Third degree sexual assault occurs when a person subjects another to sexual contact without consent. Third degree sexual assault also occurs when there is sexual touching of a person who is incapable of consent. While the more serious crime of first-degree sexual assault requires some type of penetration, third degree sexual assault only requires sexual contact. If you’re facing charges of this nature, do not wait to align yourself with a sex crime attorney from Berry Law. Our proven methods of defense can be applied to your case to have your charges reduced or dropped.
Penalties for Third Degree Sexual Assault in Lincoln
In Nebraska, third degree sexual assault is generally charged as a Class I Misdemeanor and carries a term of up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as required sex offender registry for a term of 15 years.
Third degree sexual assault can also be charged as a felony if the alleged victim is a minor. If the sexual contact causes serious personal injury, it will be charged as second degree sexual assault which is a felony and carries up to 4 years in prison.
Even though third degree sexual assault is a misdemeanor, the charges can greatly affect an individual’s future, as it is a registerable sex offense. Individuals registered as sex offenders are excluded from careers in several lucrative professions.
Don’t let this happen to you. Berry Law can help you fight the charges that have been made against you.
Defense in Lincoln for Charges of Third Degree Sexual Assault
Unlike first degree sexual assault, third degree sexual assault cases often lack physical evidence because they rarely involve DNA. Furthermore, because third degree sexual assault cases are misdemeanors, investigations of these cases are much less extensive than those of first degree sexual assault cases.
An effective sexual assault defense may require an explanation as to what actually happened between the accuser and the accused. Other times, the best strategy is arguing that the government failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant may find that the best defense is arguing that the contact was accidental. In other cases, alibi can be used as a defense.
A good sexual assault attorney will review all of the evidence and develop a strategy based in sound tactics to fight the allegations you’re facing. If you need to fight third degree sexual assault charges, contact our experienced, nationally recognized attorneys at Berry Law.
