Sex Crimes Lawyer in Rockville, MD

If you have been arrested for a sex crime in Maryland, you may feel as if you’ve already been convicted. Perhaps no crime carries such a negative stigma as those related to sex, and you may feel as if your entire future is under siege.

Whether you have been falsely accused or not, you should immediately seek out the services of an experienced Maryland sex crimes attorney. At Grabo Law, LLC, we will diligently and aggressively defend your rights against these serious charges.

Sex Crimes in Maryland

Maryland regulates sexual crimes under Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code. If convicted of any sex crime in the state, there is a strong chance that you will have a felony record and even serve time in prison.

Even minor sex crime convictions can have lasting consequences. You might find that you are required to register as a sex offender and will have a mark on your permanent record. This will make it very difficult to find future employment, housing, loans, and more.

First-Degree Rape

Maryland Criminal Law Code § 3-303 covers rape in the first degree, which makes it a crime to engage in vaginal intercourse with another person by intimidation or force without the other’s consent, while also doing one of the following:

• Employing or displaying a dangerous weapon or something the victim believes is a dangerous weapon
• Strangling, suffocating, disfiguring or otherwise creating serious injury to the victim or another person
• Threatening to kill, suffocate, disfigure, strangle, kidnap, or seriously injure the victim
• Committing this crime while also committing any type of burglary

The potential penalty for a first-degree rape conviction is up to life in prison. If the victim is under the age of 16, the penalty is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Second-Degree Rape

Maryland Criminal Law Code § 3-304 covers rape in the second degree, which makes it a crime to engage in vaginal intercourse with another person if these conditions are present:

• There was no consent, there was force used, or the threat of force
• The victim is physically helpless, mentally incapacitated, or mentally defective, and the offender is aware of this
• The victim is younger than 14, and the offender is 4 or more years older

A crime that is prosecuted as second-degree rape in Maryland is often termed “date rape.” The potential penalties include a prison term of up to 20 years. If the victim is younger than 13 and the offender is over 18 years old, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, which cannot be suspended, which can go up to life in prison.

First-Degree Sexual Offense

Sexual offenses involve sex crimes other than vaginal intercourse. These include any act considered for sexual arousal or gratification of the offender at the expense of the victim. In some jurisdictions, these are referred to as sexual assault.

First-degree sexual offense is covered by Maryland Criminal Code § 3-305, which makes it illegal to engage in any sexual acts with another person by intimidation or force, without consent while doing any of the following:

• Employing or displaying a dangerous weapon or something the victim believes is a dangerous weapon
• Strangling, suffocating, disfiguring or otherwise creating serious injury to the victim or another person
• Threatening to kill, suffocate, disfigure, strangle, kidnap, or seriously injure the victim
• Committing this crime with help from another person
• Committing this crime while also committing any type of burglary

The penalty for this crime is a felony conviction and up to life in prison. Depending on the age of the victim, the penalties can become even harsher.

Second Degree Sexual Offense

Second-degree sexual offense is covered by Maryland Criminal Code § 3-306, which makes it a crime to engage in any sexual acts with another person by intimidation or force, without consent while any of these conditions are present:

• The victim is physically helpless, mentally incapacitated, or mentally defective, and the offender is aware of this
• The victim is younger than 14, and the offender is 4 or more years older

The potential penalties associated with this crime include up to 20 years in prison or 15 years to life if the victim was under the age of 13 and the offender was over 18.

Third and Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense

A third or fourth-degree sexual offense is considered to be any non-consensual sexual contact. In many cases, these crimes involve minors, even when both parties have consented to the contact. Even though the term “statutory rape” isn’t used in the legal system, you could be charged with a serious crime, have a felony conviction, and face prison time and fines.

Attempted Rape or Sexual Offense

According to the Maryland Criminal Codes § 3-309 through § 3-312, it is a crime to attempt to commit first or second-degree rape or a sexual offense, even if the attempts are unsuccessful. The penalties for a conviction can be harsh, including becoming a convicted felon and having a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

Our Approach to Maryland Sex Crime Defense

The dedicated legal team at Grabo Law, LLC, believes you deserve the best representation in your Maryland criminal case. We understand the negative reputation that will follow you if convicted of a crime, and we are committed to effectively and discreetly fighting to protect you from sex offender registration and other restrictions on your liberty.

We conduct a thorough investigation of every case, no matter where you are in the legal process. Our team reviews information concerning the alleged victim, the accused, and any witnesses.

Robert Grabo knows that the smallest detail in a case could be the deciding factor in court, and we will make sure that no aspects of your sex crime case slip through the cracks. We are skilled at scrutinizing all evidence to reveal any weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and will give you every advantage possible.

Grabo Law understands how to handle tough cases, and we genuinely care about your result. Every step we take in your criminal case will be made with the goal of securing the most favorable outcome. Our firm has defended against a wide range of sex crime charges, and we know the most effective defense strategies to minimize the negative consequences as much as possible.

Contact an Experienced Maryland Sex Crime Defense Lawyer

If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in Maryland, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney that will aggressively fight for your rights and freedom. At Grabo Law, LLC, we are here to help, and we are ready to immediately begin working on your defense. Contact our Rockville office now at (301) 938-7652 to schedule your free initial consultation.