The Merrimack Valley town of Lawrence is one of the two county seats of Essex County and among the largest, at about 76,000 people. Its position on the river made it an important center of textile mills early in the Industrial Revolution. The work attracted a variety of immigrants in the late nineteenth century, giving rise to its nickname, Immigrant City. More recently, the city has again become a center for immigration, attracting large populations of Latin Americans and Vietnamese people. As an important city in its region, Lawrence is home to the Lawrence session of the Essex County Superior Court, which hears cases of serious felonies such as date rape or indecent assault and battery. It also has the Lawrence District Court, where local people accused of misdemeanors or less serious felonies like statutory rape will have their cases heard.
We Take Massachusetts Sex Charges SeriouslyIf you’re accused of a sex crime, you’re facing steep penalties — both in the criminal justice system and in your personal life. Sex charges can make people hysterical, and they’re an easy target for politicians who want to look tough by taking a firm stance against crimes that nobody supports. As a result, penalties for crimes like child pornography possession have been inflated repeatedly. Laws on other crimes, like rape and sexual assault, are so broad that juries can sentence defendants to a slap on the wrist or life for the same crime. And long before your case actually reaches a jury, sex charges can hurt your reputation and relationships. Because many of these cases are picked up by the media, people who are accused can find themselves shunned socially or get in trouble at work before a single shred of evidence is presented in court.
Whenever possible, the Law Offices of Stephen Neyman prefers to take sex crimes cases very early — if possible, before any formal arrest is made. Taking the case early allows us to be by your side at every step, gathering evidence for your defense and protecting you from police and media overreaching. If you know you’re under investigation, we can arrange for you to turn yourself in quietly and escape a public arrest. If police wish to interrogate you, we can and should be by your side to advise you on your rights. When early evidence points to your innocence, we will negotiate with prosecutors to have the charges dropped or substantially reduced. And of course, we will continue to investigate as the case progresses, including looking into ulterior motives your accuser may have, physical evidence or the lack of it and many other ways to demonstrate that you could not have done what you’re accused of.
Lawrence Sex Crimes Defense AttorneySex-related charges can change your life. Accusations can hurt marriages, harm your reputation and end your career, and a conviction can mean losing some measure of freedom for decades. You should never face these serious penalties alone. If you’re charged with any kind of sex crime in Lawrence or throughout eastern Massachusetts, you should call the Law Offices of Stephen Neyman as soon as possible. Lead attorney Stephen Neyman has practiced law in Massachusetts for more than 20 years and successfully defended many clients from serious felony charges. To set up a free, confidential telephone consultation with an experienced attorney, you can call our downtown Boston offices today at 617-263-6800 or send us an email.