Investigations for felony charges can result in a variety of difficult consequences for the accused. People can be subject to unwanted media attention, face problems at work, spend time in jail and have restrictions placed on their daily lives as soon as charges are brought. These initial punishments can place a burden on a person's life. However, they do not mean that a person is guilty of a crime or that the person will eventually be found guilty. One area that often creates serious immediate consequences is with sex crimes. Aggressive prosecution can lead to immediate problems for the accused, especially if people do not take affirmative steps to protect their rights from the beginning of a case.
Recently, a 47-year-old man has been charged with robbery in the third degree, aggravated identity theft and rape in the first degree. According to police, the man is accused of raping a 20-year-old woman in Portland. The police say they were called by the woman who claimed to have been raped near the Steel Bridge in March. Following the rape, police claim that the man stole the woman bank cards.
In this case, the defendant is already a registered sex offender. People with criminal records can face unfair treatment and blame from police and other investigators. Police may look first to those with a criminal history when trying to solve a new crime. Furthermore, those with previous convictions can face harsher penalties - including longer prison sentences and larger fines - when they face additional charges.
In any case, people have the right to a proper criminal defense. Even when people have a prior criminal record and have been arrested again, those people have the right to defend themselves. They have options - including challenging police evidence and conduct - to reduce the charges or the potential penalties.
Source: KOIN, "Sex offender arrested for alleged Portland rape," April 18, 2014
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