What Are Sex Crimes Under Maryland Law?
The sex crime laws in Maryland are strict and complicated. The person who is charged with any sex crime needs to understand that they are subjected to pay and serve, hefty and harsh penalties. Therefore if they fairly want to win their case, they would need a Maryland’s sex crime attorney. In the state of Maryland Sexual assault is known as a sexual offense. The sexual offense is defined as the act of engaging in any sexual activity with another individual (victim) by either threatening them, forcing them or doing it without their consent. The charges for a sexual offense is broken down into four different categories:
- First degree
- According to the section 3-305, “a first-degree sexual offense is when the offender uses a dangerous weapon of suffocation or strangulation, threatening the victim to commit any sexual activity. This threatening can cause fear in victim which can lead to death, suffocation, serious physical injury or be kidnapped.
- Punishments: Minimum imprisonment for a period of 25 years
- Second Degree Sexual Abuse:
- According to section 3 – 306 involving someone to perform an illegal sexual activity with a mentally or physically incapable person by forcing them, threatening them.
- Punishments: The person is charged with a felony which would lead them to maximum 20 years of imprisonment.
- Third Degree Sexual Abuse:
- According to section 3 – 307 involving someone to perform an illegal sexual activity in the following circumstances will lead them to third-degree sexual abuse:
- If the victim is small than 14 years old and the assaulter is four years old
- If the victim is 14 years old and the offender is 21 years old
- Punishments: The person is charged with a felony which would lead them to maximum ten years of imprisonment.
- According to section 3 – 307 involving someone to perform an illegal sexual activity in the following circumstances will lead them to third-degree sexual abuse:
- Fourth Degree Sexual Abuse:
- According to section 3 – 308 misusing the power of the authority to engage a minor in illegal sexual activity.
- Punishments: The person is charged with a misdemeanor which would lead them to maximum one-year imprisonment and a fine of maximum $1000.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent:
In the state of Maryland, a person facing court trails is innocent until proven guilty. However, unfortunately, if a person is being convicted of any sexual offense he/she is guilty until he/she is proven innocent. Considering the sensitivity of the crime, the burden of being guilty even before any court’s decision is a very heavy burden to bear.
Why Sex Crime Cases Require Specialized Knowledge
Sexual offenses are mostly categorized as a felony, and their punishment is very strict. A person charged with a felony can face lifetime imprisonment, hefty charges and even life-long label of being a sex offender. Therefore you can get rid of these harsh penalties only if you have specialized knowledge regarding the sexual offense you have committed and you are aware of how the Maryland court works.
In such situations, a person who is charged with any sex crime charged should rush to an experienced sex crime attorney as they are qualified and have specialized knowledge about the defensive strategies.
What to Do if Accused of a Sex Crime?
- Do not speak with any law enforcement agencies with an experienced an attorney.
- According to the law of Maryland, you are under no legal obligation, and you have right to stay quite.
- Do not contact the alleged victim by any means.
- Do not discuss the details of alleged events with friends or even family members.
- Do not lose hope
- Contact an experienced sex crime attorney in Maryland
How can Maryland sexual abuse lawyer help you?
The experienced lawyers can prepare you to defend your case properly against the strict prosecutors of Maryland. If you are facing any sex crime charges, it is best that you contact Maryland sexual abuse lawyer immediately.