Utah Forcible Sexual Abuse Defined
Like other sex crimes committed in Utah, such as aggravated sexual assault or rape, forcible sexual abuse is a felony and can result in prison time ranging from one year to life. Forcible sexual abuse occurs when a person touches the anus, buttocks, or any part of the genitals of another, or touches the breast of a female, or otherwise takes indecent liberties with another who is over the age of 14 years old, and does so without the consent of the victim. An Ogden area prosecutor must prove that the offender also acted with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, or acted with intent to cause substantial emotional or bodily pain to any person. If any of this behavior amounts to rape, object rape, sodomy, or attempted rape or sodomy, then a person has not committed forcible sexual abuse. An Ogden forcible sexual abuse lawyer is able to explain the law for those who are confused.
Defending Forcible Sexual Abuse
Forcible sexual abuse is often a difficult criminal charge to defend without an attorney because the cases are very fact intensive and require an intimate knowledge of sex crime law. These types of cases will often need to go to trial because it is usually one person claiming another person committed the forcible sexual abuse without any other witnesses in the case. If a person tries to handle a forcible sexual abuse case without the aid of an Ogden forcible sexual abuse lawyer, that person may make his situation worse.
A forcible sexual abuse conviction is a second degree felony resulting in a 1 to 15 years prison sentence. If during the commission of the forcible sexual abuse the offender caused serious bodily injury to another, the criminal charge will be a first degree felony resulting in a 15 years to life imprisonment. These are long prison sentences which is why a person facing these charges needs to have an advocate on his side. An Ogden forcible sexual abuse lawyer from Ogden Criminal Defense can be that advocate to help avoid a long prison sentence.
There is Help with a Forcible Sexual Abuse Charge
If you have been charged with a forcible sexual abuse charge, contact one of our Ogden forcible sexual abuse lawyers. A lawyer is standing by to give you a free consultation so call 801.823.1200 for an appointment today.
