For those who are currently facing criminal charges for statutory rape or other similar cases, the team at Tyler Allen Law Firm can represent you and your needs.
The firm has handled numerous criminal defense cases and is wholly prepared to defend you and your rights in today’s challenging criminal justice system. Tyler graduated from Arizona State University Law School and was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2009.
Legal Consequences of Statutory Rape in Arizona In Arizona, statutory rape is consensual sexual or oral intercourse with an individual who is below Arizona’s age of consent.
He represents clients in Employment Law, Estate Planning, Criminal Defense, and DUI & Traffic Defense matters.
Dear Reader, We've received more questions about statutory rape concerning age-gap distinctions, so I'll try to answer what I didn't cover in the previous article on statutory rape. Dear Panel, If a minor has sex with a minor – for example: a 17 year guy having sex with a 17 year old girl – is that statutory rape since they are both of "legal" age to have sex?
If you are found guilty, a class six felony, the crime can lead to one year in prison.
Depending on the quality of your defense lawyer and the discretion of the judge, the class six felony may be bumped down to a class 1 misdemeanor.
In addition, the defendant had made reasonable attempts to determine the victim’s age, such as checking a driver’s license.
For example, if John, who is over the age of 18, is prosecuted for breaking Arizona’s age of consent laws, his attorney may be able to use the Mistaken Identity defense if the victim, who is really 15, had told John that she was 18.
A felony charge is a higher criminal charge than a misdemeanor and all felonies are classified into sections ranging from 1 to 6, with one being the most severe.
The exact classification of the felony charge ultimately depends upon the victim’s age, as explained by Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1405.
Defense II: The Mistaken Identity Rule In addition to the Romeo and Juliet defense, your attorney may be able to use the Mistaken Identity Rule if the facts of your case apply.
A mistaken identity defense is when a defense attorney may argue that the defendant was not aware that the victim’s age was lower than the victim had purported.
For those who are charged and convicted under Arizona’s statutory rape law, the consequences are high and severe.