Sexual assault defense attorney

Van Severen Law Office is a criminal defense law firm providing the best sexual assault defense.

Facing a sexual assault charge is one of the scariest situations a defendant faces in the criminal justice system.  Charges like first degree sexual assault carry 60 year penalties.  Charges involving children, like first degree sexual assault of a child, and repeated sexual assault of a child, are Class A felonies.  If you’re convicted of a Class A felony, you be sentenced to prison for the rest of your life.  Even charges on the more mitigated end, like 4th degree sexual assault, even though they’re misdemeanors, carry extremely negative stigmas upon conviction.  At Van Severen Law Office we believe that hiring a top sexual assault defense attorney makes this process a little easier.  And it certainly results in better results for the defendant.

Van Severen Law Office dedicates its entire practice to criminal defense.  We certainly specialize in defending high-end charges like homicide and sexual assault.  And finally, we defend individuals charged throughout all of Wisconsin.  To speak with one of our criminal defense attorneys regarding your sexual assault charge, or any other criminal charge, contact us immediately.  Remember that law enforcement certainly works 24/7.  Your sexual assault defense attorney should certainly work just as hard.

Finally, call us at (414) 270-0202.  Let’s start fighting your case.

Why did the state charge me with a sex crime?

That depends.  Sometimes it’s obvious.  In other cases it isn’t clear at all.

For example, something that seems harmless, like viewing a pornographic website, could quickly lead to criminal charges.  If you encounter child pornography while browsing the pornographic website, and prosecutors find out, you’ll almost certainly quickly face possession of child pornography charges.  Certainly child porn charges are incredibly serious.  Defending this version of sexual crime requires focused, precise representation.

In other cases, the credibility of the victim is certainly important.  As we’ve discussed before, 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.

Will I have to register as a sex offender?

A conviction for various sex offenses carries a sex offender registration requirement.  If you’re required to register as a sex offender, the government requires you 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.  Obviously providing this to the government presents an onerous burden on the defendant.

Finally, you must follow sex offender registration requirements if you’re convicted of:

1. Sexual contact by a therapist
2. First, second, and third degree sexual assault
3. Incest, incest with a child
4. First and second degree sexual assault of a child
5. Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child
6. Sexual exploitation of a child
7. Trafficking of a child
8. Causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity
9. Child enticement
10. Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime
11. Soliciting a child for prostitution
12. Sexual assault of a child placed in substitute care
13. Sexual assault of a child by a school staff person or a person who works or volunteers with children
14. Exposing a child to harmful material or harmful descriptions or narrations
15. Possession of child pornography
16. Child sex offender working with children
17. Abduction of another’s child; constructive custody

What mandatory minimum penalties do I face?

If you’re convicted of certain sexual assault charges, you may face mandatory minimum penalties.  While these mandatory penalties do not apply to all sexual assault charges, they apply to the most aggravated sexual assault charges.  While the mandatory minimum penalties are firm, sometimes we can work around the harsh penalties with a modification of the charges.

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 is 3 years initial confinement.

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:

• 5 years initial confinement for:
  • Sexual exploitation of a child
  • Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime

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.