If you are faced with sexual assault charges, you may be worried about your future. These charges are, understandably, taken very seriously in Illinois, as is the case throughout the United States. Furthermore, it can be very difficult to establish the truth in such cases, so you might face a lengthy investigation, even if you were not responsible for the crime. When facing charges of sexual assault, how do you determine what type of charges you are facing?
It is important to remember, when faced with such charges, that they must be treated with sensitivity. It is possible that the plaintiff was distressed by your actions, even if you did not mean any harm. In some cases, they may even have misidentified you, as was the case in a previous article. Even so, they may still have suffered a deeply traumatic experience.
As such, it falls to you to ensure your attorney knows the ins and outs of your situation so you can increase your chances of clearing your name. To do this, it is helpful to know exactly what constitutes sexual assault, so you can assess whether your actions may have been interpreted in that way. As is explained here, generally sexual assault refers to sexual contact that was not consented to, regardless of age or gender.
This includes incidences where one person was unconscious or otherwise lacked the capacity to express whether they were willing. It also includes cases in which someone was coerced or forced. While some states class different sex crimes separately, based on the precise nature of the offense, others group all within the same bracket.
Being convicted of sexual assault can have a serious impact on your personal and professional life, so it is important to be aware of your actions and how they affect those around you. If you are faced with charges of this nature, an attorney can help you understand the options available to you, and assist you in choosing the course of action that might serve you best.