Few things enrage the public more than sexual abuse of a minor. This is why Arizona law enforcement and state prosecutors aggressively prosecute those accused of such crimes. Not all allegations of such crimes, however, are as straightforward as they seem. Children sometimes lie or confuse fantasy with reality. Having an attorney who can put a situation into its broader context is crucial for defendants facing sexual abuse charges. Phoenix defense lawyer Bretton Barber aggressively protects the rights of the accused and recognizes that everyone is entitled to their day in Court. Contact our office today.
Arizona defense attorney representing those accused of molestation or sexual abuse
Sexual molestation occurs when one purposefully or knowingly engages in sexual intercourse or has oral sex with a minor or a person under the age of 18. Also, inappropriate touching of a child’s breasts may result in charges of sexual abuse. Charges will, in part, be determined by the particular conduct as well as the child’s age. A class two felony will be charged for the abuse of any child less than fifteen years of age. If the child was between fifteen and eighteen then a class six felony case will be filed. Enhanced charges will automatically be filed if the accused was a foster parent, legal guardian, church leader, or school educator.
Bretton defends the rights of the accused when such charges have been filed by the state of Arizona. He will immediately analyze all interviews conducted by the police and will file the appropriate motions requesting that any unlawfully obtained statements be kept out of court. If physical evidence related to the case was obtained by the police then, if feasible, Bretton will file for exclusion due to Fourth Amendment violations. He will interview any relevant witnesses to gain a full picture of what happened and to ensure that the jury hears all of the facts and not just those presented by prosecutors. Bretton fully understand that your future is in the balance and will give your case the attention it deserves. Contact our office today. In addition to Phoenix we represent defendants in other Maricopa County cities such as Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert. We also assist Pima County residents in Tucson.
Arizona attorney defending those accused of statutory rape
Arizona differs in many other states in regards to how it handles statutory rape. In most jurisdictions it is treated as a “strict liability” crime. This means the intent or knowledge of the accused is not considered when guilt is being determined. In Arizona, by contrast, it is not considered statutory rape if the victim is 15-17 years old and the accused did not know the victim was underage. This difference in our state’s laws creates a situation where guilt is disputed at trial. Having an attorney who understands this distinction is important. We are ready to assist you.
