Sexual Assault Lawyers in Alberta

Sexual criminal charges come in various forms in Alberta. Some common charges include sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, child pornography, sexual exploitation, luring a child and incest.

Sexual assault charges are serious, and they require help from an experienced criminal lawyer. The Advocate Law team is highly skilled and knowledgeable in defending against sexual charges. We will provide reliable and cutting-edge legal advice on your next steps and how to best protect your rights.

If you are found guilty of sexual assault, you could face serious consequences, including a criminal record and a jail sentence. Penalties for sexual assaults in Alberta depend on whether the Crown proceeds summarily or prosecutes as an indictment. For a sexual assault summary conviction, if the victim was under 16 years old, you could face a minimum six-month sentence and a maximum of 18 months imprisonment. For a sexual assault by indictment, if the victim was under 16, you could face a minimum one-year prison sentence and a maximum of 10 years in prison. You will also be required to register with the National Sex Offender Registry.

The National Sex Offender Registry is an online database for the RCMP and law enforcement that records information on individuals convicted of sex crimes in Canada. The registry allows law enforcement agencies to monitor convicted sex offenders and search in the database to identify possible suspects in the vicinity of a crime. The registry includes personal information like the offender’s name, offence(s), date of birth, gender, primary residence, employment information and other personal details. The length of time an individual must be registered ranges from 10 years to life and is determined by the Criminal Code.

Sexual assault charges are dropped for many reasons. Sometimes, the charges are settled before the trial. If you are looking to avoid the impact of sexual assault charges, you will need a skilled and experienced criminal defence lawyer. The dedicated team at Advocate Law is committed to defending your sexual assault case and ensuring you receive the best possible outcome.

Sexual Interference is touching, either directly or indirectly, with an object or any part of the accused person’s body, any part of the body of a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose. This offence has a mandatory term of imprisonment attached if you are found guilty. The mandatory term of imprisonment is 90 days if proceeded summarily and one year as an indictable offence.

Invitation to Sexual Touching is a criminal offence. It occurs when a person invites, counsels, or incites someone under 16 years old to touch them with their body or an object for sexual purposes. This offence carries the same mandatory minimum sentence as the offence of sexual interference.

Consent for any sexual activity must be clear, continuous and given willingly. It’s necessary for all sexual acts and is a voluntary agreement. The Criminal Code states that if someone is below a certain age, also referred to as the age of consent, and in consideration of your age or any position of trust, consent cannot exist. A lack of consent can lead to criminal charges.