Sexual offenCes

Sexual Offences Criminal Lawyer Langley & Surrey

Sexual Assault

A charge of sexual assault can lead to extremely serious consequences including a significant term of imprisonment. If you are convicted of sexual assault the prosecution will ask for a Sexual Offender Information Registration Act (SORRA) order that will require you to respect the terms of the order for 10-20 years.

This will enable members of the public to look you up and you will live a lifetime with the stigma of being a “sex offender” or “rapist.”

Even if you are not convicted of this offense, without a proper defence, the associated stigma of the alleged accusation could affect your future relationships, your employment and your livelihood.

Consent in sexual assault charges

Consent is the voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question.

Consent is not always understood, and a miscommunication or a mistaken belief of consent could lead to a life-long stigma of being a sexual offender.

In some cases, the accused may truly believe that consent was given; even if after-the-fact the complainant says that it was not. Also, age and relationship of the accused and complainant will affect the issue of consent.

If you have been charged with sexual assault, it is extremely important that you seek legal counsel before speaking to the police. Often people charged with sexual assault are automatically assumed to be guilty, and what you say can be used against you in court.

Having a skilled sexual assault defence lawyer will ensure that you are treated like a human, and properly defended. Everyone has the right to a competent defence, and this absolutely applies to those charged with sexual assault.

Michael Bloom understands that people charged with sexual assault are mistreated by the media and are assumed to be guilty. He will not judge you and will treat you with the respect that you deserve. He will also ensure that the media is properly handled during your case.

Sexual Interference

Sexual interference is defined in the criminal code as touching for a sexual purpose, directly or indirectly, any part of the body of a person under the age of fourteen. If you have been charged with this offense, you face up to 10 years in prison.

The Crown takes all cases involving minors extremely seriously, and will advocate for a significant sentence. Even if you are not convicted, if your case is handled improperly there will be significant consequences for your livelihood, reputation and relationships.

In addition to a SORRA order, you will not be allowed to go to certain places where young people go and will not be able to be around children or young people, including members of your family.

If you have been charged with sexual interference, you need to retain a skilled and thorough criminal defence lawyer. This will give you the best chance of protecting your record, and your reputation.

Child Pornography

Child pornography charges can include possession (having the images on your computer or mobile device), production (taking photos or filming) and distribution. Texting, emailing and posting images can all be considered a form of distribution.

There are minimum sentences associated with these types of charges and the prosecution will fight mercilessly to have you incarcerated for a significant period of time.
In our society, whether you are convicted or not, a charge of child pornography can effect you and your family’s reputation and can significantly effect your employment and livelihood.

If you are facing a child pornography charge you must retain a criminal defence lawyer right away. A skilled criminal defence lawyer will focus on minimizing the impact this charge will have on your life.

Prostitution

If you have been charged with prostitution or a related act, it can be difficult to know where to turn for advice. Prostitution laws in Canada have recently been found unconstitutional, but certain related acts are still prosecuted. The law in this area is ever changing, and this can result in a charge that is no longer constitutional.
Currently, in Canada the following prostitution-related acts are still considered criminal offenses:

• Communicating for purposes of prostitution
• Procurement of individuals to engage in sexual intercourse (e.g., running an escort agency, employing sex workers)
• Contacting an escort service on the Internet for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct or pay-for-play activity
• Living off the avails of prostitution (e.g., pimping)

If you have been charged with one of these acts, it is important that you retain a lawyer who is experienced in this field, and who keeps up to date with Canada’s ever changing prostitution laws.

A prostitution charge can be embarrassing, and an experienced defence lawyer will know how to have the charges dropped or directed out of the public eye.

In some cases, an individual will have the opportunity to avoid the criminal process through a diversion program. If possible, Mr. Bloom would advocate for your eligibility to partake in the diversion process so that you will not get a criminal record.

Criminal defence lawyer, Michael Bloom, understands the stigma you will be facing if charged with a sexual offense. His thorough approach will minimize the effect that this charge can have on your life and will focus on protecting you from a criminal record, as well as protect your reputation by preventing your name from being entered onto any sexual offender registries or databases.

Call (604) 603-5513 or fill out the form on the Contact page to schedule a free consultation with regards to sexual offenses.