STATE CRIMES

Award-Winning Criminal Defense Attorneys

Our team of award-winning sexual assault defense lawyers at Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch, PLLC are dedicated to providing aggressive, effective criminal defense to clients throughout West Michigan. Our team zealously defends clients against allegations of sex crimes, such as:

• Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC)
• Criminal sexual misconduct
• Statutory rape
• Date rape
• Child sexual assault
• Sodomy
• Child molestation
• Indecent exposure
• Sex offender registry offenses
• University or College Investigations

Michigan Sex Crimes Attorney, Client Review, 2019

Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) Charges

There are a number of different criminal charges, which depend on certain aggravating factors in the case, that can be filed when an allegation of sexual assault comes to light. The penalties vary drastically depending on the severity of the offense charged. Charges of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) are stated in terms of degrees or severity of the offense:

• 4^th Degree CSC (M.C.L. § 750.520e) (Two-year “high-court” misdemeanor; maximum penalty of 2 years in jail; $500 fine, registration as a sex offender);

• 3^rd Degree CSC (M.C.L. § 750.520d) (Felony; maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; registration as a sex offender);

• 2^nd Degree CSC (M.C.L. § 750.520c) (Felony; maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; lifetime electronic monitoring in certain cases, registration as a sex offender);

• 1^st Degree CSC (M.C.L. § 750.520b) (Felony; maximum penalty is up to life in prison, possible mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, possible mandatory life without the possibility of parole; lifetime of electronic monitoring; registration as a sex offender).

Obviously, these are very serious offenses, for which the legislature has prescribed very serious penalties. There are also drastic consequences that will follow you for years, if not decades, if you are found guilty either by plea or trial. Recently, the Legislature has modified and, in some cases, reduced the registration/reporting requirements for people convicted of these offenses. Contact an attorney to see if you are eligible for any relief. You should provide the attorney with a copy of the complaint or charges, plea agreement, and judgment of sentence, to get a more accurate assessment.

These cases are very fact intensive and the credibility of the evidence, including the complainant’s statements, is of the utmost importance, as there are often few witnesses to these crimes. Sometimes the allegations can be corroborated through forensic evidence or other means, but often times not. A good attorney will, among other things, thoroughly investigate the allegations and evidence in the case, interview witnesses, mount legal challenges to the prosecutor’s case and evidence, and prepare a vigorous defense for trial. If the accused has made any incriminating statements to the police, friends or family, his/her statements will be a key piece of evidence for the prosecution. It is for this reason, and many others not elaborated upon here, that, if you are accused of committing a sexual assault in any way shape or form, you should contact any attorney with a substantial amount of experience handling sexual assault cases. Contrary to what you might think, criminal sexual conduct cases are winnable.

The attorneys at Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch, PLLC, are experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated, when it comes to handling these types of criminal cases. When you are faced with a serious allegation, call our attorneys who focus their practice on criminal cases. Call now for a free consultation.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, let us provide the assertive advocacy you need to reach the best possible outcome in your case.

Michigan Sex Crimes Attorney, Client Review, 2019

Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA)

Upon completing their prison sentences, individuals convicted of sex crimes are placed under permanent restrictions, including the requirement to register with a sex offender registry. The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) publishes to state and national websites the names, photographs, addresses, and employment and school information of convicted offenders.

You must update your profile whenever you move residences, enroll in school, change employment, or buy or sell your car, and you must also periodically report in-person to verify your information. Information contained in the PSOR is easily accessible by family members, neighbors and prospective employers and so puts your relationships and financial interests in jeopardy. Because of the long-term impact on your life, our sex crime defense attorneys in Muskegon consider avoiding the sex offender designation a top priority in your case. If you are required to register as an offender, we advise you about remaining in compliance with the relevant statutes and defend you against accusations of Sex Offenders Registration Act violations.

Fighting Accusations of Sexual Assault

Our lawyers in Muskegon have substantial experience investigating and evaluating physical evidence in sex assault cases. Scientific evidence — such as DNA, hair fibers and fingerprints — tends to sway jurors, even if mistakes were made during collection or analysis or if the results do not prove what the prosecution claims. Our criminal defense attorneys in Grand Rapids draw on our FBI and JAG Corps training to challenge the reliability and accuracy of forensic evidence. We also consult with our own team of forensic experts to review law enforcement collection methods and to refute incorrect conclusions made by prosecution witnesses.

Learn More about Defending Your Rights from our Experienced Sex Crime Defense Law Firm

To learn more about your rights if you have been arrested for a sex crime, call Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch, PLLC’s Grand Rapids office at 616-458-5500 or our Fremont office at 231- 924-8700 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.