Queens Sexual Assaults

One of the most heinous types of assault is a sexual assault. New York criminal law defines numerous types of sex crimes that are also types of assault. The common element to each tye of sexual assault is that you had some type of sexual contact with another person without that person's consent. While rape is the most commonly known type of sexual assault, under New York Penal Law rape is a very specific type of sexual assault. There are several other types of sexual assault including forcible touching, sexual abuse, criminal sexual act, sexual misconduct, sexual conduct against child, and facilitating a sexual offense with a controlled substance. Because of the seriousness of sexual assault most such sex crimes are classified as felonies punishable by years of incarceration and decades of registration as a sex offender. Because of the consequences of being convicted of sexual assault, as soon as you have been accused of any type of sex crime it is critical that you contact an experienced Queens Sexual Assault Lawyer who will review the facts of your case and aggressively defend you against the charges.

• New York Criminal Lawyer
• N.Y. Criminal Code and New York Assault Lawyer
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault Lawyer
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault in the First Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault in the Second Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault in the Third Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Reckless Assault of a Child
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Reckless Assault of a Child by a Child Day Care Provider
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Aggravated Assault Upon a Person Less Than Eleven
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault with a Dangerous Instrument
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault with a Gun
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault with a Knife
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault at a Bar
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Vehicular Assault in the First Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Aggravated Vehicular Assault
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Gang Assault in the First Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Gang Assault in the Second Degree
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault on a Police Officer
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault on a Firefighter
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault on a Social Worker
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Assault on a Judge
• N.Y. Criminal Code and Queens Sexual Assault

The critical element of any sexual assault is the lack of consent. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.05. Lack of consent means that the other person did not give you permission for the sexual act either because you used physical force or the threat of violence, or because the person was not legally able to consent because of age, mental disability or mental capacity. Most sexual assault crimes have several degrees of seriousness; the more serious the crime, the more severe the punishment upon conviction.

Misdemeanor sex crimes. Forcible touching, sexual misconduct, sexual abuse in the third degree and sexual abuse in the second degree are types of sexual assault that are misdemeanors. You will be charged with forcible touching if you touch another person's intimate parts to receive sexual gratification. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.52. Sexual misconduct occurs if you have sexual intercourse, anal or oral sex with another person without that person's consent. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.20. Sexual abuse in the third degree is the charge you will face if you subject another person to sexual contact without that person's consent. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.55. Sexual abuse in the second degree is the charge you will face if you subject another person to sexual contact and that person is incapable of consenting for any reason other than being less than 17 years old, or that person is less than 14 years old. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.60

Rape. Rape is the charge that you will face if you have sexual intercourse without the consent of the other person. For sexual intercourse to occur there must be penetration, even if only slight. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.00. Rape in the third degree is the least severe rape charge. This will be the charge you face if you engage in sexual intercourse with another person who cannot consent, of if you are at least 21 years old and the other person is less than 17 years old. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.25. If convicted you could be sentenced to up to 4 years in prison. Rape in the second degree would be the charge if you engage in sexual intercourse with someone who is mentally disabled or suffers a mental incapacity. If you are 18 years old or older you would be charged with rape in the second degree if you have sexual intercourse with a person who is 15 years old or younger. Rape in the second degree rape is a class D felony that has a penalty of up to 7 years in prison. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.30. You would have committed rape in the first degree if you forcibly have sexual intercourse with another person, have sexual intercourse with someone who is physically helpless, or have sexual intercourse with someone who is age 11 or younger. If you are at least 18 years old and have sexual intercourse with someone who is less than 13 years old, you can be charged with first degree rape. The penalty for rape in the first degree is up to 25 years in prison. It is a Class B felony.

Criminal sexual act. Criminal sexual act involves having oral or anal sex without the consent of the other person. Oral sex is defined as contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the anus, or the mouth and the vulva or vagina. Anal sex is defined as contact between the penis and the anus. Criminal sexual act in the third degree is the charge you will face if you have oral or anal sex if you are at least 21 years and the other person is under 17 years old, or the other person did not consent due to any other reason. It is a Class E felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.40. You will face a charge of criminal sexual act in the second degree if you are at least 18 years old and you engage in oral or anal sex with a person who is less than 15 years old. Another reason that you could face a charge of criminal sexual act in the second degree is if the other person is incapable of consenting because he or she is mentally disabled or incapacitated. Criminal sexual act in the second degree is a class D felony that has a penalty of up to 7 years in prison. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.45. Criminal sexual act in the first degree is a Class B felony. If convicted, you could end up in prison for up to 25 years. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.50. This will be the charge if you have oral or anal sex by force, with someone not able to consent because he or she is physically helpless, or with someone who is less than 11 years old. This charge will also apply if you are at least 18 years old and the other person is less than 13 years old.

Sexual abuse. Sexual abuse in the first degree is Class D felony. If you forcibly have sexual contact with another person, have sexual contact with a physically helpless person, or with a person who is under 11 years old you would have committed sexual abuse in the first degree. If you are 21 years old or older, you will be charged with sexual abuse in the first degree if the other person is under 13 years old. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.65.

Aggravated sexual abuse. Sexual assault can be committed using your finger or a foreign object. If you stick a foreign object into the vagina, urethra, penis, rectum or anus of someone without that person's consent, you would have committed aggravated sexual abuse in the fourth degree, a Class E felony. If you use your finger and also cause injury, the charge will be aggravated sexual abuse in the fourth degree. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.65-a. Aggravated sexual abuse in the third degree will be the charge if the sexual abuse is by force and you use a foreign object. It will also be the charge if the other person is physically helpless, is less than 11 years old, is mentally incapacitated or is mentally disabled. It is a Class D felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.66. Aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree is the charge if you physically injure someone by inserting your finger into the vagina, urethra, penis, rectum or anus of that person, and you do so by force, or if the other person is physically helpless or is less than 11 years old. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.67. It is a Class C felony with a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree involves injuring someone by inserting a foreign object into the vagina, urethra, penis, rectum or anus of that person, by force or if the other person is physically helpless or less than 11 years old. It is Class B felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.70. The maximum sentence is 25 years in prison.

Sexually assault against minors. Sexual assault against children is particularly outrageous. Under New York law those who commit such crimes are subject to severe penalties. You will be charged with course of sexual conduct against a child if you sexually assault a child who is less than 11 years old at least 2 times in a 3-month period. It is a Class D felony with a possible sentence of up to 7 years in prison. It will also be the charge if you are 18 years old or older and the child is under 13 years old. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.80. Course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree is a much more serious charge. It is a Class B felony. You will face this charge if the sexual assault involves sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, or aggravated sexual conduct with a child. If convicted you could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.75.

Sexual assault using drugs. You can also commit sexual assault against someone if you give drugs to facilitate the sexual conduct. This crime is called facilitating a sex offense with a controlled substance. It is a Class D felony. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.90. You will have committed the crime of sexually motivated felony if the motivation for committing a felony is sexual gratification. N.Y. Pen. Law § 130.91

Being arrested because you are suspected of sexually assaulting someone can be quite a frightening and overwhelming process. The arresting officer will first take you to the local precinct where you will be fingerprinted and photographed. Then you will be taken to Central Booking where you will remain until your arraignment. Within approximately 24 hours of your arrest you will be arraigned. At your arraignment you will learn the exact charges against you. In some cases the charges will be different from what you expected. Based on a review of the evidence the prosecutor may decide to raise or lower the charge, or to add additional charges. At your arraignment you will also learn whether or not bail will be required.

At some point your case may be resolved through plea-bargaining. You and the prosecutor may arrive at a mutually satisfactory compromise that would require you to plead guilty to a lesser crime that would result in a lighter than if you were found guilty of the original sexual assault charge after a trial. Any agreement that you come to with the prosecutor is subject to the approval of the judge.

The sentence for a sexual assault conviction varies based on the classification of the offense. Misdemeanors have the least severe sentences while felonies have much more severe sentences. If you are have one or more prior felony convictions you will be considered a predicate felony offender. Your sentence will be more severe than if you are a first time offender. For purposes of sentencing you will be considered of not having a prior conviction if you have not been convicted of a felony within the prior 10 years. If you have been convicted of a felony within the prior 10 years, you will be classified as a non-violent predicate offender or a violent predicate offender. If you have been convicted of at least 2 felonies you will be labeled a persistent felony offender.

Your criminal background is significant as it can mean the difference between being sentenced to prison or probation. For example, if you are convicted of a Class E felony and you have no prior convictions, the judge has the option of sentencing you to just probation. If you have a prior conviction, the judge will be required to sentence you to at least 1 1/2 years in prison. If you are a persistent felony offender, the minimum sentence is 15-25 years and the maximum sentence is life.

Sex offender registration. There are serious consequences for a sexual assault conviction that go beyond a prison or probation sentence. If you are convicted you will also be required to register as a sex offender. N.Y. Cor. Law § 168. The New York Sex Offender Registration Act requires that a sex offender register for 20 years, or in some case for life. In some cases names on the sex offender registry are made public and easily accessible on the internet. If other residents of your neighborhood learn that you are a sex offender you may be harassed.

Financial consequences. Your sentence may also include the payment of a fine of up to $5,000 and as well as several fees. As part of your sentence you may be ordered to pay restitution to your victim. Generally, the maximum amount of restitution is $10,000 for misdemeanors and $15,000 for felonies. However, the court may increase the amount to more than the statutory limit to cover the amount of the victim's out-of-pocket expenses such as medical bills. If you do not pay a fine, fee or restitution, you may be charged with yet another crime and you could be sent to jail. Furthermore, payment of restitution is often a condition of probation. If you fail to keep up with your payment plan you may be deemed in violation of your probation.

Criminal record. Being convicted of sexual assault will result in you having a criminal record for the rest of your life. Here are a few ways that having a criminal record will impact your life:

• Difficulty in finding a job, as many employers will resist hiring someone with a violent criminal past
• Barred from certain professions such as teaching, childcare, home healthcare and practicing law
• Ineligible for certain government benefits such as welfare and federally-funded housing
• If you are not a citizen you may be subject to deportation under federal law
• Barred from serving on a jury
• Barred from owning a gun

Because of the challenges you will certainly encounter from merely being accused of any type of sexual assault, you should immediately contact an experienced attorney who is familiar with defending people accused of or charged with sex crimes. The staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC has years of experience successfully defending clients in New York criminal courts who are accused of sex crimes, as well as other serious felonies and misdemeanors such as assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, domestic violence, statutory rape, and stalking. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We serve those accused of assault and sex crimes in the following locations:

• Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Long Island
• Manhattan
• Nassau County
• New York City
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Suffolk County
• Westchester County