Date rape is a serious charge that requires you and your attorneys to work fast to preserve evidence for your defense. Our defense lawyers will work hard for you.
Date rape is a serious offense and is punished accordingly under Oklahoma law. In addition to incurring severe legal penalties, such as time in prison, hefty fines and a criminal record, being convicted of date rape in Oklahoma can be a traumatic experience for a number of other reasons, including the impact it can have on your personal and social life. In the state of Oklahoma, date rape is charged as any other rape crime, and the fact that the people involved knew each other or that the victim willingly spent time with the defendant are not legal defenses for a rape charge. It is imperative that you secure qualified legal counsel after being arrested for date rape, in order to ensure that your legal rights are protected. Contact our criminal defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible.
Date Rape in Oklahoma
Date rape is technically not a legal term, but is often used to describe non-consensual sexual intercourse between two people at a social engagement, which may be a party, a date, or any other occasion the two parties attended willingly. Non-consensual sex includes situations in which the victim did not intend to submit to the sexual advances and resisted the acts by verbal refusals, denials or pleas to stop, and/or physical resistance. Date rape can be prosecuted as a first- or second-degree offense, depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Date Rape Drugs
Date rape drugs are sometimes use to assist in a sexual assault. These drugs can render victims physically and mentally helpless, and can prevent victims from remembering the details of the attack. Date rape drugs often have no smell, color or taste, and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge. There are at least three date rape drugs that are commonly used in date rape assaults, including:
- GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)
- Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
- Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)
Penalties for Date Rape in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, date rape is a serious sex crime, and punishment for a date rape conviction can include a lengthy prison sentence, hefty fines and a permanent criminal record. Legally, date rape is charged as any other rape offense and can be prosecuted as either first-degree or second-degree rape. If the sex crime is accomplished through the threat or use of force or violence, it is prosecuted as first-degree rape in Oklahoma and is punishable by five years to life in prison. Date rape accomplished by the use of an intoxicant such as alcohol or a date rape drug is prosecuted as second-degree rape in Oklahoma, and is punishable by one to fifteen years in prison.
Contact an Oklahoma Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are suspected of committing a date rape offense in Oklahoma or if you have been charged with date rape or another sex crime, contact our knowledgeable defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible. Our lawyers have extensive experience protecting the legal rights of defendants in date rape cases, and will work diligently to build a strong defense in your case. By consulting our criminal defense attorneys, you can maximize your potential for a successful defense and minimize the possibility of incurring the life-altering consequences of a date rape conviction.