Sex Crimes
Oregon Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
Criminal Defense and sex crime attorney Rhett Bernstein is available to practice criminal law anywhere throughout the state of Oregon, including: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties; as well as most municipal courts throughout the Portland Metro area. Call (503) 454-6610 for a free initial case analysis.
The Criminal Defense law firm of Rhett Bernstein employs former prosecutors, former law enforcement officers, and former forensic experts. Rhett Bernstein defends clients throughout the state of Oregon; including Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Washington County, and all Portland-area municipal courts in the following counties and cities:
Being accused of a sex crime is life-changing. Like Murder or Manslaughter, just being accused of a sex crime will change your life. From employment to relationships to the prospect of incarceration to the prospect of having to register as an offender for the rest of your life, this will be one of the most serious threats to your life and wellbeing that you will ever face. It is imperative that you contact an attorney experienced in defending against sex crimes.
Rhett Bernstein has defended against Jessica’s Law, Measure 11, Felony and Misdemeanor sex crime accusations in courts throughout Oregon. Rhett Bernstein was one of the first attorneys to represent a client against a Jessica’s Law accusation in Clackamas County.
Although it may feel hopeless, you may successfully limit the devastating damage of being accused of a sex crime by retaining a sex crime lawyer at the soonest possible time. Doing so allows sex crime lawyer Rhett Bernstein to counter the investigation of law enforcement with your own private investigation and assessments to present to the district attorney’s office. Through interviewing witnesses, investigating physical evidence and building an early defense against the sex crime accusation, attorney Rhett Bernstein has a proven record of defending against all levels of sex crimes throughout Oregon.
Did You Know?
It is a common occurrence for school-aged children to unknowingly commit the crime of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. If a child under the age of 18 uses a digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or digital camera to photograph themselves or their peers in a state of undress or while engaged in a sexual act, they are committing a Measure 11 offense and risk being charged as an adult, subject to minimum mandatory sentencing.
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Sex Crimes are divided into the following charges, from the most serious to the least serious:
| Crime | Mandatory Minimum Sentence |
|---|---|
| Jessica’s Law Sex Offenses | 300 months (25 years) in prison |
| Measure 11 Sex Offenses | 75 to 300 months (7 to 25 years) in prison |
| Felony Sex Crimes/td> | 5 to 20 years in prison |
| Misdemeanor Sex Crimes | 12 months in jail |
Age of Consent
Oregon law states that the age of consent in Oregon is 18 and a person under the age of 18 is not capable of consenting to a sexual act. Additionally, if a victim of a sex crime is considered mentally defective, mentally capacitated, or physically helpless Oregon law also considers them unable to provide consent, regardless of age.
Investigation
Law enforcement officers monitor file sharing sites. When they observe an IP address accessing child pornography, they contact / subpoena the internet service provider (ISP) to see which household uses that IP address. Once they determine who the address belongs to, they apply for a search warrant for the owner’s computer and residence. If child porn is found on the computer, felony charges follow.
Other times, a person discovers child porn on a computer / hard drive of another and then contacts law enforcement. Law enforcement then obtains a warrant to seize and search the computer. Usually charges of encouraging child sexual abuse follow.
Penalties
Imprisonment
Even for sex crime convictions that do not fall under Measure 11.
Mandatory Treatment
A person convicted of a sex crime also will face penalties other than jail or prison. Sex offenders normally are required to undergo treatment either in jail or prison or as a condition of probation.
Sex Offender Registration
Registration as a sex offender requires a person to have his name, address, and information about his crime on file with the registry. Some or all of that information is available to the public, and every state has a sex offender Web site that the public can search. Being placed on a sex offender registry will have serious and possibly life-long consequences to the registrant, making it difficult to find employment and housing.
Call (503) 454-6610 for a Free, No-Obligation Case Evaluation
If you were recently arrested for a sex crime, like Sexual Abuse or Rape, please contact us for a free initial case analysis with Oregon sex crime lawyer Rhett Bernstein. We will listen to everything that happened leading up to, during and after the arrest. We will give you our candid opinion as to the likelihood of prevailing in court.
For these reasons, it’s essential for defendants to secure competent counsel as soon as possible. An experienced criminal defense attorney will thoroughly investigate your case, aid you in asserting any possible defenses, and guide you through the criminal court process. Because sexual assault convictions result in sex offender registration, many of these cases plead to lesser offenses that do not require registration. Obtaining a good plea bargain, if that is the path you choose, will require the assistance of a professional who is familiar with the way cases like yours are handled by the prosecutors and judges in your courthouse.
Legal Disclaimer: Nothing on this site shall be taken as legal advice. For advice on a legal matter, contact attorney Rhett Bernstein immediately for a free, confidential, no obligation consultation.
Criminal Defense attorney Rhett Bernstein is available to practice criminal law anywhere throughout the state of Oregon, including: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties; as well as most municipal courts throughout the Portland Metro area.
