Sexual Battery & Rape Charges

Sexual battery is a serious sex crime. It is defined as unwanted sexual touching, including oral, anal, or vaginal penetration. It is usually referred to as rape but referred to under Florida law as sexual battery. This offense is usually charged as a felony. Penetration with a foreign object may also be classified as sexual battery. Procedures carried out for lawful medical purposes, however, do not constitute sexual battery or rape.

Various sexual battery offenses include the following:

• Statutory rape is a sexual act with a minor under the legal age of 18. Statutory rape charges are brought by the parents of the victim; but in Florida, they can be raised by the state. Charges can be brought against you if you impregnate a girl under the age of 18, even if the girl consents to the sexual act.
• Date rape is an aggressive sexual act between individuals who know each other during a social engagement.
• Spousal rape takes place when one spouse forces the other spouse to have sex without their permission.

If a person is convicted of sexual battery (rape), they would be facing a maximum sentence of life in prison, depending on what disabilities the victim had.

In addition, if a person is convicted of sexual battery, they would be declared a sexual offender and would be forced to comply with sex offender registration laws throughout Florida and the United States. This is why hiring an experienced sex crimes attorney in Miami should be your first priority if you are facing these types of charges.