Van Severen Law Office, S.C. represents individuals throughout Wisconsin facing sexual assault charges. Contact us at (414) 270-0202 to be connected with one of our top attorneys.
There are certainly sex crimes that result in penalties on the other end of the spectrum. Fourth degree sexual assault, which usually includes allegations of touching or grabbing, is a Class A misdemeanor. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 9 months in jail and $10,000.00 in fines. No sort of sex offender registry is required upon a conviction for this offense, but that doesn’t change the embarrassment or shame attached to a public conviction. We recognize the negative stigmas that attach when you’re convicted of an offense like this. Our law firm believes that hiring a top sexual assault defense attorney makes this process a little easier, and could lead to better results for the defendant.
How to contact one of our sexual assault defense experts:
Van Severen Law Office dedicates its entire practice to criminal defense. We regularly defend individuals facing the most serious criminal allegations in Wisconsin, such as homicide and sexual assault. We’ve won a portion of these cases, allowing our clients to walk free. To speak with one of our criminal defense lawyers regarding your sexual assault charge, or any other charge, contact us immediately at (414) 270-0202.
Why am I facing sex crime charges?
Sometimes the biggest shock comes when you’re first informed of the criminal charges against you. Sometimes it’s obvious why you’re being charged. And in others, it’s not clear at all.
For example, something that seems harmless, like viewing a pornographic website, could quickly spiral and lead to criminal charges. If you encounter child pornography while browsing the pornographic website, and prosecutors find out, you’ll almost certainly face possession of child pornography charges. While accidentally browsing to a website once likely won’t result in criminal charge, saving the material or returning to it will.
What about other cases, that involve an alleged victim and a completely fabricated story? The credibility of an alleged victim is always important. As we’ve discussed on other parts of our website, you can be charged with a sex offense just because someone else said you did it. That’s scary. But don’t lose hope. Our criminal defense attorneys frequently work with investigators familiar with sexual assault charges. We understand that “victims” frequently lie. Our investigators will check into previous accusations from your accuser. Our criminal defense attorneys will scour police reports and videos searching for inconsistencies in your accuser’s statement. And most importantly, we’re on your side.
Finally, you might know exactly why you’re facing charges. But you still deserve a top criminal defense attorney. Letting the government run all over you, even if you’re 100% guilty, is asking for trouble. An advocate for your rights is important, and fair, and allows you to fight against unconstitutional police and prosecutor conduct, the burden protecting you, and overzealous state actors trying to lock you up.
Will I have to register as a sex offender?
This is one of the first questions many potential clients ask us. Most sentences eventually expire – you get out of jail or prison, and you finish any probation or extended supervision requirement. But some convictions result in the defendant having to register as a sex offender for either 15 years or the rest of his life.
If you’re required to register as a sex offender, the government forces you to provide your name, sex offense conviction, date of birth, gender, race, height, hair color, eye color, address, email addresses, internet address of every profile (i.e. Facebook), employer, and school. Keeping on top and constantly remembering to update the registry can be an onerous task to worry about for the rest of your life. But failing to do so could result in additional felony criminal charges.
Importantly, you must follow sex offender registration requirements if you’re convicted of:
Our sexual assault defense attorneys are some of the best in Wisconsin. Contact Van Severen Law Office at (414) 270-0202 for immediate help.
What mandatory minimum penalties do I face?
Mandatory minimum penalties apply to certain convictions. If a mandatory minimum penalty applies, the court must sentence the defendant to at least a certain amount of time. That amount of differs with the charge. And while they don’t apply to many of the lower-level sex crime charges, they do usually apply in the most aggravated sexual assault and sexual crime situations.
The mandatory minimum penalties are firm, but there are ways to work around them. One of the most common tactics criminal defense attorneys use to avoid a mandatory minimum penalty is to convince the prosecutor to modify the charges to a lower, or even equal, criminal charge that does not carry a mandatory penalty. While this doesn’t work in all cases, in the ones that it does, a significant hurdle to the defendant is removed.
That all being said, these are the mandatory penalties facing individuals convicted of sexual assault:
Repeated sexual assault of the same child mandatory minimums
Firstly, for cases involving sexual contact or intercourse with a child under 13 years old, the mandatory term of initial confinement of 25 years in prison. This applies to the Class A and Class B felony level sexual assault of a child charges.
Remember, Class A felonies require life imprisonment upon conviction. The court simply determines a date the defendant is eligible for release on extended supervision. This date cannot occur before the defendant serves 25 years in prison.
Secondly, for cases involving sexual intercourse with a victim under 12 years old, or sexual intercourse by use or threat of force with a victim under 16 years old, the mandatory term of initial confinement is also 25 years in prison. This is the term of initial confinement.
Finally, for all other sexual assault of the same child cases, the mandatory term of initial confinement is 5 years in prison.
Possession of child pornography mandatory minimum
The mandatory minimum sentence for possession of child pornography requires that the defendant serve at least 3 years initial confinement in prison.
Child pornography cases typically involve numerous – dozens, sometimes hundreds – of images. The mandatory minimum penalties that apply for possession of child pornography can run concurrent, or at the same time. But the fact that these images or videos are usually part of a large collection, and expose the defendant to centuries worth of prison time, is certainly an aggravating circumstance in defending the case.
First and second degree sexual assault mandatory minimum penalties
First and second degree sexual assault charges, on their own, do not have mandatory minimum penalties. That being said, if the defendant has a prior conviction for either offense, the following rules apply:
The mandatory minimum penalty is 3.5 years initial confinement in prison.
If the prior conviction if first degree sexual assault (or a federal equivalent), the maximum penalty is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Sexual assault of a child mandatory minimum penalties
Finally, sexual assault of a child charges carry mandatory minimum penalties:
Hire a Van Severen Law Office sexual assault defense attorney
First of all, recognize you’re not alone. Although friends, family, and professional contacts may quickly make assumptions about you, do not give up hope. In some circumstances, individuals make mistakes. In others, victims make untrue and unfair allegations against defendants. No matter your situation, our criminal defense attorneys truly believe in the work they do. And finally, remember: we’re on your side.
Secondly, don’t wait around to meet with one of our criminal defense attorneys. Police quickly respond to sexual assault allegations. Before you know it, they’ll certainly be at your door. While explanation for what happened makes sense to you, police will certainly try to twist it. And they’ll almost certainly use it against you later in court. Do not make a statement to police. Instead, call us.
Finally, the sexual crime defense lawyers at Van Severen Law Office focus 100% of their representation on criminal defense. Defending individuals charged with crimes like sexual assault is all we do. Our laser-like focus allows us to provide the best criminal defense in Wisconsin.
Call us at (414) 270-0202. Let’s start fighting your case.
