Pittsburgh Rape Lawyer

When a one-time bad judgment call or misjudged communication turns into a rape accusation, the consequences can be devastating. You will face bitter condemnation from your friends, coworkers, and neighbors, as well as the risk of many years in prison. It is critical that you hire an experienced defense attorney as early in the process as possible to fight against these highly damaging claims.

Rape Defined

In Pennsylvania, a person commits rape when they have sexual intercourse, and:

• Use force
• Use the threat of force that would prevent resistance by a reasonable person
• The complainant is unconscious or unaware the sexual intercourse is occurring
• The complainant is substantially impaired by alcohol or drugs that the alleged rapist gave them to prevent resistance
• The complainant suffers from a mental disability which renders him or her incapable of consent

The alleged victim can be either male or female. Rape is a felony of the first degree, and you can be sent to prison for up to 20 years. If you gave someone GHB or another date rape drug, you may face up to 10 additional years in prison. If you allegedly raped a child under 13 years old, it is a felony of the first degree and you can be punished with up to 40 years in prison. Extra years will be added to your prison term if the rape injured the child and you could face life imprisonment. You will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. You will face a humiliating situation with many negative repercussions when your spouse, employer, coworkers and friends find out you were charged with a sex offense. You will be stigmatized in your community for many years to come. You will have a criminal record that can negatively affect your ability to get a good job, join the military, obtain certain professional licenses, or be admitted to graduate school.

Consent and Rape

Many rape cases come down to a dispute between the parties involved about whether consent was given or not. You may have honestly believed the sex act was consensual. However, it is possible that someone will make accusations against you afterward and claim they did not consent. The alleged victim may have felt remorse over their participation, or they might feel angry or malicious. Although the charges may be disproved even before your case goes to trial, they can still be stressful and damaging.

Contact a Pittsburgh Rape Lawyer If You Have Been Charged

If you have been charged with rape, your first step should be to immediately hire a lawyer. Don’t talk to the police or prosecutors unless your attorney is with you. When you meet with your Pittsburgh sex crime lawyer, give them as much information as you can about what happened. If the alleged victim’s accusations are the only evidence against you, your position is stronger than it would be if there were additional evidence. Your attorney will analyze their claims for contradictions or obvious falsehoods.