Statutory rape is a very serious criminal offense in Minnesota. It is defined as the act of a legal adult having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of consent. In Minnesota, the age of consent is 16 years old. For example, if someone 20 years of age has sex with a teenager under 16 years old, they could be charged with statutory rape.
While there are some cases where the statutory rape penalties are not as serious, such as when a person under 16 years old has sex with someone close to their age that is older than the age of consent, there may still be consequences. Nonetheless, the age differential in the state is three years if the victim is under 13 years old and four years if the victim is between the ages of 13 and 16. For the 20-year-old having sex with the 15-year-old, the act is illegal and is defined as statutory rape.
If you have been accused of statutory rape, it is your right to defend yourself against the charges with the help of a Mankato statutory rape lawyer. Even if the age differential is in the acceptable range, you still want an experienced criminal defense attorney your side, advocating for you and showing the facts on your behalf.
There are several different degrees of sexual conduct offenses. Which one you are charged with depends on the circumstances. For instance, first-degree sexual conduct consists of sexual intercourse with an underage individual against their will or by a person in a position of authority. Second-degree sexual conduct may also involve a person of authority. Third-degree sexual conduct may involve a person of authority who is more than four years older than the victim. Fourth-degree sexual conduct may involve an individual in a position of authority, but the victim may be under the age of 18 but older than 16 years of age.
Regardless of the charge, at Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd., our Mankato attorneys present you with valuable sex offense representation that is aggressive, skilled and designed to obtain the best possible result for a statutory rape case.
It is important that a legitimate defense is used in your case. Unfortunately, stating that you did not know the age of the underage individual is not considered a legitimate defense unless there is solid proof that the underage individual tricked you. What is a legitimate defense is the age differential. If it is shown that the age difference is within the acceptable range, then the end result will be much more satisfactory in the case.
What you can count on is receiving a defense from a Mankato attorney who is designed to get the best possible result for you for a statutory rape case. This is so you can put the matter behind you in the best way possible so you can move on with your life.
Statutory rape is an aggressively prosecuted crime in Minnesota, which means the prosecution is not going to hold back in any way when trying to secure a conviction. If you have been charged with statutory rape, it is best to defend your interests and your future with the help of a qualified Mankato statutory rape lawyer. At Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd., we will work with you to defend those interests. Call us today for help.
“This law firm is very experienced, very effective, and yet very personable when interacting with me throughout my nerve-wracking legal process. I’m completely satisfied with the outcome of my case. I would hire the Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office again without hesitation. And, I have since recommended them to several friends and acquaintances.”
– TOM W., CLIENT
