1) I’ve been Falsely Accused of Sexual Assault. What do I do? 
If your first instinct is to say “I am innocent, and the truth will prevail”, then pause for a moment. We, at the Criminal Law Team, believe that the only way for truth and justice to prevail is to follow the motto that “the best defence is a strong offence”.
A strong offence involves using all of our legal skills to analyze the circumstances of the case, and, relying on our team of experts and investigators, to uncover the real truth, i.e., exposing the lies perpetrated by the complainant and the motive for making the false allegations.
2) How do I deal with False Accusations of Sexual Assault?
As mentioned in #1 above, we tackle these falsities head on by getting to the root of the lie: the complainant’s motive to lie. In many cases, there are family law proceedings in place, and the complainant uses the false accusations to get the upper hand in the proceedings. In other cases, the complainant may be a compulsive liar seeking attention or simply revenge for the loss of a love affair.
There are an unlimited number of reasons why people lie and bring false charges of sexual assault or sexual interference. The devil is in the details, and we love to explore every aspect of the case with our clients. We are experts at uncovering lies, and we relish the opportunity to expose liars for what they are.
3) What Is The Age Of Consent?
The age of consent varies depending on the offence and the age difference between the accused and the complainant. For example, the age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years, unless the complainant is 14 or 15 years of age and the accused is less than 5 years older. So, a 14 year old can consent to sexual activity with a 19 year old, as long as there is less than 5 years difference in their ages (days and months are relevant to this determination).
With respect to the offence of sexual exploitation, the complainant must be 16 or 17 years of age, and the accused must be “in a position of trust or authority” towards the complainant. These are just a few examples of the variations possible in the age of consent.
Related Article: Sexual Interference With A Minor
4) What are the consequences of being convicted of Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is a charge that covers a broad range of illegal acts. For this reason, it is one of many charges classified as a hybrid offence. This means that depending on the particulars of what happened, the Crown Attorney can decide whether to prosecute the offence as an indictable offence (more serious), or as a summary offence (less serious). Since the seriousness of the charges against the accused can vary, it is very important to get proper legal advice before speaking to police or going to court. Whether the Crown decides to proceed by indictable or summary offence will have a large impact on the potential consequences.
Indictable Offence
Where the Crown proceeds by way of indictment, an accused can be sentenced to up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, with a one-year minimum if the complainant was under sixteen years of age at the time.
Summary Offence
Where the Crown proceeds summarily, an accused will be facing up to eighteen (18) months of imprisonment, with a ninety-day minimum if the complainant was under sixteen.
The National Sex Offender Registry
Regardless of how a charge is prosecuted, when an accused is convicted of a “designated” sexual offence within the Criminal Code, they will also be placed on the National Sex Offender Registry and be required to update their information with police on an annual basis, or any time they change their address or legal name. “Designated offences” include: sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, child pornography, and aggravated sexual assault among other similar offences. Persons placed on the Registry are required to remain registered for either ten years, twenty years, or for life depending on the particulars of the offence. While the public does not have access to the National Sex Offender Registry, all accredited Canadian police agencies have access. Being convicted of a sexual offence and subsequently being placed on the Registry can have lasting effects on a person’s ability to obtain employment or travel internationally.
Related Articles: Sexual Related Offences
5) Do I need to talk to a Lawyer before Sexual Assault charges are laid?
It is so very important to retain an experienced criminal defence lawyer before you talk to the police about a current or historical sexual assault allegation. We at The Criminal Law Team prepare our clients for the onslaught of questions the police will throw at them when they are in the lonely confines of a police interrogation room. If you think you know how to talk your way out of a police interrogation, then think twice! You should know that 99% of the time the police have already decided to charge you, and, they only want to talk to you to get you to confess, or to lie about a fact that will be used at your trial to discredit your testimony. Click here to call us for your free consultation.
“I (Do Not) Confess”- Consult Us Before You Talk To The Police
Without any forensic evidence, especially regarding young complainants, the police usually consider it critically important to obtain an incriminating statement (effectively, a confession) from a suspect. Often, there is no evidence available to police investigators other than the statement and intended testimony of the complainant.
If you are accused of or suspected of having committed a sexual assault, it is extremely important that you know your right to remain silent and your right to consult with legal counsel before giving any statement to the police (this includes verbal, written or statements electronically recorded in any manner). The police will not cease questioning you just because you exercise your right to remain silent.
It is only after reviewing the case, and presenting its deficiencies and contradictions to the Prosecution that we will have the chance to persuade them to drop the charges. In almost every case, we strongly advise our clients to remain completely silent in these circumstances, particularly where they feel they have been falsely accused of a sexual assault crime. And in fact, we go one step further: since the police are entitled to question a suspect concerning a charge or charges of sexual assault, we sit down with our clients and teach them how to deal with the tricks and deceptive approaches (such as use of “The Reid Technique”) that police investigators may throw at them in order to get them to “fess up”. We make sure that the client says nothing, especially when the police may not respect their right to remain silent.
6) But What About Forensic (Scientific) Evidence?
The prosecution often relies upon forensic evidence, such as DNA and hair sample analysis, to prove identity. This evidence can make a huge difference to the outcome for the individual who is charged with sexual assault or related sexual crimes. Bodily fluids which may have been left by the accused at or near a crime scene can be analyzed for DNA and compared to known specimens to determine if there is a match based on statistical probabilities. Television programs, such as CSI Miami, often portray such evidence as infallible. But expert witnesses can distinguish the reality of the courtroom from TV fiction. This is why it is important for sexual assault lawyers to retain such experts in serious cases in order to successfully challenge this type of forensic evidence, and we do.
7) How To Get Sexual Assault Charges Dropped?
Many people are concerned about being falsely accused, and their primary focus is to have sexual assault charges dropped. Of course at The Criminal Law Team, our number 1 objective is to obtain a successful result for our clients in the shortest possible time . This means avoiding a trial, where possible. In many instances, after reviewing the disclosure with our clients, and pointing out the problems in the prosecutions case, especially issues surrounding the credibility of the complainant, we have had sexual assault charges dropped for our clients.
8) If The Charges Are Not Dropped, Then What? How Do I Defend A Sexual Assault Charge?
A potentially successful defence to a sexual assault charge is that the alleged victim had consented to the conduct, or that the accused mistakenly believed the complainant had consented. Consumption of alcohol or drugs and/or a motivation to lie on the part of the complainant are common weapons used by the sexual assault lawyers in advancing a defence that the complainant consented to the alleged sexual assault. Recently, we successfully defended a client charged with sexual assault by convincing the judge that the complainant consented to the sexual act, by showing that not only did she lie when she said she did not consent, but that she probably would not have consented if she was not intoxicated at the time.
While previous sexual activity by the complainant, either with the accused or others, is not automatically admitted into evidence at trial, it is often relevant to an important issue in the case. The admission of this type of evidence requires a complicated application to the trial judge, convincing the judge that the prior sexual activity of the complainant “has significant probative value that is not substantially outweighed by the danger of prejudice to the proper administration of justice.” In a number of sexual assault cases, the Criminal Law Team has successfully argued for this type of evidence to be admitted. In one such case, we were able to prove that the complainant had sex with our client at an earlier time, and this convinced the judge that the complainant was lying about not consenting at the time and place alleged in her accusation.
The Criminal Law Team will work tirelessly for you to ensure that your reputation, employment prospects, and ability to travel freely are not tarnished by false accusations.
9) Is There A Statute Of Limitations On Sexual Assault In Canada?
There is no statute of limitations on most sexual offences, and some accused persons face allegations that are decades old. These “historical sexual assaults” pose a number of problems. For example, people’s memories fade over time, and are often influenced by therapy sessions, substance abuse, and “the blame game.” There are many ways to defend the accused, including alleging “false memory syndrome”, where memories may have been altered by outside influences. A successful private records application to the court can convince a judge that psychiatric, counseling, or other records may provide evidence that the complainant’s memory is either “false”, or is motivated by ill will or hatred of the accused that is unrelated to the allegation before the court.
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