Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Here at the O'Malley Law Office, we hope you have a wonderful time with your friends and family this evening. We just have one word of warning; be wise during your revelry. Criminal charges are easily charged and the Denver, Aurora, and Glendale police are on high alert on holidays just like Saint Patrick's Day. Everyone will be drinking, which creates a dangerous environment. If you go to a bar in Denver, Adams, or Jefferson County, don't get carried away on the dance floor and end up facing accusations of Unlawful Sexual Contact – C.R.S. 18-3-404. It's easier to be charged than you think. Let's take a look at the statute to see how a person could be accused of this sex offense:
The Definition of Unlawful Sexual Contact
It is easy to be charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact in Douglas, Arapahoe and Larimer County. While this sex offense sounds serious, thousands of people across the country engage in behavior which could get them in trouble. All it takes is for one person to feel guilty about their actions and accuse you of unwanted sexual contact. The statute states a person will be charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact if they subject another person to sexual contact under circumstances in which the alleged victim does not consent, is physically helpless, or is impaired by alcohol or drugs administered by the defendant. “Sexual contact” is defined as the “knowing touching” of the alleged victim's “intimate parts,” (external genitalia, including the butt or the breasts) even the “touching of the clothing covering the immediate area” of the intimate parts if the contact is “for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.”
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”70%”]Simply touching someone's butt on the dance floor can result in Unlawful Sexual Contact accusations. [/pullquote]Unlawful Sexual Contact Explained
To put it simply, you could face allegations of Unlawful Sexual Contact if you get too close to a woman on the dance floor on Saint Patrick's Day. All it takes is for you to grab a woman's butt while you are dancing. I have been to clubs in Highlands Ranch, Arvada, and Cherry Creek. The behavior I see scares me, because I know all it takes to be charged with a sex offense is for one of the women on the dance floor to feel guilty about her actions the next day and call the police. Maybe she drank too much and got carried away with a guy – ignoring the fact she is engaged. The next day, her fiancé confronts her because her heard about her behavior from a friend. To save face, she says the contact was forced and she didn't “say it was okay.” The poor guy from the night before who thought they were having fun now faces a criminal charge which can result in indeterminate prison time and sex offender treatment and registration.
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”70%”]If the police call you to “ask a few question,” don't speak with them. Contact an attorney instead!![/pullquote]Be Careful: If You Are Contacted By Police, Stay Silent
We have helped hundreds of people who have been charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact or other sexual assaults. We don't want you to be caught in the same situation. But, if you receive a call from a Parker, Greenwood Village, or Thornton police officer who “just wants to ask you a few questions,” tell them you aren't going to speak with them. This is your right. Then, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at our office for a free consultation to discuss a plan for your defense. The best defense is to remain silent, and have an experienced attorney by your side in court.
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