Rape is one of the most serious offenses a person can face charges for in Missouri and Illinois. A conviction can significantly disrupt the rest of your life with a lengthy prison sentence and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Sex offenders have limitations on where they can live, work, and spend time and may be ostracized by their friends, family, and community.
If you are facing rape charges, it’s vital that you seek the legal assistance of a skilled sex crime defense attorney. Contact Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. for a free phone consultation with a member of our legal team. We’ll review your case, explain the charges and penalties you’re facing, and determine what defenses we could use to beat or reduce the charges and penalties.
Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C.’s lawyers have over 50 years of combined trial experience and have handled over 25,000 criminal cases. Our diverse team of legal professionals includes a former prosecutor and a former military attorney. No matter what charges you are facing, our legal team has the experience, knowledge, and skills to assist.
Our lawyers have been recognized in Super Lawyers Magazine as top criminal defense lawyers in St. Louis, and we have been awarded the highest rating, AV, by Martindale-Hubbell. Our firm also routinely receives five-star reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients, which we encourage you to read.
In Missouri, there are four distinct rape charges an individual can face. All rape charges in the state can lead to years in prison and registration as a sex offender, which is why it’s essential to work with an experienced defense lawyer. Missouri’s rape charges are:
The penalties for rape depend on whether the offense was charged as a first or second-degree rape, regardless of whether or not it was statutory. Penalties you could face if convicted of a rape offense in Missouri include:
RSMo 566.125 defines a “persistent sexual offender” as someone who has previously been found guilty of committing or attempting to commit a sexual offense. Persistent sexual offenders face imprisonment for life without the eligibility for probation or parole. The statute continues on to define “imprisonment for life” as imprisonment for the duration of the person’s natural life.
In Illinois, criminal sexual assault is the term used for charges formerly known as rape. The state has three distinct criminal sexual assault charges that each come with lengthy prison sentences and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Criminal sexual assault charges you could face are:
The penalties for criminal sexual assault in Illinois are severe and can result in decades of imprisonment for those convicted. Criminal sexual assault charges are all either Class X or Class 1 felonies, the two most serious classifications:
Rape and criminal sexual assault charges are extremely serious. For this reason, it’s essential that you work with a skilled sex crime defense lawyer who can help you build a strong case for your innocence.
One of the most commonly used defenses in these cases is that the alleged victim consented to the sexual activity. Our attorneys may be able to demonstrate that this was the case through text messages between you and your accuser, eyewitness testimony, and other types of physical evidence.
You may also be the victim of a false accusation for various reasons. If the prosecution’s case relies heavily on the testimony of your accuser, our lawyers may be able to poke holes in the accuser’s credibility by pointing out inconsistencies in their statements. We may also be able to provide evidence of your innocence, such as an alibi.
Our lawyers can also help defend you by working to suppress evidence the prosecution plans to use. For example, if the police collected evidence through an illegal search and seizure, that may violate your Fourth Amendment rights, making the evidence inadmissible in court. Additionally, if the prosecutors plan to use DNA evidence against you, we may be able to call the chain of custody of that evidence into question.
If you are facing rape or criminal sexual assault charges in Missouri or Illinois, contact Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. at (314) 725-7777 for a free phone consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. During your initial consultation, we’ll review your case, explain the charges and penalties you’re facing, and go over some of the possible defenses.
