Indecent Liberties and Need of Washington Indecent Liberties Defense Attorney

The offense of “indecent liberties,” as Washington state law defines it, covers a wide range of alleged acts. The common factor of most of the acts covered by this statute involves an alleged victim who is at a disadvantage to the defendant. A significant portion of a prosecutor’s case for indecent liberties requires proof that the defendant knew of and exploited this advantage. A person accused of indecent liberties should understand the elements that prosecutors must prove, and an experienced southwest Washington indecent liberties defense attorney can help defend you against these charges.

Types of Indecent Liberties

The offense of indecent liberties covers conduct in three categories: disability of the alleged victim, authority over the alleged victim, and certain examples of “forcible compulsion.” The statute only applies to situations where the defendant and the alleged victim are not married to one another, and it only covers alleged instances of “sexual contact” defined as touching of someone’s genitals or other “intimate parts” for the purpose of sexual gratification. This does not include sexual intercourse or other acts involving penetration, which are covered by stricter statutes.

Disability of Alleged Victim

According to the statute, a person commits the offense of indecent liberties if they engage in sexual contact with a person who cannot consent to the activity because of one or more of the following:

*  Mental defect, meaning the person has a persistent condition that prevents them from understanding the nature of the conduct and agreeing to it;

*  Mental incapacity, meaning that, at the time of the alleged sexual contact, the person has a condition preventing them from understanding the activity; or

*  Physical helplessness, meaning that the person cannot communicate consent, or the lack thereof, for reasons such as a lack of consciousness.

Authority Over Alleged Victim

This category of alleged offenses covers situations where a defendant, rather than using force or the threat of force, uses the authority associated with a supervisory position to threaten an alleged victim. This may include:

*  A person who works for a care facility for the developmentally disabled, and one of the patients or residents of that facility;

*  A person who transports people with developmental disabilities to or from said facilities, and a passenger;

*  A healthcare provider, such as a doctor or therapist, and a patient;

*  A staff member of a residential treatment facility for chemical dependencies or mental disorders, and a resident;

*  A person who provides elder or disabled care, and an adult under their care who lacks the ability to provide for his or her daily needs.

Forcible Compulsion

The statute also includes certain instances where a defendant is accused of compelling a person, who is not the defendant’s spouse, to engage in sexual contact through physical force, the threat of physical force, or the threat of kidnapping.

Defenses to Indecent Liberties

The statute allows two defenses to prosecution for specific alleged acts:

*  In a case that depends on proof of the alleged victim’s incapacity or helplessness, a defendant may present a defense, by a preponderance of the evidence, of a reasonable belief, at the time of the offense, that the alleged victim was not impaired.

*  Health care providers may present an affirmative defense that: 1) the alleged victim consented to sexual contact, and 2) that the alleged victim knew and understood that the sexual contact was not part of the treatment.

If you have been charged with an alleged sex crime in Vancouver or elsewhere in southwestern Washington, an experienced indecent liberties defense attorney can help.

FREE CONSULTATION With Washington Indecent Liberties Defense Attorney:

The Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer will fight to ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome in your court case. Call attorney Erin Bradley McAleer today at (360) 334-6277 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Washington Attorney Erin Bradley McAleer represents clients throughout Southwest Washington State, including in Clark County, Cowlitz County, and Skamania County and Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Washougal, Woodland, Yacolt, Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, North Bonneville, and Stevenson. Attorney Erin Bradley McAleer focuses on the areas of Criminal Defense, Traffic Infractions, Landlord Tenant, Personal Injury, Firearm Rights Restoration, and Post-Conviction Relief (Vacating & Sealing Criminal Records).