You’ve probably heard the term “with intent to…” in legal dramas on TV. The implication is that a defendant did something to a victim, but they were about to do something worse and the only reason they didn’t go through with it is because something (or someone) stopped them. For example, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder, or even Assault with Intent to Commit Armed Robbery are all common examples of crimes that were committed with intent to do something else illegal at the same time.Caution. Don’t confuse intent with attempt. They’re very different in Michigan criminal law.
But what about when it’s a sex crime ‘with intent’?
Under Michigan law there are at least two different types of ‘Assault with Intent’ crimes that are classified as sex crimes. The first is Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Penetration, which refers to assaulting someone with the intention of having forced sexual intercourse with them (people sometimes call this attempted rape). The second is Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Conduct involving Contact, which refers to the attempt to touch someone in a sexual way without their consent.
How can the prosecutor tell what I meant to do?
In order to bring charges of Assault with intent, the prosecutor has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intended to sexually penetrate, or sexually touch someone against their will. However, this is different from attempted Sexual Criminal Conduct, which can make the whole thing a little confusing for people. So how do they do that? The prosecutor will try to prove to the jury that you planned to sexually assault someone. They could claim you threatened the assault, or that you brought “tools” that you planned to use in the assault, or that you were about to commit the assault, but were interrupted. The judge explains intent to the jury this way, “The defendant’s intent may be proved by what she said, what she did, how she did it, or by any other facts and circumstances in evidence.”
This is where your defense attorney comes in!
Defending against allegations of sexual assault, or even planned sexual assault, or attempted sexual assault required skill, finesse, and a thick skin. Each case is different, and each situation will require a lot of preparation and planning by a highly skilled sex crime defense attorney with decades of experience in crafting strong defenses. Whether you’re explaining your innocence, providing an alibi, claiming that the other person consented, or arguing mental incapacity, the way you’ll beat these charges is to hire a top-of-the-line sex crime defense attorney!
The Kronzek Firm has been doing this for over a quarter century!
If you even think there might be a chance you’re going to be arrested for a sex crime, or someone has made an allegation against you, call 866 7NoJail immediately! Our aggressive and experienced sex crime defense attorneys have spent decades helping people from Lansing, Howell, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Midland, Berrien, Port Huron and all over Michigan. We understand how complicated it is to defend against sex crime allegations, and we know what it takes to beat these charges. Contact us at 866 766 5245 today and get the help you need during this dark time.Remember, hiring the right attorney is critical to your freedom.