If you or someone you know is facing a
Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct ("CSC") charge, there is something you should know. Having the right
Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorney can make all the difference in your case. We've all known men and
women in our community who have a reputation for...shall we say...gaining
a high number of sex partners in a short time.
But every so often, one of these folks becomes the accuser and leaves someone facing a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct charge and looking at years in Prison. If your life is on the line, shouldn't you have the right to let a Jury know that this person claiming you took advantage of them is one of those people who frequently has sex with random partners? One would think "yes," since most people convicted of Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct crimes go to Prison.
But the Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct laws basically say: "Maybe, but probably not." Like many states, Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct laws include what is commonly called a Rape Shield Law, MCL 750.520j, entitled Evidence of Victim's Sexual Conduct, which states:
- "Evidence of specific instances of the victim's sexual conduct, opinion evidence of the victim's sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the victim's sexual conduct shall not be admitted under sections 520b to 520g unless and only to the extent that the judge finds that the following proposed evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not outweigh its probative value:
- Evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct with the actor.
- Evidence of specific instances of sexual activity showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease.
This means that even if you are being accused of Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct by an extremely promiscuous person who sleeps around with everyone in town, you can only offer evidence that they've had past sex with you (not anyone else), or else to show that someone other than you was the source of semen, pregnancy, or disease that was found in the alleged victim. And you can only do this if the Judge decides it's important enough in your Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct case. Plus, the normal rule is that if a Prosecutor wants to use your past alleged conduct against you, they only have to notify you slightly before Trial. But in this Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct scenario, you're expected to notify them well in advance. It's just one example of how the Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct laws are.
As a Michigan CSC Defense Lawyer, we know how to get around this in the right cases. As it turns out, there is an exception to the above Rape Shield law when your accuser has made false accusations of Sexual Assault / Sexual Abuse in the past. If this can be shown, according to our appeals Courts, the Michigan Rape Shield law must take a back-seat and you may be allowed to show your accuser's past alleged sexual behavior to attack their credibility. A top CSC Attorney knows that winning is all about attacking your accuser's credibility and believability. Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct (Sexual Assault) crimes include: First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (up to LIFE in Prison); Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (up to 15 years in Prison); Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (up to 15 years in Prison); and Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (up to 2 years in Prison). All of these charges require registration as a sex offender on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry and more...