Child molestation is one of the most trivial cases that one might face due to the weight and penalties of the case. Therefore, looking for an attorney with the skills and expertise to prepare a good defense for the child molestation charges becomes necessary. The jury and judge’s emotions are easily inflamed by the nature of the alleged conduct, making it hard to lead the court to a partial and correct decision. The stigma that comes with the charges also is a factor that gets considered throughout the case proceedings, and it affects how the court reacts to the case.
Marshall Defense Firm is a Seattle criminal defense law firm that understands the impact of child molestation allegations on society. Friends, family and everyone might scold the accused, but no matter the evidence, the legal experts don’t judge since they work on your side throughout the process. The Seattle criminal defense law firm lawyers work closely with the accused to develop a functional and practical defense that protects their clients from the profound repercussions of the case, enabling them to have peace of mind away from the public stigmatization.
The degrees of child molestation cases
Child molestation cases vary depending on the nature of the crime, which gets seen in three different degrees. Child molestation occurs when an individual knowingly causes another person to engage in sexual contact with another person younger than sixteen, either touching the sexual or intimate parts. Seattle criminal defense law firm understands all the degrees of child molestations, including the first, second and third. The first degree is where the victim is less than twelve years old, and the defendant is at least three years older than the victim. The second-degree fall where the victim is at least twelve years old but under fourteen years and the defendant is at least three years older than the victim. The third and final degree is where the victim is at least fourteen years old but less than sixteen years and not married to the defendant, who is at least four years older than the victim.
Likely and maximum penalties for child molestations
The different groupings of child molestation cases attract different penalties due to their nature. Seattle criminal defense law firm creates a solid defense to tackle all the pieces of evidence that the prosecution might have to guarantee a win. The first-degree case is known as a class A felony which gets punished by a sentence of up to life imprisonment and a fine of $50,000. The second-degree case gets known as a class B felony which gets punished by up to ten years imprisonment and a fine of $20, 000 whereas the third degree gets treated as class C and receives a punishment of up to five years in prison, $10,000 fine.
Conclusion
Child molestation cases change the life of the accused in so many ways with the potential of making them not have the capability to go back to their previous life. Working with a well-trained and skilled criminal attorney works to the advantage of the accused a great deal.
