Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Attorneys
Prosecutions of rape or sexual assault cases are almost never straight-forward. Even if there is physical evidence that sexual contact occurred, whether or not sex was consensual or forced can be complicated by the presence of alcohol and drugs, psychological disorders, and personal vendettas. At the criminal defense Law Offices of David S. Shrager, we work with lab technicians, forensic specialists, psychologists, and private investigators in cases involving allegations of rape and sexual assault. Since blood, DNA, hair, and fiber evidence is crucial, it's important that a crime scene and the alleged rape victim be handled correctly. Unlike portrayals in crime dramas on TV like "CSI," crime scene and crime lab personnel don't always handle evidence properly. Our attorneys identify breaks in the chain of evidence and expose departures from standard crime scene protocols that impugn the reliability of the evidence into question.
If you've been arrested for rape or sexual assault, don't try to talk your way out of being charged by discussing your case with the police. Contact sex crimes lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Shrager today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.
Facing Allegations of Rape
The criminal defense Law Offices of David S. Shrager counsels and defends people charged with rape or sexual assault in cases involving the following:
- Date rape
- Acquaintance rape
- Child rape or molestation
- Sexual assault
Date Rape and Acquaintance Rape
Allegations of date rape or acquaintance rape can be difficult to prove for several different reasons. When alcohol or drugs are involved, determining what was said or intended can be difficult to quantify. Likewise, if an alleged rape victim suffers from depression, bi-polar disorder, or other psychological problems, their perspective on what happened may be skewed by their condition. In other instances, a personal vendetta stemming from a work relationship or former romantic involvement can lead an emotionally unstable person to claim they were raped.
Working with psychologists, medical experts, and witness testimony, our attorneys identify inconsistencies in the testimony of the alleged victim. We present evidence that challenges the alleged victim's story and bring in other relevant considerations that cast doubt on what happened.
Facing Charges of Child Molestation
How children are interviewed by counselors and law enforcement is important in child molestation cases. There is a fine line between interviewing and suggestion. Given the highly suggestible nature of children, when authorities ask children to use dolls or draw pictures to show them what happened, how they prod them or get them to answer their questions can often undermine the reliability of what they think they learn in the process. Our attorneys work with experts in these areas and are very adept at exposing prejudicial interviews that are often use to arrest teachers, priests, daycare workers, even doctors and family members.
If you've been charged with rape or sexual assault, contact Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania sexual assault attorneys at the Law Office of David S. Shrager today.