Lansing Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorney


CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT EXPLAINED


In the state of Michigan, most sex crimes are found under the category of “Criminal Sexual Conduct” or CSC. CSC is broken into four degrees where certain elements like penetration and/or injuries to the victim will cause the CSC charge to change. Crimes such as rape, statutory rape, and unconsented sexual contact fall within CSC charges. A conviction for a CSC offense can have life-changing consequences. It is important to understand that CSC charges are not like other charges in Michigan criminal law; CSC charges have a specific stigma attached to them and have the added consequence/requirement of registering with the Michigan Sex Offender Registry (SOR). CSC cases are often “he said, she said” cases, and don’t always include DNA evidence. Because of this, your attorney must complete a thorough investigation to properly plan and present your defense at trial. Do not speak to anyone about CSC allegations being made against you other than your attorney. Anyone that you speak to can be called as a witness to testify against you.


THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CHARGES IN LANSING


Criminal sexual conduct charges are broken down into four main categories called “degrees.” The different degrees are generally separated by whether penetration was alleged and whether or not any injuries were alleged to result from the misconduct. First-degree criminal sexual conduct is the most serious criminal sexual conduct offense, and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct has the lowest maximum punishment of the criminal sexual conduct offenses. The different types of criminal sexual conduct charges you will find in Lansing include:


  • First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct: This is a felony charge that carries up to life in prison upon conviction. The charge alleges forcible sexual penetration along with an injury caused to the victim. If the victim is under 13 years old, then injuries are not a necessary element to secure a conviction for this charge.


  • Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct: This is a felony charge that carries up to 15 years in prison upon conviction. The charge alleges forcible sexual contact along with an injury caused to the victim. If the victim is under 13 years old, then injuries are not a necessary element to secure a conviction for this charge.


  • Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct: This is a felony charge that carries up to 15 years in prison upon conviction. The charge alleges forcible sexual penetration but does not require any injuries. 


  • Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct: This is a high-court misdemeanor charge that carries up to 2 years in prison upon conviction. The charge alleges forcible sexual contact but does not require any injuries.


  • Assault with intent to commit CSC involving sexual penetration: This is a felony charge that carries up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.


  • Assault with intent to commit second-degree CSC: This is a felony charge that carries up to 5 years in prison upon conviction.


If you are facing an allegation of any of the sex crimes listed above, then it is important to speak with an experienced attorney immediately.


LANSING AREA COURTS WHICH HEAR CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CASES


Criminal sexual conduct cases in the Lansing area are first heard in one of the three district courts depending on where the crime is alleged to have taken place:


  • 54A District Court: This court hears cases that were alleged to have taken place in the city of Lansing.
  • 54B District Court: This court hears cases that were alleged to have taken place in the city of East Lansing.
  • 55th District Court: This court hears cases that were alleged to have taken place anywhere in Ingham County, except for Lansing and East Lansing.


If a prosecutor can show a district court judge enough probable cause that a criminal sexual conduct offense was committed and that the defendant committed the offense, then the charge would be “bound over” and sent to the circuit court for all future proceedings. If a case is bound over in the Lansing area, it would go to:


  • 30th Circuit Court: This court hears all felony cases that were alleged to have taken place within Ingham County.


Several Circuit Court judges may be assigned to your case. It is important to have an attorney who is experienced in practicing before these judges and understands what specifically needs to be done to help you be successful. 


WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CASE?


If you are facing an allegation of criminal sexual conduct in or around the Lansing area, then it is important to speak to an experienced criminal sexual conduct defense attorney immediately. Websites such as this can be a great starting resource, but the information found on websites cannot serve as a substitute for the advice of an experienced attorney. If you have specific questions about your case, then the attorneys at Zeineh Law are available to you now. 


THE ZEINEH LAW DIFFERENCE


For a prosecutor to be successful, he or she must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intended to commit or did commit a sexual act on another without legal consent. Was there a genuine, honest mistake in the events in question? Are you able to show that while things might look a certain way at first, there was actually no illegal activity? To be most effective in your defense, your attorney has to be able to answer these questions. An investigation done from the defense side is the best way to answer these and other necessary questions in preparing your defense. Just as a prosecutor will use his or her resources to build a case against you, you can use your resources to build your defense in the same way. At Zeineh Law, we pride ourselves on not limiting your defense by simply trying to explain the prosecutor’s version of events. We defend cases by going on offense, by advancing your version of events based on evidence obtained in our private investigations. 


ZEINEH LAW PROUDLY OFFERS A FREE CONSULTATION


If you are facing a criminal charge for criminal sexual conduct in or around Ingham County, then it is important to speak to an experienced Lansing criminal defense attorney immediately. At Zeineh Law, we are proud to offer FREE consultations to all prospective clients. If you are in the process of choosing your attorney or are looking for an honest assessment of your legal situation, then our attorneys are available to help you now. Feel free to contact us anytime at (517) 292-7000 or email. Our advice is free, and our conversations will always be protected by attorney-client privilege. Make your first choice towards freedom with a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney at Zeineh Law today.