The law of sexual assault in Canada is complex and constantly changing. There are several stages of the prosecution of a sexual offence that require important decisions on the part of the accused that you should not make without the guidance of experienced counsel.
When you are initially charged with a sexual offence, there will be bail considerations and an opportunity for negotiations with the Crown. Ultimately, if you are not guilty, you may end up having to go to trial.
An experienced lawyer will help you decide in which level of court your particular sexual offence case should be heard, in order to provide the best chances for an acquittal. Depending on the age and relationship to you of the complainant, a preliminary inquiry may or may not be fruitful. There are a wide range of highly technical procedures available to the Crown that a good lawyer knows how to anticipate and oppose.
At the preliminary inquiry stage, you want a lawyer with experience applying for witnesses to be compelled to submit to cross examination, and opposing other evidentiary motions.
At the trial stage, you want a lawyer with experience making third-party records applications, making prior sexual history applications, challenging the admissibility of confessions, cross examination, and most importantly, a lawyer who is very familiar with the unique nuances between the elements of different sexual offences. Depending on which sexual offence you are charged with, there may be subtle defences available to you based on your actions and/or intentions.
If you are guilty and want to take responsibility for your charges, you will need a lawyer who is current on the recent and continuing developments in the sentencing law of sexual offences. The aggravating factors that may increase your sentence for a sexual offence can be misunderstood and misused by Crown. You need a lawyer who can protect you from any such injustice and highlight any mitigating factors in your case to the court. There are also special sentencing considerations for sexual offences that you don’t face for any other type of crime, especially if the complainant is a youth. There are mandatory minimum jail sentences in some cases, and you could face very strict conditions for up to life. You need a lawyer who has experience with these procedures to help you navigate the system if you want to plead guilty in order to secure the best possible sentence.
Regardless of whether you are guilty or innocent, if you are charged with a sexual offence including but not limited to sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, possession or distribution of child pornography, luring children, indecent exposure, voyeurism, human trafficking, or incest, you need an experienced lawyer with an expertise in this area of law to ensure you have the best opportunity for a good result.
If you have been charged with or are being investigated for a sexual offence, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
