Mississippi Criminal and Family Law BlogAccording to an article from the associated press dated December 20, 2022, Harvey Weinstien was found guilty of sexual assault and rape in a Los Angeles court. Weiinstien is also currently serving a sentence for rape in New York. Weinstien was a big time hollywood executive that became the face of the metoo movement due to allegations surrounding his conduct with much younger female actresses. Weinstien’s sentence in New York is for a term of twenty-three years and he could be sentenced for up to twenty-four in California.
While the metoo movement has given way to other headlines in the last couple of years, the effects are still being seen round the country. Seeing people like Ghislane Maxwell, Jeffery Epstien, and Harvey Weinstien in prison are all public reminders of the movement but it goes much deeper than the rich and famous hollywood elites. All over the country the connotation around a sex crime accusation has shifted. While there was always a taboo and shamefulness attached to an alleged sex crime, it seems that in some instances the presumption of innocence has been flipped on its head and the accused is treated as if they are guilty until they prove their innocence. Of course, the criminal justice system is built on the presumption of innocence until an accused is found to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of his peers. Sex related crimes are also delicate because a conviction not only makes you a felon, it marks you as a convicted sex offender for the rest of your life, and may require you to register on the sex offender registry for the rest of your life. All of this in addition to your inability to own a firearm as a felon and difficulty finding employment.
Mentioned above are facts concerning Weinsstien’s sentencing. Sentencing, of course, varies from state to state. Here in Mississippi, the laws are clear and the punishments for sex crimes are severe. Rape, or forcible sexual intercourse, in Mississippi carries life in prison at the discretion of the jury. Should the jury elect not to sentence the convicted offender to life, the statute allows the judge to sentence the offender to any sentence that may be appropriate. The stakes are simply too high in sex crime cases, especially rape, to roll the dice with an inexperienced lawyer.
Should you be in the unfortunate situation of facing a sex related criminal charge, finding a qualified and experienced attorney is of the utmost importance. If you have been searching the State of Mississippi for an attorney that fits such a description, look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., p.a. Over the years, we have helped numerous defendants pursue favorable outcomes. Although being accused of a crime is not a pleasant experience, there are many potential defense strategies that can be used to defend and reduce the charges against an offender. Call/ contact us today for your consultation to learn more. Please also see us on mississippi-lawyers.com and view our reviews on avvo.com, superlawyers.com, and martindale.com. Our phone number is (601) 948-4444 option 1.