The Special Assault Defense Blog | The Marshall Defense Firm

Few criminal convictions can damage a reputation as much as a child abuse conviction can. Accusations of hurting a child, whether your own child or one entrusted to your care, can have life-long effects, so...

How are Domestic Violence Crimes Prosecuted in Washington?

09 Nov 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Domestic violence prosecutions can be long and difficult. Emotions often run high. When a prosecutor charges a crime as domestic violence, it’s a way of saying the complainant is one of the people closest to...

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Physical Child Abuse Laws and Defending Your Rights

19 Oct 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

For over two decades, The Marshall Defense Firm has specialized in representing those who have been accused of crimes of a particularly sensitive nature, including things like child physical abuse. In Washington, adults can be...

The Rights of the Accused, Part 2: Due Process and Fair Trial Considerations in Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Sexual Assault Cases

05 Oct 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Due process concerns lie at the very heart of the legal system. That’s why we’re devoting two posts to it. If you haven’t yet read the first one, we recommend starting with it. Due process...

The Rights of the Accused, Part 1: Due Process and Fair Trial Considerations in Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Sexual Assault Cases

21 Sep 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Due process concerns lie at the very heart of the legal system. The idea is that the legal system is supposed to follow certain procedures. A decision made arbitrarily might find facts accurately, and it...

Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: Unraveling the Legal Process and Mounting an Effective Defense

07 Sep 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Child sexual abuse allegations are among the most serious and frightening a person can face. An allegation of a sex crime against a child comes with a great deal of stigma and the potential for...

How are Sexual Assault Crimes Prosecuted in Washington

17 Aug 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

How are Sexual Assault Crimes Prosecuted in Washington? “Sexual assault” is not the name of any crime in Washington state. Instead, “sexual assault” is a category that includes many crimes. RCW 70.125.030(7) defines sexual assault...

If Kevin Spacey’s Legal Troubles Arose in Washington State

03 Aug 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Actor Kevin Spacey recently underwent trial in London on charges of sexual assault. Four men said he had assaulted them between 2001 and 2013. He was acquitted of all charges. Suppose Mr. Spacey and his...

Man Falsely Accused of Child Abuse Gets Law Changed to Help Others

22 Jul 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

An Arkansas father who suffered terribly from false child abuse allegations has harnessed that experience to get the law there changed. Now, when a physician in Arkansas concludes that a child’s injuries show they have...

Sexsomnia in Court

06 Jul 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Recently at the Marshall Defense Firm we had a sexsomnia case. We’d never had one before and had never had occasion to learn about sexsomnia, a sleep disorder. Learning about it fascinated us. It also...

Misremembered: Claims of Recovered Memories for Traumatic Events

22 Jun 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

It is common knowledge that as time passes, memories fade. But many people think that memories of traumatic events work differently. They think that while some people retain vivid memories of a traumatic event they’ve...

Washington Legislature Cuts Back Juvenile Sex Offender Registration

08 Jun 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

A new law in Washington state radically reduces the number of juveniles who will be put on the juvenile sex offender registry. It also reduces the duration of the registration requirement for those who still...

What You Should Know About Changes to Title IX Rules and Regulations

18 May 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally-funded education programs. As far back as the 1980s, courts recognized that sexual harassment was actionable under Title IX. The scope of...

What to Do If You Face a Delayed Accusation of Rape

04 May 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Being accused of any serious crime is difficult and can have long-term effects on your life, even if you are found not guilty in court. And, at least at first, there is the worry that...

Hue and Cry: The Fresh Complaint Rule in Sexual Assault Cases

18 Apr 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Sexual assault accusations are sometimes made months or years after the event. This can lead jurors to doubt the accusation. If it were true, why didn’t the complainant speak at the time? The law has...

Federal Law Sets Child Pornography Damages Minimum at $150K

04 Apr 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Child pornography production, distribution, and possession are condemned in American law. This includes long prison terms under federal law for those who commit child pornography crimes; the loss of liberty and reputation can be profound....

Defending Against Child Pornography Charges

09 Mar 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

In recent years child pornography offenses have gotten more attention from police and prosecutors in Washington state. Both state and federal officials have cracked down. A child pornography charge can destroy a person’s life and...

When Accused of a Sex Crime, Silence Isn’t Always Golden

22 Feb 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

Of all the things that can disrupt relationships, none is more powerful than an accusation of a sexual assault—especially sexual abuse of a child. If one learns one has been accused, the natural inclination is...

SSODA: How Teenagers Can Mend Their Lives After Committing a Sex Crime

09 Feb 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

People can commit crimes at any age. This includes sex crimes. Our legal system gives some special consideration to juvenile offenders—those younger than 18 years. Given they are not fully developed yet, courts sometimes grant...

How Would Washington State Laws Apply to the Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears Lawsuit?

26 Jan 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

The Daily Beast was the first of many news outlets to report that a Jane Doe and her younger brother, identified as John Doe, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Tiffany...

Four Things You Need to Know about Civil Claims for Sex Abuse and Sexual Assault

11 Jan 2023

The Marshall Defense Firm

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...

What it means to Communicate with a Minor for Immoral Purposes

20 Dec 2022

The Marshall Defense Firm

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...

Appeals and Other Relief for Persons Convicted of Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, and Domestic Violence in Washington State

04 Dec 2022

The Marshall Defense Firm

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...

How To Keep Corporal Punishment From Being Called Child Abuse

18 Nov 2022

The Marshall Defense Firm

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....