Potential Defences in a Child Sexual Abuse Case

If you have been charged with child sexual abuse, you must seek advice from an experienced criminal lawyer immediately. In a situation where someone has made an allegation of impropriety with a child against you, you need legal representation quickly. Crown counsel will prosecute child sexual abuse charges aggressively, and there is no statute of limitations on sexual offences.

First Step: Say as Little as Possible Without a Lawyer

When you are first questioned about an accusation of child sexual abuse, your natural response would probably be to deny the charges intensely. You might think that if you explain yourself, you can clear up the situation. This is when you need to resist this urge, remain calm, and say nothing other than ask to speak to a lawyer. Detectives are trained to confuse and upset you, and even innocent people can be provoked into saying things that make them look guilty. The prosecution can use anything you say against you, so it’s always better to say as little as possible.

Possible Defences for Child Sexual Abuse Charges

If you are charged with child sexual abuse, your lawyer will build the best possible defence based on the specifics of the prosecution’s case. Possible defences might include:

• Arguing that no child sexual abuse took place. A child may be making a false allegation to get attention or a specific outcome, such as stopping spending time with a non-custodial parent. A child may be influenced by another person, such as a former spouse or partner, to make false allegations. The complainant may have misinterpreted or misunderstood the situation. For the Crown attorney to prove the crime of sexual interference under s. 151 of the Criminal Code, it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused touched someone under 16 “for a sexual purpose.” If the touch was not for a sexual purpose, the Crown has not met its burden of proof for this offence. The accused will be found not guilty.
• Consent. A consent defence cannot be used in a case of sexual contact between an adult and a child, nor can it be used in cases involving a young person under 18 where the accused is in a position of trust or authority over the complainant or the complainant is dependent on the accused. However, the Criminal Code recognizes that sexual contact occurs between young people who are close in age. Suppose the complainant is 12 or 13 years old. If the accused is under 14 and less than two years older than the complainant, the accused may use consent as a legal defence.

Again, every case is unique, and our team will build a defence that achieves the best possible outcome for you. If we cannot get the charges dismissed, we will work hard to get the charges or the sentence reduced.

How an Experienced Ontario Criminal Defence Lawyer Can Help You

When you retain an experienced criminal defence lawyer to represent you on child sexual abuse charges, you have someone who will vigorously defend you. Your lawyer will consider the unique circumstances of your case. These circumstances include the complainant’s background and whether there may be any issues with their credibility. Your lawyer will review available forensic evidence and gather the facts to build a strong defence case.

At Kruse Law Firm, we specialize in criminal defence law. Our lawyers have the knowledge and experience to look for any holes or errors in the case against you. We work aggressively to help you avoid a criminal conviction and minimize the consequences of a criminal charge on your life. Request our free book, Sexual Assault Defence in Ontario: What You Need to Know, and contact us today at 1-800-699-0806 to arrange your free case review.