Fourth-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorneys in Waterford, Michigan

Like second-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves sexual contact rather than penetration. In addition, it is a less severe offense known as a 2-year felony or “high misdemeanor”.  If you are facing such charges, an experienced Waterford & Clarkston fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct lawyer at Clarkston Legal can assist.

To establish CSC 4th, the prosecutor must prove an incident of sexual contact as well as one of the following circumstances:

• the victim is older than 13 but younger than 16 and the accused is more than 5-years older than the victim;

• force or coercion is used to accomplish the sexual contact;

• force or coercion is broadly defined in the statute to include many circumstances such as threats of future force, medical treatment, or surprise;

• the accused knows or should have known that the victim is mentally incapacitated, incapable or physically helpless;

• the accused is related to the victim by blood or affinity of the at least the third degree;

• the accused is a mental health professional and the victim was a client or patient of the accused within two years of the sexual contact;

• the victim is at least 16 but less than 18-years old, a student at school, and the accused is a teacher or administrator at the school.

If convicted, the sentencing judge cannot imprison the defendant for more than 2 years. Unlike the other, more serious degrees of criminal sexual conduct, CSC 4th includes probation within the range of punishment.

Call a Waterford & Clarkston Sex Crimes Lawyer Today

If you are facing fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, an experienced Waterford & Clarkston sex crimes lawyer at Clarkston Legal can help. Call today for a free initial consultation.