Defense Attorneys For Ohio Gross Sexual Imposition
Have you been charged with having sexual contact with a nonconsenting individual? This charge, known as gross sexual imposition, is a felony. A gross sexual imposition charge can have a lasting impact on your daily life. Do not waste any time in seeking out aggressive advocacy to protect your future.
At Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima, we understand how devastating a charge for a sex offense can be to a person’s reputation, career and family life. Our experienced Ohio gross sexual imposition defense attorneys are dedicated to not only aggressively fighting against these charges on behalf of our clients, but we are also dedicated to maintaining discreet representation at all times.
What Is Gross Sexual Imposition In Ohio?
The statute (ORC 2907.05) criminalizing gross sexual imposition defines it as having sexual contact with not their spouse, causing another person who is not their spouse to engage in sexual contact or causing two other people to have sexual contact with each other against their will, using one of the following methods:
- Physical force or threats
- Giving the other person drugs or alcohol by force or deception
- The other person was impaired and unable to give consent due to a physical or mental condition or old age
- The other person was under 13 years old
- Knowing the other person was impaired and unable to give consent due to alcohol or drugs administered as part of a medical or dental exam, treatment or surgery
Gross sexual imposition is different than rape in that it involves nonpenetrative touching, not intercourse or oral sex.
Have You Been Falsely Accused Of Gross Sexual Imposition?
More often than not, we find that our clients are being falsely accused or wrongly identified. Many of these allegations involve sexual contact through the use of force, deception or drugs, or through taking advantage of a person’s impaired state of mind. In cases of mistaken identity, we will work closely with private investigators, psychologists and other experts to gather the evidence and witness testimony required to prove innocence.
What Are The Penalties For Gross Sexual Imposition In Ohio?
Gross sexual imposition is a fourth-degree felony. A conviction or guilty plea could lead to probation or up to 18 months in prison. Certain aggravating factors, such as a victim under 13 or the involvement of alcohol or drugs raises the crime to a third-degree felony, which carries a prison term of one to five years.
In addition, you will have to register as a sex offender. Depending on the details of the case, gross sexual imposition is a Tier I or Tier III offense. For a Tier I offense, you would have to register once per year for 15 years. If convicted at the Tier III level, you must register every 90 days for life.
What’s The Difference Between Sexual Imposition And Gross Sexual Imposition?
While these crimes have the same elements – sexual contact against the other person’s will – they occur under different circumstances. Sexual imposition is unwanted sexual contact under these circumstances:
- The other person was older than 13 and younger than 16
- The alleged offender was at least four years older than the other person and was at least 18
- The accused person allegedly knew the other person’s ability to control the offender’s actions was substantially impaired
- The accused person is a mental health professional and allegedly convinced the other person that sexual contact was for treatment
- The sexual contact was done intentionally despite the accused person allegedly knowing it was reckless or offensive
Avoiding GSI Conviction In Ohio
If you are convicted of gross sexual imposition, you could be facing a mandatory prison sentence and required registration as a sex offender. You will also experience difficulties obtaining employment, housing and financial loans. Our criminal defense attorneys will take all steps available to us to have the charges against you dropped. Often, we can do this by challenging the integrity of the evidence against you.
If we cannot have the evidence against you thrown out, we will do everything in our power to minimize the consequences you will face through plea bargaining. Rest assured that we will never accept a negotiated plea unless it is in your best interests.
Contact Our Cincinnati Sexual Imposition Defense Lawyers
When you need a strong defense against any sex crime, contact our Ohio lawyers online or call us at 513-496-0134. Our offices in Cincinnati, Lebanon and Oxford are here to provide you with the aggressive defense and respectful representation you deserve.
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