If you have been charged with statutory rape in the state of Maryland, the consequences are serious. Statutory rape isn’t officially its own crime in the state of Maryland but there are laws in place regarding the age difference that may lawfully exist for individuals in an intimate relationship. If you have been charged with any type of sex crime, you are facing years in jail and the possibility of a lifetime on the Sex Offender Registry. The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz can represent you if you are facing serious sex crimes in the state of Maryland. Contact our firm today.
Consequences of Statutory Rape in Maryland
While there is no official law regarding statutory rape in Maryland, it is important to note that the age of consent in the state is 15. Additionally, it is important to note that a juvenile who is under the age of 18 can be charged with a third-degree sexual offense if they engage in sexual contact with a victim who is more than 4 years younger. If convicted of a third-degree sex offense, an individual may face 10 years in prison with a sex offender registration requirement for 25 years.
Maryland’s Sex Offender Registry
The state of Maryland takes sexual offenses very seriously. Individuals who are convicted of such offenses may face years or even the rest of their life on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry. The registry is broken into three tiers, depending on the crime. The tiers are broken down as follows:
Tier I
Anyone who has committed a Tier I crime will be required to be on the Sex Offender Registry for 15 years. Crimes that fall into Tier I include sex offenses in the fourth degree, possession of child pornography, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, sexual internet crimes, and visual surveillance for sexual interest.
Tier II
Anyone who has committed a Tier II crime will be subject to 25 years on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry. Tier II crimes include the distribution of child pornography, hiring a minor for prostitution, abduction of a minor for prostitution, operating a house of prostitution, human trafficking, sexual solicitation of a minor, among others.
Tier III
Those who have committed a Tier III crime, which is the most serious sexual crime, will be required to stay on the Sex Offender Registry for life. Some of these crimes include felonies, such as rape, kidnapping, attempted rape, sexual assault, the sale of a minor, incest, and more.
Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz
If you are facing charges of statutory rape or another sexual offense, it is critical that you contact the experienced legal team at the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz as soon as possible. You need a law firm that will thoroughly investigate the matter, explore every legal option, and aggressively defend you and protect your constitutional rights. With so much of your future on the line, you need an attorney that can fight for you while providing the professional legal services you deserve. Contact our firm today.
