My first experience at defending an individual accused of date rape occurred very early on in my career. I was retained by a family to defend the star quarterback of a high school football team in Miami. The quarterback didn’t know that a particular cheerleader had a crush on him. One night they were both at the same party and the cheerleader ended up being driven home by the quarterback. They had consensual sex and when the cheerleader got home an hour and a half past her curfew, when her parents told her she would be grounded for the next few weeks, she told her mom and dad she had been raped by the quarterback. The star quarterback was charged with sexual battery, his career was put on hold, his scholarship opportunities evaporated, and he was put in jeopardy of losing his liberty.
Of course date rape can also take the form of nonconsensual sexual activity between two people that have had a previous relationship. Also date rape can include the use of narcotics, intoxicating substances, or anesthetics that can hinder a person’s mood and behavior and alters their ability to give a knowing and voluntary consent to a sexual act. Whether the date rape accusation is to cover up a consensual sexual act or the date rape charge stems from a more sinister motive, the sexual battery charge one faces after this type of accusation are extremely severe consequences of one of the most severe crimes in Florida. The punishment for this type of crime could be up to 30 years in Florida state prison.
The star quarterback was eventually found not guilty by a jury of his peers. His family had to spend a small fortune proving his innocence. His life was put on hold. His reputation was damaged and his college career was delayed by two years. If you believe you are about to be charged with a date rape crime or you are actually charged with a date rape crime, it is imperative that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. The earlier you hire an attorney, the sooner a strong defense can be built against the date rape accusations. The defense will include the examination of any physical evidence or lack thereof of a crime, the historical relationship between the principals involved, the motive of the complaining witness – just to name a few of the issues a criminal defense attorney will focus on immediately. A conviction for a sexual battery crime will have a devastating effect on your freedom, your reputation and any job opportunities that you would be looking forward to. Call an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately.
If you have been charged with violating Florida laws, contact The Law Offices of Yale L. Galanter, P.A., a Miami Criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience. The Law Offices of Yale L. Galanter, P.A. have helped countless clients avoid jail time, lessen their charges, or even have their charges dropped entirely. The Law Offices of Yale L. Galanter, P.A. is experienced in:
Commentary by Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer Yale Galanter:
Yale Galanter, a Miami criminal defense lawyer, has over 30 years of experience providing discreet and aggressive legal counseling to both public figures and clients looking for precise and excellent legal defense. Yale Galanter is known for his personal representation and attention to your criminal matter.
If you find yourself facing a charge of sexual assault or domestic abuse, you do not have to face this alone. Contact an experienced sexual assault attorney, call The Law Offices of Yale L. Galanter, P.A. at (305)576-0244 or (954)524-6600, or visit galanterlaw.com.