Cape May and Atlantic Counties Rape Defense Attorney
Sexual assault is an extremely serious criminal charge in New Jersey. If convicted, you could go to jail and end up on the sex offender registry. If you have been accused of rape, it is important to contact an attorney who is prepared to fully investigate all of your options.
I am John W. Tumelty, an Atlantic City sexual assault defense lawyer with more than 25 years of criminal law experience. I offer free consultations, so don't hesitate to contact me today to discuss your case. I have offices in Cape May County and Atlantic County.
Identifying the Best Way to Fight Your Charges
In New Jersey, rape is legally known as sexual assault. If you hire me to represent you against allegations of sexual assault or the related crime of illegal sexual contact, I will explore all possible grounds for fighting your charges, including but not limited to the following:
- Consent: The issue of consent often comes up in cases of alleged date rape or spousal rape. Both sides agree that sexual contact took place, but the person accused of rape says he or she reasonably believed the other person consented to it.
- Identity: In cases where someone is claiming to have been raped by a stranger, the victim or police may not have enough evidence to prove the identity of that person.
- False accusations: Some sexual assault cases are based on false allegations. In many of these cases, a successful defense is based on the defense attorney showing that the accuser had a motive for falsely accusing the defendant and generally lacks credibility.
If you are convicted of sexual assault, you may be sentenced to jail time and lifetime sex offender registration under Megan's Law. The consequences may be greater if you are convicted of committing this crime by force, using a weapon or kidnapping the accuser.
To fight these serious consequences, you need an aggressive defense lawyer working on your case. I am a New Jersey Supreme Court certified criminal trial attorney and am prepared to stand up for your rights. Contact me today to discuss your charges.
