This crime is distinct from other types of sexual assault or rape allegations in Colorado and is defined as situations in which a defendant knowingly touches a victim’s intimate areas or forces the victim to physically touch the defendant’s intimate areas for the purpose of abuse, sexual arousal or gratification.
An individual in Colorado could be convicted of unlawful sexual contact if the victim does not consent, if the defendant uses drugs or other substances to impair the victim’s abilities, if the victim is confined to an institution in which they have no authority over themselves, if the victim is unable to give their consent or does not understand sexual contact, or if the defendant coerces an individual under the age of 18 to expose themselves or commit a sexual act for the gratification of the defendant.
If you’re accused of any sex crime in Colorado, the social stigma that follows in addition to the criminal consequences are likely to be overwhelming. It can be hard for someone to figure out what you need to do first after being accused of a crime in a case like this.
In most cases, unlawful sexual contacts in Colorado will lead to a class 1 misdemeanor charge and be categorized as extraordinary risk crime. This could be punished by somewhere between six months and two years in jail. In the event that the contact is performed as a means of forcing, threatening or intimidating a victim however, or if it involves the child or is done under the rouse of medical treatment, it can lead to Class 4 felony charges. If you are convicted of such a charge, you could be looking at between 2 to 6 years in prison as a minimum and a maximum of life in prison.
Another significant consequence of being convicted of unlawful sexual contact is being put on probation and being forced to register as a sex offender. This can be an overwhelming and frustrating experience for someone who was not anticipating it. And this is one reason why your case should always be handled by a knowledgeable Denver sexual assault lawyer immediately after you have been accused.