Sexual Assault and Rape Defense Attorney for University of Maryland Students
College is supposed to be the most fun time of your life, an experience where you meet lifelong friends and transition from a child to an adult. While students might experience some stress related to keeping their grades up and acing that final exam, no college student contemplates the idea of their college experience being wrecked by accusations of sexual assault and rape levied against them. These kinds of charges can not only end your academic career but also leave you facing severe criminal penalties including long jail sentences. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, our University of Maryland sexual assault and rape defense attorneys have years of experience successfully defending our clients against these charges and bringing their cases to positive resolutions. For a free consultation, call us today at (410) 431-0911.
Sexual Assault Crimes in Maryland
Under Maryland law, sexual assault crimes are known as “sexual offenses.” There are four levels of the sexual offense charge in Maryland. A first-degree sexual offense charge is brought when there is an allegation of sexual assault in some other way than vaginal intercourse. For example, forced anal sex or oral sex would be charged under this crime. The assault must be committed using force, whether your own strength or through use of a deadly weapon.
Second-degree sexual offense is often charged when the individual alleged to have been assaulted was mentally disabled, while third-degree sexual assault is often charged for statutory rape, when the sex was consensual but one of the parties was considered too young by law to consent. Fourth-degree sexual offense is often used to prosecute sexual misconduct by teachers against their minor students. Because the penalties get more severe as you go up from fourth to first-degree charges, prosecutors often are willing to downgrade a first-degree offense to one of the less serious charges as part of a plea deal.
Rape Crimes in Maryland
The most serious sexual crime in the state of Maryland is the charge of rape. First-degree rape occurs when the assailant performs vaginal intercourse on the victim without their consent. In the course of the attack, the assailant must use a weapon, strangulation, death threats, help from another assailant, injure the victim, or commit the crime during a burglary in order for first-degree rape charges to apply.
Second-degree rape covers all other forms of non-consensual vaginal intercourse that occur either with our without the use of violent force. This charge also covers forms of date rape where the victim is unknowingly given drugs by the perpetrator in order to make them more susceptible to the attack. Any rape charge is extremely serious and you should not appear in court to face one without an experienced rape defense lawyer like those at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at your side fighting for your rights.
Criminal Penalties for Sexual Offense and Rape by UMD Students
The criminal penalties for sexual offenses in Maryland are extremely severe, as these crimes are among the most serious in the eyes of law enforcement and prosecutors. Below, we list the potential criminal consequences you could face for each level of each charge.
First-Degree Sexual Offense
- Felony
- Up to life in prison
- If the victim is under 16, maximum is life in prison without the possibility of parole
- If the victim is under 13, minimum of 25 years in prison and maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole Other Penalties for Rape and Sexual Assault at Johns Hopkins
Second-Degree Sexual Offense
- Felony conviction
- Jail time up to 20 years
Third-Degree Sexual Offense
- Felony offense
- Prison up to 10 years
Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense
- Misdemeanor offense
- Prison up to a year
- Fines up to $1,000
Rape in the First Degree
- Felony conviction
- Up to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole
- Minimum 25 years in prison if you commit this crime as an adult against a victim under the age of 13
Rape in the Second Degree
- Felony conviction
- Prison term of up to 20 years
- If you are over 18 and victim is under 13, minimum 15 years in prison and maximum of life in prison.
Other Consequences for University of Maryland Students Accused of Rape or Sexual Assault
If you are convicted of a sexual crime like the ones discussed in the sections above, your punishment will not end when you are released from jail. Under provisions of Megan’s Law, you will be required to register as a sex offender with your local police department. Depending on the severity of the crime of which you have been convicted, you may be required to register for anywhere from 15 years to the rest of your life. Registering means your name and picture will appear on a website along with the crime you have been convicted of for all your friends, neighbors, and potential employers to see.
Students at the University of Maryland are also subject to disciplinary proceedings for a sexual assault that occurred on campus. These proceedings are entirely different from the criminal proceedings and can result in your expulsion from the University of Maryland if the charges are found to be true. You do not have to be convicted of a crime in state court for the university to adjudicate you guilty and take away your rights. An experienced University of Maryland sexual assault and rape defense attorney like those at Rice, Murtha & Psoras can appear with you at both your school proceedings and any criminal proceedings.
Our Sexual Assault and Rape Defense Attorney for University of Maryland Students Can Help You
Sexual crimes are taken very seriously by the authorities, especially when they occur to young people on college campuses. If convicted of one of these charges, you could go to jail for many years and face a lifetime on the sex offender registry when you are released. Even if you are not convicted, your university can kick you out. You need an aggressive University of Maryland sexual assault and rape defense attorney like those at Rice, Murtha & Psoras on your side telling your story and working to bring the matter to the most positive resolution possible. For a free consultation, call our office today at (410) 431-0911.