Sex Crimes Overview

Of all the crimes that a person can be accused of these days, a sex crime is one of the worst. Because of this, District Attorneys’ offices across Massachusetts prosecute these cases aggressively. Anyone charged with a Massachusetts sex offense is at enormous risk of having his or her life completely ruined if a conviction results. The punishments for Massachusetts sex crimes are harsh: Convictions carry up to 20 years in state prison, in addition to lengthy probation, court-ordered GPS monitoring (with an electronic device locked on to your ankle or wrist) and court-ordered psychotherapy. These harsh punishments can include registering for life as a sex offender with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB.)

This severe judicial approach should come as no surprise to anyone: Among both the public and the state Legislature, there exists very little tolerance for sex offenders. The problem though, is this: Accusations of sexual assault can be very complicated. In fact, they reflect one of my favorite sayings in life: “There is always a story behind the story.” Just because someone points an accusing finger at someone, doesn’t necessarily mean that the accused is guilty. Many times the facts aren't entirely clear. Many, many examples exist of people who have been accused of "rape," or “sexual assault,” when in fact they were not guilty of that act. When someone is accused of a Massachusetts sex crime, a talented and experienced sex crimes defense attorney is needed. Calm is needed. Balance is needed. Objectivity is needed.

And legal talent is needed. As a matter of fact, the best way to sum that point up is this: If the question is “What do you do if you’re in a lot of legal trouble?”, the answer is “Get a lot of legal talent.” At the Law Offices of William D. Kickham and Associates, we provide that talent. We know how to safeguard your legal rights and legal interests. We will determine whether your arrest was in any way legally improper. We can determine what if any constitutional issues are raised; we know how to identify any and all weaknesses in both police procedure as well as the prosecution’s legal strategy. Detailed investigation is a key to these types of cases, and we work with some of the best private investigators in the state as well as the country. We know exactly what motions to file to maximize your defense, and strategically when to file them.

The goal of all these efforts and strategies is to convince the District Attorney to either drop the charges, or substantially reduce them, and we have successfully secured these kinds of favorable pre-trial results for many of our clients. If the case does proceed to a jury trial, nothing is left to chance: When our lawyers go to trial, we get results. Our successful track record proves this.

Immediately below are several links to common Massachusetts sex crimes. Click on each of the linked crimes to learn the legal elements of each crime, common legal defenses, and the punishment for each.

• Rape
• Statutory Rape
• Aggravated Rape
• Indecent Assault and Battery
• Indecent Assault & Battery On A Child Under 14
• Indecent Assault & Battery On A Child Over 14
• Indecent Exposure
• Rape Committed By Joint Enterprise
• Open and Gross Lewd and Lascivious Conduct
• Assault With Intent To Commit Rape
• Inducing a Minor into Prostitution
• Failure To Register As A Sex Offender
• Enticing Away Person for Prostitution or Sexual Intercourse
• Dissemination or Possession of Obscene Matter
• Annoying and Accosting A Person Of The Opposite Sex
• Violation of Sex Offender Registration Requirement

Penalties For Sex Crimes In Massachusetts

There is no “one” penalty for all sex crimes, but instead a wide range, depending on the particular offense, and whether or not that offense is a felony or a misdemeanor. As brief examples, though, the crime of rape itself carries a punishment of up to 20 years in state prison, and a second or subsequent conviction of rape can be punished by as much as life in prison. If the alleged rape involved a gun, a conviction calls for a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years. Depending on the circumstances, the punishment for sex crimes involving a minor—even if that minor willingly consented to the sex involved— could be life in prison. On top of all of the potential penalties, of course, is the requirement that a convicted defendant register for life with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registration Board (SORB,) as well as the possibility of lifetime community parole supervision. The offender's name will be forever damaged, and prospects for a “normal” life will be forever altered. Believe it or not, this could all happen, even if the defendant did not legally commit the offense charged. That’s why it is so critically important to choose the right type of Massachusetts sex crimes defense attorney to represent you.

Don’t Make A Serious Mistake: Make The Right Choice For Your Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

If you or someone you care about is facing a charge of rape or sexual assault, you can’t afford to make a mistake in who you hire as your Massachusetts sex crimes defense attorney. These types of criminal charges demand an attorney that has defended these types of cases successfully for many years. Our proven results are among the best in the legal profession in Massachusetts. We know how to very aggressively and successfully defend Massachusetts sex crime charges, and we know how to make sure you are legally protected to the maximum extent possible.

Make the wrong move – hire an attorney who only handles these cases “occasionally,” or hire an attorney based on the lowest fee you’re quoted – and you may find yourself in prison for something you may not be legally guilty of. If you are in this situation right now, you probably have a hundred questions to ask. Call us at Ph.: (781) 320-0062, or Ph.: (617) 285-3600, and we’ll provide you with a free initial consultation. Or click here for a free consultation and we’ll reply to you very promptly. We can help you decide what, legally, you need to do.

If you're in this kind of a legal crisis, things are already bad enough. Take control of this situation, or it will take control of you. Call us at Ph.: (781) 320-0062, or Ph.: (617) 285-3600, and we’ll provide you with a free initial consultation. Or click here for a free consultation. I will personally review the police reports involved, review the incident as you recount it to me, and I'll give you my frank opinion regarding your best legal options. I'll tell you upfront what the weak or strong points are in the prosecution’s case against you, and I’ll tell you how we can help you. I will do all this as part of a free initial consultation, and you’ll be under no obligation from there. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by calling us. The sooner we can stand in front of you as your attorneys, the better off you are going to be.

We appear before all District and Superior Courts in Eastern Massachusetts.

Westwood and Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer William D. Kickham has appeared as a legal analyst on a variety of respected media, including Court TV, Fox News TV-25/Boston, The Boston Herald, WBZ-AM Radio 1030, WCVB-TV5/Boston, Nightside With Dan Rea, Greater Boston With Emily Rooney, Money Matters Radio/Boston, and The Metro Newspaper/Boston. Attorney William D. Kickham is turned to by respected reporters and media organizations in Massachusetts as an authoritative expert in the field of criminal defense law, and the case results he produces for his clients attest to this. Call us today at Ph.: (781) 320-0062, or Ph.: (617) 285-3600, to arrange for a free initial consultation of your case. If the matter is not an emergency, you can email us here for a free initial consult and we will respond to you very promptly.