Rape Defense Lawyer in Dallas

If you face charges of a sex crime, it can be a devastating experience, and the consequences of a conviction are severe and can have a lasting impact on your life. If you need someone to defend you against charges of rape in Dallas, TX, contact an experienced and knowledgeable Dallas rape defense lawyer as soon as possible.

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our legal team understands the delicate nature of rape allegations and will work diligently to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. Call us today at (214) 845-7007 for an initial legal consultation to learn more about how our Dallas criminal defense lawyers can help you.

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Are Rape and Sexual Assault Different in Texas?

When it comes to the laws on sex crimes in Texas, the terms “rape” and “sexual assault” are sometimes used interchangeably. While law enforcement officers may use the term rape when arresting someone on suspicion of sexual assault, prosecutors and judges tend to use the term sexual assault. That is the term used in Texas law. It encompasses many types of rape, including statutory rape and date rape.

In a legal context, rape is defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse with another person. This includes forced penetration of any kind and applies if the victim cannot consent due to intoxication or being underage.

The Penalties for Rape in Texas

Texas classifies sexual assault as a second-degree felony, meaning those convicted can receive a sentence of between two and 20 years in a Texas state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. In addition, an individual convicted of sexual assault must register as a sex offender after their release from prison.

Aggravated sexual assault is considered a felony in the first degree in Texas, with a sentence of five to 99 years in a state jail facility and a maximum fine of $10,000. Conviction of this crime also requires mandatory registration on the Texas sex offender registry.

In some cases, judges will lift the requirement of sex offender registration. However, this is highly unlikely, so defendants must seek an experienced criminal defense lawyer’s advice to protect their rights.

False Accusations of Rape in Dallas

False accusations of rape are a serious issue. Unfortunately, some people may lie about rape to gain an advantage in a custody battle, to get revenge on a partner, or to cover up a consensual encounter. False allegations of sex crimes can have devastating consequences for individuals wrongly accused, but an experienced defense lawyer can help you protect your rights and reputation.

Defense lawyers understand that prosecutors in Texas typically focus on the alleged victim’s lack of consent to secure a conviction. Therefore, a good strategy for defense lawyers is to challenge this assertion. This can include questioning the alleged victim’s emotional state, any lack of violence during the incident, and whether the accuser was aware of their point of view at the time of the alleged event. By utilizing these strategies, a skilled defense lawyer can help exonerate those wrongfully accused of rape or other forms of sexual assault.

What Are the Potential Defense to Rape Charges?

When facing rape charges in Dallas, it is important to know what your legal options are. Some potential defenses that you may use in a rape case include the following:

Consent: One of the most common defenses against rape is that the alleged victim consented to sexual activity. This defense may be successful if the accused can show that the alleged victim agreed to engage in sex.
Mistaken identity: Sometimes, people are wrongly accused of rape because they are mistaken for someone else. This defense could be viable if the accused can provide evidence proving they were not present at the scene of the crime.
False accusation: If there is no physical evidence to prove guilt and other evidence that suggests that someone made a false accusation, this could be a strong defense.
Insufficient evidence: Even if there is evidence against the accused, it must be enough to support a conviction. If the evidence is insufficient or lacking, this could be an effective defense against rape charges.
Mental Incapacity: If the accused was not mentally capable of understanding their actions at the time of the alleged incident, your lawyer could use this as a defense in court.

No matter what type of defense you use in court, having an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer is essential. A rape defense attorney in Dallas, TX, will be able to assess your situation and determine which defense is best for your case.

How a Dallas Rape Defense Lawyer Can Help

Rape Defense Lawyer in Dallas, Tx 2 If you were accused of rape in the Dallas area, contact an experienced rape defense attorney as soon as possible. A skilled Dallas defense lawyer can protect your rights and aggressively defend you against the charges. They can explain the applicable laws, discuss possible defenses, and evaluate the evidence presented against you to form a strong case. In addition, they will be able to assess the facts of your case, advise you on how to proceed, and represent you in court. An experienced Dallas sex crime defense lawyer can also guide you in navigating the legal system, including filing motions and preparing for trial. With their help, you can ensure your rights are fully protected and maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome.

Speak With a Dallas Rape Defense Attorney Today

If you are facing accusations of rape in Dallas, it is crucial to act quickly. By speaking with a skilled rape defense lawyer, you can begin to understand the legal process and your rights when facing sexual assault charges. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our legal team is dedicated to providing the best representation for our clients. We understand the complexity of these cases and will aggressively fight toward the best possible outcome. Contact us by calling (214) 845-7007 for an initial legal consultation to discuss your case with an experienced Dallas rape defense lawyer.

TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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