When people hear the words “sex offender,” it tends to automatically conjure up some dark images -- but the harsh reality is that people can get tagged with a sex offender label in a myriad of ways that they might not expect. Consider, for a moment, the charge of...
Can sex between teenagers lead to a criminal record?
Sex can be confusing enough for teenagers without having to think about the age of consent, your relative ages, and whether your partner is telling the truth about how old they are. Michigan consent laws are not entirely clear-cut. Courts and legal teams continue to...
How can coaches reduce the risk of abuse allegations?
Crimes against children perpetrated by an adult get widespread local, national and even international coverage. When you add in the effect that social media can have, things can soon spiral out of control. It can result in the general public thinking that their...
What does “criminal sexual conduct” mean in Michigan
The term “rape” tends to evoke some very specific imagery in most people’s minds -- but Michigan actually doesn’t have a legal definition of that word. Instead, the term used to describe what people generally think of as rape -- as well as other kinds of sexual...
What does “criminal sexual conduct” mean in Michigan
The term “rape” tends to evoke some very specific imagery in most people’s minds -- but Michigan actually doesn’t have a legal definition of that word. Instead, the term used to describe what people generally think of as rape -- as well as other kinds of sexual...
Do the police need a warrant to search your phone?
You’re facing allegations of digital sex crimes or criminal activity. Maybe the police believe you took illegal explicit pictures and videos, for instance, or perhaps they believe you talked to someone else about sex crimes committed in person. Either way, they think...
Can the police force you to give up your DNA when you’re facing sex offense charges?
Once upon a time, charges for sexual offenses often rested solely on the word of the victim. Absent witnesses or obvious injuries, there often wasn’t any real evidence of a crime. DNA evidence has changed that. DNA molecules contain unique genetic fingerprints for...
Do children make credible witnesses in court?
Learning that you've been accused of molesting a child can be devastating. Your life may instantly be turned upside down based solely on the word of a child (that may or may not have been coached into saying things). Now, you can only wonder just how well that child's...
Determining felonious sexual assault among teens
The common school of thought that many in Bloomfield Hills may adhere to is that sound judgment will all but guarantee that one never has to face an accusation of sexual assault. Yet everyone is subject to lapses in judgment. This is especially true of teens (whose...
Anyone can falsely accuse you of child abuse
Anyone can accuse you of abusing your child, and they do not even have to give their name to do so. Just how easy it is was to make false allegations, was highlighted by a case two years ago against a prominent Black Lives Matter protester. When a high-profile...
