The Special Assault Defense Blog | The Marshall Defense Firm

Generally speaking, minors younger than the “age of consent” in Washington (16 years old) do not have the ability to legally consent to sexual acts. This means, for example, that a 20-year-old man who has...

“Operation Net Nanny” and the Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor

06 May 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

In Washington state, an individual can be charged with Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor if they: (1) provide anything of value to a minor or a third person as compensation for a minor having...

In Washington, at What Age Can Someone Legally Consent to Sex?

15 Apr 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

So-called “age of consent” laws, which establish the age at which a person is deemed old enough to legally consent to sex, vary from state to state. Generally speaking, the age at which someone can...

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What are my options if I have been wrongly suspended or expelled under Title IX?

27 Feb 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

Title IX was created with the intention of protecting students from sex-based discrimination (which has been interpreted to include sexual harassment and sexual violence) in federally-funded education programs. The reality, though, is that Title IX...

Sealing a Juvenile Sex Offense Record

13 Feb 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

While many juvenile offenders go on to be law-abiding, productive members of society, this is harder to do if the offenses of your youth continue to follow you into adulthood. Thankfully, in Washington, juvenile court...

Young college man sitting at desk with hands on head while young college woman points her finger at him

False Accusations Under Title IX

30 Jan 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally-funded education programs. Because the U.S. Department of Education considers sexual harassment and sexual violence to be a form of sex-based discrimination,...

Female police officer interrogating male suspect in dark room

Do I Need an Attorney If I’ve Already Confessed to a Sex Offense?

16 Jan 2019

The Marshall Defense Firm

If you’ve admitted to some aspect of the crime you’re being accused of, it may feel like an attorney can’t do much to help you, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact...

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The One Question Your Attorney Must Answer to Defend You against a Sex Crime Charge

02 Jan 2019

David S. Marshall

Sex crime charges are different. The disgust they provoke in jurors is one of the things that makes them different from most other criminal charges. So is the absence, frequently, of any physical evidence; they...

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Can I Be Relieved from My Duty to Register as a Sex Offender?

19 Dec 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Many sex-related criminal convictions require that you register as a sex offender – in some cases, indefinitely. Those required to register must provide their name, address, place of employment, photograph, and fingerprints, among other things....

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When does physical discipline become abuse?

05 Dec 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Parents or guardians who choose to physically discipline their children may be concerned about whether they are at risk of being accused of abuse. The use of corporal punishment such as spanking is a hotly...

What’s the Difference Between a Protection Order and a Restraining Order?

21 Nov 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Washington law provides certain legal mechanisms to individuals concerned that they may become the target of violent, intimidating, or controlling behavior by someone else, often a family member or a significant other. If you’ve been...

Man in handcuffs being interviewed by police

Can I Refuse a Police Interview?

07 Nov 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

In a word, yes. You are required to identify yourself to the police in some situations, but aren’t obligated to answer questions beyond that. Washington law mandates that any person stopped for a traffic infraction...

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Should You Pursue a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) If You’re Innocent?

24 Oct 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Being accused of a sex offense is a nightmare—particularly if you’re innocent—and you may want to consider all of the possibilities that would allow you to avoid putting your fate in the hands of a...

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Is There a Treatment Alternative for Juvenile Sex Offenders?

10 Oct 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Established in 1984, Washington’s Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) authorizes courts to order certain sexual offenders to undergo treatment in lieu of serving time in prison. For someone being prosecuted for a sex offense...

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What You Need to Know About SSOSA Evaluations and Conditions

03 Oct 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Washington’s Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) provides an opportunity for those who have committed sex offenses to receive treatment for sexual compulsion and avoid the time in prison that would otherwise result from a...

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When Can a Juvenile be Charged as An Adult for a Sex Crime in Washington?

19 Sep 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Generally speaking, if a child is charged with a crime before his or her 18th birthday, the case will be handled by the juvenile court. However, there are some situations in which a child under...

What’s Wrong with Title IX?

14 Aug 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally-funded education programs. Its most visible application is probably in the context of women’s collegiate sports, but the law actually covers much...

What You Need to Know About Washington State Sexual Assault Laws

31 Jul 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

In the modern world, where both increased sexual freedom and campaigns like the #metoo movement compete for cultural bandwidth, it can be surprisingly difficult to know what sorts of behaviors constitute sexual assault and what...

Mother Worried About Unhappy Teenage Son

What to Know When Your Child is Being Accused of a Sex Crime

03 Jul 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

If your child is the subject of a sex crime investigation or prosecution, you’re probably feeling a lot of things: disbelief, anger, hurt, embarrassment, concern for your child’s future. All these feelings are normal and...

Man and woman pointing fingers at each other

What Is a “He Said, She Said” Case?

21 Jun 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Accusations of rape and other sex crimes are notoriously difficult to investigate and resolve due to their nature. Most of these cases arise from events which happen in private when only the accused and the...

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What Does the Complaining Person Have to Prove to Get a SAPO?

06 Jun 2018

The Marshall Defense Firm

Washington State law allows courts to issue a special kind of order called a Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO). A SAPO is a civil order that tells someone accused of sexual assault not to contact...