Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

Richard Brueckner is a Maryland criminal defense lawyer and is ready to help build your defense with charges related to:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Possession of child pornography
• Indecent exposure and lewd acts
• Online solicitation of a minor
• Prostitution and solicitation

Sex crimes are among the most serious and heavily prosecuted crimes in the criminal justice system. In Maryland, most sex offenses are charged as felonies and convictions for these crimes can result in lengthy prison sentences and mandatory public registration as a sex offender or sexual predator.

Being accused of any criminal sexual activity is devastating and can bring intense feelings of humiliation and shame. Even if the allegations against you are untrue, you may feel as if your reputation and character is being dragged through the mud.

It’s hard to know who to turn to or who you can trust. No matter what the circumstances of your case or how limited you think your options are, it’s important to know that you do have rights and are entitled to having your day in court. With so much at stake, it’s absolutely crucial to retain a top-notch sex crimes lawyer who will fight your charges with vigor and do everything possible to preserve your good name. Richard J. Brueckner is up to the task.

I’ve defended countless individuals accused of committing sex crimes in Ocean City. As a former prosecutor, I know exactly what you are up against and will use my knowledge and experience to build a strong defense on your behalf. You can count on me to closely examine the details of your case and draw upon every legal resource available to maximize your chances of having a favorable outcome. 

As your attorney, I will:

• Listen to your side of the story with no judgment
• Fully investigate the facts surrounding the incident
• Review medical records and forensic evidence including a report from a sexual assault nurse examiner, serology report, DNA report. Consult with network of experts such as psychologists, former police detectives, forensic analysts, and DNA experts
• Interview witnesses 
• Identify weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case and use as leverage to enter into negotiations or plea bargain with the prosecutor or prepare for a jury trial

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION 410-430-1464

In the interim, it’s important to exercise your right to remain silent. You are under NO legal obligation to speak with law enforcement. Do not risk incriminating yourself. Simply tell the police you do not wish to make a statement without having your lawyer present. In addition, do not attempt to contact your accuser. This will only make things worse.

Facing Rape Accusations?

Rape involves engaging in vaginal intercourse with another by using force or threat of force without the other’s consent. In Maryland, rape is charged with either first-degree rape or second-degree rape.

First Degree Rape:

Rape in the first degree is the most serious rape charge in Maryland and involves non-consensual vaginal intercourse by the use of force or the threat of force while also engaged in doing one of the following:

• displaying or using a dangerous weapon or an object the alleged victim perceives as a weapon;
• suffocating, strangling or inflicting serious physical injury in the course of committing the crime;
• threatening to kidnap or inflict injury;
• committing the crime with the aid of another individual;
• committing the crime while during a burglary

If convicted of first-degree rape, you face a felony conviction and lifetime imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Parole will be denied in the following circumstances:

• you have a prior rape or sexual assault conviction
• the alleged victim is under the age of 13, and you are over the age of 18
• the alleged victim is a kidnapped child under the age of 16

Second Degree Rape:

You can be charged with second-degree rape if you engage in non-consensual vaginal intercourse by using force or the threat of force with someone who is mentally or physically incapacitated or under 14 years old. The penalty for second-degree rape is up to 20 years in prison. If you are over 18 and allegedly raped a child under 13, the minimum prison term is 15 years with a maximum of life in prison.

Sexual Assault Offenses:

Maryland crimes involve sexual acts other than vaginal intercourse (anal intercourse, analingus, cunnilingus, fellatio, sexual penetration with an object) that are intended for sexual gratification, arousal or abuse of either party.

• First-degree sexual assault — engaging in a sexual act by force, threat or without consent while displaying a weapon, suffocating or physically injuring the victim, or threatening the victim with serious physical injury, or committed with another’s help or during a burglary
• Second-degree sexual assault — engaging in a sexual act by force or threat of force against someone who you know cannot legally give consent because of age or mental incapacity. This charge also applies when the victim is younger than 14 and offender is over 18.
• Third-degree sexual assault — nonconsensual sexual contact involving threat of bodily harm, kidnapping or other aggravating factor
• Fourth-degree sexual assault — unwanted, nonconsensual sexual contact such as fondling

Maryland’s Sex Offender Registry:

If you are convicted of a sex crime in Maryland, you will be required to register on the state’s sex offender list within three days of your conviction. This is a public record that will display your name, address, date of birth, photograph, place of employment, type of vehicle, and specific crime committed. Crimes are divided into tiers

Tier I Crimes: 15-year registration

• possession of child pornography, misleading domain names on the Internet, misleading words or digital images on the Internet, and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

Tier II Crimes: 25-year registration

• distribution of child pornography, third-degree statutory rape, solicitation of a minor, abduction of a child under 16 for prostitution and human trafficking.

Tier III Crimes: Lifetime registration

• assault with intent to rape, first- or second-degree rape, forcible sodomy, incest, kidnapping of a child under 12 years old and sale of a minor.

Failure to register can result in a fine of up to $5,000 or up to three years in prison.

Tenacious Defense Against Sex Crime Allegations

A criminal sex case is complicated because it often involves your word against your accuser’s. Based on over a decade of litigation experience, Attorney Brueckner knows how to mount a successful defense that can create substantial reasonable doubt in the minds of a judge or jury.

Depending on the specifics of your case, here are just some of the strategies he may employ:

• Challenge DNA Results: Police may have collected DNA samples from you and the alleged victim as well as from the scene of the alleged crime. Mr. Brueckner will analyze and investigate the reliability and accuracy of the methods and procedures taken to secure and test the evidence, as well as the people interpreting the evidence. He may also consult with experts in DNA, toxicology, forensics and other scientific fields to determine whether the results are accurate. Any defects in the collection, analysis, or storage of evidence could be grounds for suppressing evidence or dismissing the case.
• Attack the Accuser’s Credibility: Sometimes in sex crime cases, the alleged victim will falsely accuse someone of improper sexual conduct. Their motivations for doing so may vary. If they are trying to protect their reputation or want to hide their sexual encounters from friends or family, they may claim that sex was nonconsensual. If they are in the midst of a heated divorce or custody battle, they may think that an allegation of sexual assault will help them gain a distinct advantage. Others are driven by financial

Attorney Brueckner will look for inconsistencies in the accuser’s story and may gather witnesses who can testify about the person’s history of lying or about the history of your relationship with the accuser.

• Misidentification:  If your accuser is someone you do not know, and corroborating evidence is lacking, it can be difficult for a prosecutor to prove you are the person that actually perpetuated the offense. If you have an alibi, this can exonerate you.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, you owe it to yourself to obtain the best defense possible for your case.  Call Richard Brueckner to get started on your defense today:  410-430-1464