When someone oversteps boundaries or misinterprets another’s signals, they could face charges of sexual imposition in Athens. This is a serious criminal matter and you must take this charge seriously.
I am an experienced sex crime defense attorney and have represented people charged with sexual offenses for decades, including college students. Contact me if you or your child was charged with sex imposition and we will work on the proper defense so that it does not ruin your future.
Ohio Revised Code § 2907.06 says sexual imposition is having sexual contact with someone other than their spouse when the offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive, or is reckless about obtaining consent. Ohio Revised Code § 2907.01 defines sexual contact as touching another person’s “erogenous zone,” which includes the thigh, genitals, buttocks, pubic region, and female breasts.
More simply, sexual imposition is touching another person in a sexual manner when you know the other person will find it offensive. The intent of the touching must be sexual arousal or gratification of either person.
Sexual imposition charges may be brought anytime someone is inappropriately grabbed, slapped, or touched. The lines often get blurred when it happens between teenagers or young adults, usually when two people are sharing a bed or couch, dancing, or making out in a dorm room, car, or at a party.
Sometimes an accused feels that the charge results from a miscommunication or hurt feelings, and they believe they can explain their way out of it. Trying to do so is unwise. Instead, contact my Athens law office to discuss how to respond to a pending sexual imposition charges.
Sexual imposition is a 3rd degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in the county jail and up to a $500 fine. In addition to possible jail time and a fine, a conviction carries a Tier 1 Sex Offender Registration requirement.
If you are convicted of sexual imposition, you will be required to register as a sex offender with local law enforcement for 15 years. Every year, you must go to your local sheriffs office and confirm your identity, your current address, and your current employer. Although your neighbors will not be notified, all the information on the sex offender registry is open to the public if they search for it and will likely impact your ability to get employment, housing, and credit.
A guilty plea is the same as a conviction, so always plead not guilty to a charge at arraignment. If you contact me as soon as you are arrested I can represent you and enter your plea at arraignment. Otherwise, contact my Athens office as soon as possible so that we can begin preparing a robust defense to the sexual imposition charge.
When defending an accusation of sexual imposition, I could argue that the touching was not for the purpose of sexual gratification. If that is not a viable defense, I could focus on the idea that the touching occurred with consent.
I can also challenge the sufficiency of the prosecutor’s evidence, as there must be some evidence corroborating the alleged victim’s complaint. As a skilled litigator with special expertise in forensics, I can attack a prosecutor’s evidence and defeat the sexual imposition charge.
The most important thing you can do when facing sexual imposition charges in Athens is to say nothing about the situation to anybody except myself. That means that if you learn that you are being investigated, do not speak to the investigators without me present. If you are arrested, tell the officers that you are invoking your right to remain silent and contact me immediately.
The prosecution will closely examine your social media accounts, and anything posted there about the incident or the alleged victim can be used against you. If you have already posted about the incident or alleged victim, stop doing so immediately. Never contact the alleged victim unless your attorney directs you to do so!
The situations that give rise to a sexual imposition charge often seem minor to the accused offender. You might feel like the incident was not a big deal and the consequences will not be either, but this is not the case.
Sexual imposition is a criminal offense and a conviction requires you to register as a sex offender, so it is important that we work on a proper defense. Invest in your future by hiring me to defend you against charges of sexual imposition in Athens.