A Happy Valley pastor is in hot water after being taken into custody for alleged sex crimes. Police claim the 64-year-old man, who co-founded the North Clackamas Bible Community, committed three acts of unlawful sexual penetration. Each offense is a Class A felony charge, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years and four months behind bars. Without a strong criminal defense, this man's life may be turned upside down.
Sex crimes are taken very seriously in Oregon and are often aggressively prosecuted. The state often seeks to impose the harshest penalties on accused individuals, which can leave an accused individual afraid of what is to come. Indeed, those facing sex crime allegations have a lot to lose. Mere accusations can damage an individual's reputation, and a criminal conviction can result in a lengthy prison sentence, sex offender registry, and a criminal record that may affect an individual's ability to find work and housing.
With so much to lose, those facing such charges should seek to develop an aggressive, unrelenting criminal defense. An attorney is often helpful throughout the process, gathering supporting evidence, scrutinizing adverse witness claims, and assessing applicable case and statutory law. By forcing the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a relatively high bar, a criminal defendant stands a chance at avoiding devastating penalties and reclaiming his or her life.
A criminal defense should begin as soon as possible, even when an individual learns that an investigation has begun. That way, if and when serious charges are levied against him or her, he or she will not be taken by surprise, and he or she will be ready to face the allegations head-on.
Source: The Oregonian, "Happy Valley pastor facing sex-crime charges," Rick Bella, June 23, 2014
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