Noblesville Rape Attorney
A single rape accusation has the power to permanently alter your life. People’s lives and reputations are irrevocably ruined before any evidence is put to the test in trial. We at The Criminal Defense Team are aware that Hamilton County takes rape accusations seriously. A Noblesville rape lawyer at our firm can help you before your case ever goes to trial, and bond terms, media attention, and social stigmas alter your life.
About The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C.
The Criminal Defense Team defends cases throughout Hamilton County, Indiana. Locals in Noblesville count on us for building strong criminal defense cases. We have a track record of success at the Hamilton County Judicial Center, which is located at 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, IN 46060. We’re known for defending our clients against serious felonies, including rape charges.
We take great satisfaction in using our team model to handle all important issues. Every significant case has at least two lawyers and a paralegal assigned to it. We want to make sure we look everywhere. Our lawyers examine the legal issues at hand, approach each case from several perspectives, and assess our strategy.
Our group includes former prosecutors who have tried homicide and other felony cases. Our former prosecutor is aware of the State’s trial preparations and strategy. Five Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists work for our business. In Indiana, there are just six Board-Certified* attorneys with this distinction. For clarity, not all our attorneys are Board-Certified.* We employ five of the six in the state that are.
Comprehending Indiana’s Rape Laws
45.1% of women in the US reported having been the victim of contact sexual assault at some time in their lives. Of those women, 21.0% had been raped or had been the victim of an attempted rape. In the US, 3.2% of men say they have experienced rape or attempted rape. Over one in six males (16.9%) said they had experienced contact sexual violence at some point in their lives.
According to Indiana law, someone who knowingly or purposefully engages in sexual activity with another person is guilty of rape if:
- Force or the threat of force is used during the sexual encounter.
- The other individual is not aware that sexual activity is taking place.
- The other individual has a mental illness.
- The individual is aware that the other person has a mental illness or is incapable of giving their consent for sexual activity because of it.
Usually, rape is classified as a Level 3 felony. Rape can be charged as a Level 1 crime if there are aggravating circumstances, such as slipping a controlled substance to the victim without their knowledge, or involving bodily harm or deadly force.
Comprehending Consent
Many rape cases are not based on whether or not there was sexual contact. Many rape cases depend on whether or not the sexual contact was consensual. When two people are in or have been in a love relationship, consent becomes complex. Additional situations where consent may be argued include:
- Alcohol was a factor, particularly when it was consumed voluntarily.
- The victim retracts what they said.
- Long after the incident has occurred, the victim reports it.
- The accusations are not supported by the evidence.
The prosecution must establish each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt to convict you. The case is unlikely to succeed if there is insufficient evidence that the interaction was illegal.
Rape Penalties in Indiana
Rape is taken seriously in Indiana, and sentences are correspondingly harsh. Convictions for rape incur additional sanctions, such as:
- Years or even decades in prison
- Hefty fines
- An ongoing criminal history
- Prolonged probationary oversight
- Limitations on where you can work or live
- Registration as a sexual offender is required.
How to Respond to Being Charged
Remain silent if the police call you or if you are taken into custody and charged. You are not required to speak to police without your lawyer present, and you have the right to remain silent. During the early phases of an inquiry, everything you say to them could be used against you in court.
Contacting the alleged victim or possible witnesses to the crime is not advised. Keep your conversations with your lawyer exclusive, regardless of whether you believe it to be a straightforward disagreement. Speaking with others could lead to more charges being brought against you in addition to making your case more difficult.
Finally, you should hire a Noblesville rape lawyer as soon as possible. We can review the evidence against you, make sure the investigation was conducted correctly, and begin developing your defense strategy as soon as we can engage in your case.
When to Hire a Rape Lawyer
When you are ill, you would consult a specialist to address your medical issues rather than just any doctor. You should do the same when you are facing legal issues.
Hiring a Noblesville rape attorney who focuses on serious crime defense also indicates that you have a strategic plan in place from the beginning. No single lawyer here ever takes on an enormous workload of serious matters. Our attorneys assign every significant case to at least two lawyers and a paralegal. Together, they examine each significant case, enabling us to assign trial preparation and conduct a more thorough analysis of discovery.
Our company only practices criminal litigation and has five Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists. In Indiana, there are just six criminal trial lawyers who are Board-Certified.* You want a lawyer who focuses on battling prosecutors and crime labs in court when you could spend years, or even decades, in prison.
Contact The Criminal Defense Team Today
It can be frightening and seem like you are dealing with the matter alone when you are charged with rape. Evidence, procedure, and constitutional safeguards are the cornerstones of the judicial system. The prosecution must provide evidence to refute your claims. Every claim must be proven, and all evidence must be legally obtained.
Our firm’s rape defense attorneys are capable of reviewing the evidence against you, contesting the state’s evidence, and advocating for the optimal outcome for you.
If you are battling charges in Noblesville, contact The Criminal Defense Team right away. We can help you understand the charges against you. With over 100 years of combined experience and five Board-Certified* lawyers at our firm, we know how to advocate for your rights and future.
*Andrew Baldwin, Kathie Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.