Blog

There are few crimes parents can be accused of committing that sound worse than child abuse. Such accusations may lead to criminal charges. They can also cause a person to lose custody of their children.... Read More

While most imagine sexual abuse and sexual assault cases to be tried in criminal court, a person can also file a civil claim for sex abuse or sexual assault. With the harm to reputation that... Read More

The age of consent in Washington state is 16. That means that sexual acts with a 16- or 17-year-old are legal except in certain situations where there is a power imbalance between the adult and... Read More

A conviction for a sex crime, child abuse, or domestic violence can feel like a devastating blow, especially after you’ve given your all in a difficult legal battle. It’s important for people who have been... Read More

The Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative, often abbreviated SSOSA (and pronounced like the last name of a famous baseball hitter), was enacted by Washington’s legislature in 1984 and has undergone several revisions since.  This law... Read More

Every state has laws defining the “age of consent,” the age at which a person is determined to be old enough to be capable of legally agreeing to sexual intercourse. In Washington, the age at... Read More

Last year, legislators in Washington began debating and making major changes to how the state handles domestic violence cases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was kickstarted with the passage of HB 1320,... Read More

In sexual encounters, consent is one of the most critical elements. Consent can make the difference between a mutually enjoyable experience, or a horrid and traumatizing crime. Consent is essential for both people taking part... Read More

Promoting Prostitution in Washington: How A Seemingly Specific Charge is Broadly Applied When hearing about the crime of “promoting prostitution,” you might think that it has very narrow applications. Images of pimps, prostitution stings, and... Read More

No parent ever wants to discover that their family is the subject of a Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) investigation. The most common of these investigations are conducted by Child Protective Services. While... Read More

The highly publicized between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, rooted in their domestic violence allegations against each other, has finally come to an end. To the surprise of many, Amber Heard was found to have... Read More

Many sexual abuse accusations are presented through a criminal case. If the defendant is found guilty, these cases usually end with prison time for the accused. The defendant might also have to pay monetary restitution... Read More

In early April, the infamous trial in Virginia between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began. It has captured the public’s attention like few others. And it’s little wonder why.  The litigants are well known Hollywood... Read More

In basic terms, the crime of voyeurism is essentially any type of spying or surveilling on another person who believes they have an expectation of privacy, for the purposes of sexual desire. It’s known as... Read More

Last year, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1320, which was meant to simplify the protection order petition process for victims of domestic violence. Washington has six different types of protection orders (which some... Read More

Under Washington State law, there are a multitude of ways indecent liberties can be committed and even more ways a charge of indecent liberties can be defended against. The offense covers almost all unlawful sexual... Read More

In early August 2021, Apple released plans founded in good intentions to combat images of child sexual abuse on iPhones that almost immediately sparked heated criticism from technology and privacy experts worldwide. Following widespread criticism,... Read More

In January 2021, Jace Hambrick enjoyed his first meal as a free man with his mother at IHOP after serving nearly two years in prison. But his newfound freedom still came attached with a long... Read More

In late July 2021, former babysitter Terry McKirchy made headlines when she was indicted by a Broward County, Florida grand jury for first-degree murder 37 years after she was accused of forcibly shaking a baby.... Read More

Being accused of rape can lead to serious consequences. Any serious felony can lead to a lengthy prison sentence and merely facing a sexual assault charge can feel daunting, not knowing what damage to your... Read More

Recently the Marshall Defense Team had the opportunity to speak with Randall Karstetter, Chief Data Forensics Expert at Data Forensics Lab in Auburn, Washington. Mr. Karstetter has decades of experience in data forensics and has... Read More

If you’ve been accused of a sex offense, you’re probably frightened by the possible consequences affecting your future. One of the possible consequences is that you would be required to register as a sex offender.... Read More

If you’ve been accused of domestic violence against your spouse or child during the process of a contentious divorce, regardless of whether the allegations are true, you will need to know what effects these accusations... Read More

At the Marshall Defense Firm we’ve seen a disturbing new scam in recent months. These scammers prey upon persons who chat online about sexual matters with persons they’ve only met only online. Here’s a common... Read More