ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Sexual Assault & Rape Defense | Haskell & Dyer
An Accusation Is Not Proof. The State Has to Prove Every Element.
These are the most serious sex offense charges, and they often turn on consent and credibility. We investigate thoroughly, test the evidence, and hold the State to its burden of proving every element beyond a reasonable doubt.
If You're Under Investigation
Say nothing to police or the accuser. Call a lawyer first.
People accused of these offenses often want to explain or smooth things over, especially with someone they know. Anything you say, to police or to the accuser, can become evidence. With a felony conviction and registration on the line, the most important step is to stay silent and have a lawyer at your side before any contact.
Where These Cases Are Decided
Consent and Credibility
Many of these cases come down to two questions, and both are places where a real defense can be built.
The Central Issue
Consent
When the encounter is not disputed but consent is, the case turns on what the State can actually prove about it. We examine the full context, the communications, and the evidence around that question.
The Other Half
Credibility
These cases often rest heavily on accounts rather than physical proof. We test consistency, timing, motive, and the reliability of how the allegation was made and investigated.
What's at Stake
Among the Most Severe Charges in Maryland
A conviction carries consequences that reach far beyond a prison sentence.
Felony
A serious felony conviction on your record
Prison
Lengthy incarceration on a conviction
Registry
Sex offender registration, often for life
Reputation
Lasting harm to work, family, and standing
How We Defend a Sexual Assault or Rape Charge
We do not take the State's version at face value. We investigate independently and hold the prosecution to its burden on every element.
We Investigate Independently
We gather communications, witnesses, and timelines ourselves rather than relying on the State's account of events.
We Test the Evidence
Forensic results, the exam, and the chain of custody all have to hold up. We bring in experts to scrutinize the science.
We Address Consent
Where consent is the issue, we develop the full context and press on what the State can actually prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
We Protect Your Rights
Improper questioning, unlawful searches, and procedural errors can shape the case. We find them and move to exclude that evidence.
Common Questions
Sexual Assault & Rape Charges, Answered
It's my word against the accuser's. Can the State still charge me?
Yes. The State can bring charges based largely on an accuser's account, without physical evidence. But it still has to prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, and credibility, consistency, and motive are all open to challenge. A case that rests on one account is a case that can be tested hard.
The encounter was consensual. How is this a crime?
When the contact is not disputed, consent often becomes the central issue. The State has to prove the absence of consent beyond a reasonable doubt. We develop the full context, including communications and circumstances, and press on whether the State can actually meet that burden.
Should I reach out to the accuser to clear things up?
No. Contacting the accuser can lead to new charges and can hand the State evidence, even when you mean well. It can also violate conditions of release. Do not make contact. Let your lawyer handle all communication through proper channels.
Will a conviction mean I have to register?
Many sexual assault and rape convictions carry sex offender registration, often for many years or life. That consequence is one of the most serious parts of these cases, and it is a major reason the defense fights so hard on the charge itself from the very start.
What should I do if I'm being investigated?
Say nothing to police or the accuser and call a lawyer immediately. These cases are often built before charges are even filed, and what you say early can shape everything. The sooner a defense begins, the more can be done to protect you and to investigate while the evidence is fresh.
Accused of Sexual Assault or Rape? Get a Serious Defense Now.
These charges demand an immediate, thorough defense, and everything you tell us stays confidential. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on how we challenge the State's case. The first conversation is free.
Under investigation or arrested? Call our 24/7 line now: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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