Sumter County Sex Crimes Lawyer

A sex crime charge is an attack on your reputation and jeopardizes your freedom. The consequences could be severe, and the stigma surrounding such an offense could cause problems in many areas of a person’s life. Fortunately, a Sumter County sex crime lawyer can defend and help manage the consequences stemming from such a charge.

If you are charged with a sex crime, consult with an attorney immediately. A dedicated sex crimes lawyer could make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First-Degree

According to South Carolina Code Section 16-3-652, it is a first-degree felony to commit the crime of criminal sexual conduct in the first-degree. A person commits this offense if they engage in sexual battery with another person in any one of the following circumstances:

  • The defendant uses a drug or intoxicating substance to incapacitate
  • The alleged victim is forcibly confined or kidnapped
  • They use aggravated force
  • It occurs during a robbery or burglary

“Aggravated force” is the use of physical force, violence, or a deadly weapon to overcome another person. This form of criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to thirty years in a state prison at the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC).

Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second-Degree

If a defendant commits a sexual battery through the use of “aggravated coercion,” then it is second-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to §16-3-653, this crime carries a maximum of twenty years of incarceration. “Aggravated coercion” is the use of force or violence of a high and aggravated nature in order to overcome another person.

Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third-Degree

A defendant commits third-degree criminal sexual conduct if they commit a sexual battery with another person through the use of force or coercion, or if the alleged victim was helpless or incapacitated.

Third degree sexual criminal sexual conduct is a felony in South Carolina. It could result in up to ten years of incarceration. An attorney could argue that force or coercion was not used, or that the alleged victim was not incapacitated.

Assault with Intent to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct

An assault is typically defined as the intentional causing of an imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact. If a person commits an assault with the intent to commit a form of criminal sexual conduct, that person can be punished to the same extent as the intended crime.

Speak with a Sumter County Sex Crimes Attorney

A sex crime charge in Sumter County could have very drastic consequences. A conviction could result in long-term probation, jail or prison time, and a criminal record which can haunt a person for the rest of their life. Luckily, you do not have to face the court alone.

If you are wrongly accused of a sex crime, it is your right to fight to prove your innocence. A Sumter County sex crime attorney can help. Call today to learn more about how a South Carolina sex crime attorney could assist you in your case.