual without their consent. Sexual intercourse is defined as the penetration of any body part or object into the genitalia of another person without consent. It may also consist of masturbatory contact. 

Oral sexual contact is defined as any form of contact that involves the mouth and any of the genitalia.

What Does Without Consent Mean?

At its core, lack of consent means that one party has not agreed to the sexual act or behavior in question. This does not necessarily mean that there was any physical force involved; lack of consent also applies in other circumstances. These include:

• Force or Threat of Force: The most obvious form of lack of consent is when one party is subjected to force or threat of force during a sexual act. This can include physical threats, such as grabbing someone and refusing to let them go, or verbal threats, such as telling someone they will be harmed if they do not comply with the perpetrator’s wishes.  
• Mental Disorder/Defect: Lack of consent also applies when one party is unable to give genuine permission due to a mental disorder or defect. This includes when an individual does not understand the nature of the sexual act or their right to refuse it due to a mental impairment caused by drugs, alcohol, or other similar impairments.  
• Deception/Misleading: One party may also be unable to provide consent if they are deliberately misled about the act in question. For example, if someone agrees to engage in a certain kind of sexual activity but then discovers later on that, it was something else entirely different than what they thought it would be, this could qualify as deceptive behavior and thus lack of consent.  
• Coercion/Marriage Misrepresentation: Finally, lack of consent applies when one party attempts to make another believe they are married when they are not.  

Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive; there are many other situations where a lack of consent could apply.

What Are the Penalties for Sexual Assault in Phoenix, Arizona?

In the State of Arizona, sexual assault carries serious penalties. The minimum sentence for a conviction of sexual assault is 5.25 years. The maximum penalty is life in prison. The sentence depends on your prior criminal record, the age of the victim, whether the victim experienced bodily injury and other factors.  

In most cases involving sexual offenses, registering as a sex offender is also required by law. Being registered as a sex offender means that your name and address will appear on public records, and there may be limits on where you can work and live. 

What Defenses Can Be Raised If I’m Accused of Sexual Assault? 

There are a number of common defenses that criminal defense attorneys use when defending against charges of sexual assault. Here are three of the most common: 

Consent 

The most common defense used in cases of sexual assault is consent. In this case, your attorney will not be arguing that the sexual contact didn’t happen; they’ll simply be arguing that the other party agreed to it. 

False Allegations

Another common defense used by those accused of sexual assault is false allegations. A false allegation occurs when someone accuses another person of committing a crime they did not commit or fabricates evidence to make their accusation appear legitimate. 

False allegations can occur for various reasons, such as revenge, confusion, misinterpretation, or even mental illness on the accuser’s part. It is up to the criminal defense attorney to determine if false allegations are at play during trial proceedings. 

Mistaken Identity 

Another potential defense against sexual assault charges is mistaken identity. This occurs when someone else has been falsely accused because they were mistaken for another person who committed the crime. There are many cases where witnesses provide inaccurate descriptions of suspects, which leads to innocent people being charged with serious crimes like sexual assault. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Phoenix Sexual Assault Defense Attorney

​If you’ve been arrested for sexual assault, schedule a free case evaluation with our Phoenix sexual assault defense lawyer. It’s critical that you understand your legal rights and options, as your future freedom is likely at stake.