Sexual abuse charges can be severe in Minnesota, and become more complicated when they involve boy scout leaders or members of the clergy. The consequences of unchallenged abuse accusations can upend your life, cause mental and physical pain, depression, and a loss of the value of life. They can also drain your bank account, and separate you from your family.
It is never in your best interest to try and face sexual abuse issues alone. Instead, call on the team at Knutson + Casey. Our Minnesota boy scout and clergy sexual abuse attorneys can listen, discuss your options with you so that you can decide the direction to take, and if we are hired to go forward, we can break down your case, and help fight for justice, so that it doesn’t happen to others in the future.
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The State of Minnesota operates on the assumption that children cannot fully consent to sexual activities. Any attempt to coerce a child into sexual behavior is known as child enticement and comes with its own set of consequences. As such, any party accused of engaging in sexual behaviors with a child can face charges of sexual abuse, especially if the accused party has some kind of authority over the child. A child cannot consent to sexual activities under the law.
Minnesota categorizes its sexual abuse charges according to their alleged severity. With that in mind, religious representatives or boy scout staff accused of abusing a member of their group can face consequences within the following degrees:
Minnesota considers instances of statutory rape of the first-degree to include:
While the degree frames the circumstances with the term “statutory rape,” the specifics of the sexual abuse can vary. However, first-degree accusations must always involve some manner of penetration or applicable sexual intercourse as described by Minnesota Civil Statute 609.341.
Instances of misconduct resulting in second-degree charges can include those involving:
Individuals may face second-degree charges if accused of engaging in all sexual behaviors described by Minnesota Civil Statute 609.341, which do not include penetration.
Parties accused of third-degree sexual abuse do not have to be significantly older than an alleged victim. Instead, any party accused of engaging in penetration or similar acts with a child under 13 years of age can face these charges.
These same charges can apply to older teens, albeit under different circumstances. Alleged perpetrators who have sexual relations with a partner who is 16 years old or younger can be accused of assault. However, these charges only stand in court if the alleged perpetrator is a) in a position of power over the other party and b) at least four years older than the child.
Parties will only face third-degree charges if they are accused of engaging in penetration with children as described above. Parties who are not accused of penetration may face fourth-degree charges instead.
The consequences of sexual assault charges vary depending on the severity of those charges. For example, first-degree sexual conduct involving a minor can result in a person spending 30 years in prison. These charges also come with fines of up to $40,000.
Second-degree charges can see a person spend 25 years in prison while facing $35,000 fines. Third-degree charges drop in severity, maxing out at a 15-year prison sentence and fines of $30,000 at most. Finally, fourth-degree charges can result in a 10-year prison sentence with fines capping at $20,000.
Parties brought up on any of the above charges will be expected to register with Minnesota’s sex offender registry, as noted by Minnesota Civil Statute 243.166.
Accusations of sexual abuse involving boy scouts or church groups have made the news, and number in the thousands. You may be facing these issues today, even though it happened long ago. No matter what the situation is, you can call on the team at Knutson + Casey to discuss the facts and obtain legal guidance.
Our Minnesota boy scout and clergy sexual abuse lawyers understand how frightening it can be to face your accuser or come out into the public. When you work with Knutson Casey, you can trust them to give you legal options, and find the right legal path for you.
For more information about the legal services available to you, call Knutson + Casey at (507) 344-8888 or contact us using this online form. We’ve helped thousands in their cases, and our Southern Minnesota team is ready to help you defend yourself in court.