Leesburg, Virginia Sex Crimes Attorney

Many criminal convictions can be difficult to deal with, but you will be able to move forward after completing your sentence. Employers, landlords, and even professional licensing boards may be willing to look past a single DUI or a simple assault charge. However, almost no one is willing to overlook a sex crime, even if it was an isolated incident. Even the accusation alone can be damaging to your reputation.

While there has been a societal shift in favor of believing the victims of sex crimes, criminal defense attorneys know that false accusations are made with alarming frequency. The police can be quick to make arrests even when there is little supporting evidence. It is critical to take advantage of your right to have an attorney defend you against these types of charges.

Noorishad Law, P.C. is highly experienced in defending people accused of sexual battery, rape, and other sex crimes. Dedicated Leesburg, VA sex offenses attorney Kaveh Noorishad fully understands what is at stake in this type of case, and he will do all he can to defend your freedom, future, and reputation.

If you choose to exercise your right to a fair trial by jury, Attorney Noorishad will carefully create and present the best defense strategy for you. He is also a fierce negotiator in plea bargaining, and he will fight to have your charges reduced to the lowest possible level. You can trust that Attorney Noorishad will do what is best for you at every stage in your case, from arrest until resolution.

Felony Sex Crimes

Many sex crimes are charged as felonies, and they often carry long prison sentences, including harsh mandatory minimums. These serious offenses include:

• Rape: This offense involves an act of sexual intercourse committed by force, threat of force, or intimidation, or with a helpless victim. Rape cases are especially serious when a weapon was used or when the alleged victim was a child.
• Child pornography: Possessing sexually explicit videos or images of a minor is a serious felony offense. Your case is much more serious if you are accused of producing or distributing child sexual abuse images.
• Aggravated Sexual Battery: Ordinary sexual assault and battery is a misdemeanor. You may be charged with the felony crime of aggravated sexual battery for several reasons, such as if the alleged victim was a minor under 13 years old or if the assault was allegedly carried out by force, threat of force, or intimidation.
• Sexual Abuse of a Child: Crimes involving the sexual abuse of a minor under 15 years old by an adult are normally charged as felonies. Multiple laws cover this type of offense, so your exact charges will depend on the age of the alleged victim and the type of sexual conduct that allegedly occurred.

Misdemeanor Sex Offenses

Even though misdemeanor charges are less serious than felonies, sex offenses in this category can still be extremely serious. You could be forced to register as a sex offender and serve time in jail if you are convicted of misdemeanor sex crimes like:

• Sexual Battery: This offense may involve the unwanted touching of intimate body parts. You can be charged with this crime based on accusations of touching the victim's intimate body parts or for forcing the victim to touch another person's intimate body parts. This includes touching over clothing.
• Statutory Rape: If the alleged victim was at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old and consented to sexual intercourse, you could be charged with a misdemeanor for statutory rape.
• Indecent Exposure: Intentionally exposing your intimate body parts in a public place where others were present is considered indecent exposure. The state would need to prove that the exposure was purposeful rather than accidental, such as in the case of a "wardrobe malfunction."

Evidence in a Sex Crime Case

The evidence that may play a role in a sex crime case will depend on the specific charges and the circumstances involved in the accusations against you. This evidence may include:

Physical and Forensic Evidence

In cases involving allegations of rape or sexual assault, the prosecution may present forensic evidence collected through a sexual assault examination. This can include DNA samples or other evidence collected at the scene of the alleged crime. Any documentation of injuries that allegedly occurred may also be presented. However, the presence of DNA and other evidence does not necessarily prove that a crime occurred. Evidence may only establish that sexual contact took place, but this contact may have been consensual.

Digital and Electronic Evidence

Many sex crime investigations involve the examination of phones, computers, and social media accounts. Text messages, emails, and direct messages may be used to demonstrate the relationship between the accused and the alleged victim or show the nature of their communications. In child pornography cases, digital forensics may be used to trace the origin of files and determine how they were distributed. Our attorney can determine whether digital evidence was obtained through lawful searches and whether it was analyzed correctly.

Witness Testimony

In many cases, the testimony of the alleged victim can play a key role in sex crime allegations. Other witnesses may include people who were present before or after the alleged incident or medical professionals who performed examinations of the alleged victim. Our lawyer can carefully examine statements made by witnesses, looking for inconsistencies or contradictions that may affect their credibility.

Defense Strategies in Sex Crime Cases

No two cases are alike, and the right defense strategy will depend on the specific facts, the evidence, and other factors. Our attorney can evaluate all available options and develop a strategy that will help to resolve a case successfully. We can address issues such as:

Consent

In cases involving allegations of sexual assault, consent is often the central issue. We may take steps to demonstrate that sexual contact was consensual. Our team will gather all available evidence, including communications between the parties, statements from witnesses, and evidence of an existing relationship. We will work to demonstrate that the alleged victim agreed to the conduct in question.

False Accusations

When there is reason to believe an accusation of a sex crime was fabricated or exaggerated, our lawyer may investigate the alleged victim's motivations. We may take steps to show that accusations were related to a contentious divorce or custody dispute, a desire for financial gain, personal animosity, or other reasons. We can take steps to show that an accusation is not credible.

Mistaken Identity

In cases where the accused and the alleged victim did not know each other, our attorney can demonstrate that sex crime charges were based on a mistaken identity. Eyewitness identifications can be unreliable, and our team can challenge identifications that were made under suggestive conditions or may have been incorrect.

Challenging the Evidence

The prosecution must prove that a person committed a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt. In many sex crime cases, the evidence may be limited, and a case may come down to one person's word against another's. When there is no other evidence proving that an offense occurred, our lawyer may be able to argue that the state has not met its burden of proof.

Suppression of Unlawfully Obtained Evidence

If police officers searched a person's home, vehicle, or electronic devices without a valid warrant, the evidence obtained from that search may be inadmissible in court. Our attorney can file motions to suppress evidence, and prosecutors may be forced to dismiss cases when they have no way to prove that an offense occurred.

Contact Our Leesburg, VA Sex Crimes Lawyer

Noorishad Law, P.C. will do all we can to help you after you have been accused of a sex crime. Aggressive Leesburg sex crimes defense attorney Kaveh Noorishad will fight to defend your rights regardless of the accusations against you. Contact us at 703-542-4500 for a complimentary consultation.