In Castle Rock and Douglas County, Unlawful Sexual Contact is charged when a person touches another’s intimate parts without consent. A woman has accused a police officer of this crime, claiming he was groping her during a traffic stop. According to the report, the officer pulled her over for a traffic offense and had her exit the vehicle to search her. During the search, the woman claims that the officer stuck his hands inside her waistband then touched her genital and buttock areas. The highway patrol office is reviewing the case to see if the search was legal and the search was valid. If this had occurred in Douglas County, the officer could be facing charges for Unlawful Sexual Contact.  

Castle Rock Groping Unlawful Sexual Contact Lawyer: Definition of Unlawful Sexual Contact in Douglas County 

The Douglas County, Colorado law definition of Unlawful Sexual Contact – C.R.S. 18-3-404 – is:

“

(1)  Any actor who knowingly subjects a victim to any sexual contact commits unlawful sexual contact if:

(a)  The actor knows that the victim does not consent; or

(b)  The actor knows that the victim is incapable of appraising the nature of the victim's conduct; or

(c)  The victim is physically helpless and the actor knows that the victim is physically helpless and the victim has not consented; or

(d)  The actor has substantially impaired the victim's power to appraise or control the victim's conduct by employing, without the victim's consent, any drug, intoxicant, or other means for the purpose of causing submission; or

(f)  The victim is in custody of law or detained in a hospital or other institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary authority over the victim and uses this position of authority, unless incident to a lawful search, to coerce the victim to submit; or

(g)  The actor engages in treatment or examination of a victim for other than bona fide medical purposes or in a manner substantially inconsistent with reasonable medical practices."

Based on the information provided, the officer would likely be charged under subsection (a) – no consent.  

Sentence for Unlawful Sexual Contact in Highlands Ranch 

Unlawful Sexual Contact is a class 1 misdemeanor in Parker and Highlands Ranch and is an extraordinary risk crime. It is punishable by 6 to 24 months in the Douglas County Jail. A conviction will also require sex offender registration. 

If you or a loved one has been charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from Sawyer Legal Group at 303-265-1950. Together, we can protect your future. 

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