Massachusetts Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

Few criminal charges carry the weight of a sex crime allegation. A single accusation can put someone's career, family relationships, and reputation at risk before any evidence has been tested in court. Attorney Michael DelSignore represents people throughout Massachusetts who are under investigation for, or have been charged with, a sex offense, and understands how much is at stake from the very first phone call.

These cases require an attorney who moves quickly, protects the client's rights from the earliest stage of an investigation, and is prepared to take the case to trial when necessary. Attorney DelSignore has handled sex crime cases throughout Massachusetts courts and brings the same trial-tested approach to these cases that has defined his OUI and criminal defense practice for over 20 years.

It is common for police to contact a person about a sexual assault allegation before any formal charges are filed. An officer or detective may call and ask the person to come to the station to “clear things up” or “tell their side of the story.” This request is voluntary, regardless of how it is presented.

Anyone contacted by police regarding a sexual assault allegation should keep three things in mind:

• There is no legal obligation to go to the police station or speak with a detective.
• Speaking with police before consulting an attorney can permanently limit the defenses available later in the case.
• An experienced criminal defense attorney should be contacted before any contact with law enforcement, even an informal phone call.

Attorney DelSignore advises clients on exactly how to respond if contacted by police, and can communicate with investigators on a client's behalf so the client does not have to navigate that conversation alone.

• Indecent assault and battery
• Rape and aggravated rape
• Statutory rape
• Lewd and lascivious conduct
• Open and gross lewdness
• Indecent exposure
• Internet sex offenses, including possession of child pornography

Indecent assault and battery involves the touching of another person's intimate areas without consent. The charge differs depending on whether the alleged victim was over or under the age of 14 at the time, which significantly affects potential penalties.

Rape charges require proof that intercourse occurred through force or without consent. Statutory rape differs in an important way: consent is not a defense, and neither is an honest but mistaken belief about the alleged victim's age.

Because these distinctions affect both potential penalties and trial strategy, accurately identifying which charge applies — and challenging whether the Commonwealth can actually prove it — is one of the first steps in building a defense.

A sex crime conviction can carry years of incarceration, lengthy and restrictive probation, and a sex offender registration requirement that follows a person indefinitely. Beyond the courtroom, an allegation alone — even before any conviction — can affect a person's career, housing, and standing in their community.

Given these stakes, the choice of attorney matters more in a sex crime case than in almost any other type of charge. These cases are rarely resolved quickly, and many require a thorough pre-trial investigation, retained experts, and a genuine willingness to take the case to trial rather than pursue the fastest available plea.

• Over 20 years defending serious felony and misdemeanor cases throughout Massachusetts
• Trial-tested approach, including cases that proceeded through indictment and jury trial
• Discreet, direct communication — clients are kept informed without unnecessary delay
• Hands-on involvement in building the defense, including coordinating investigators and reviewing evidence personally

A strong defense in a sex crime case is built well before trial. Depending on the facts of the case, this can include obtaining medical and counseling records, retaining an investigator to interview witnesses, securing surveillance or digital evidence before it is lost, and identifying any motive the accuser may have had to fabricate or exaggerate the allegation.

Common defenses raised in Massachusetts sex crime cases include:

• Consent
• Fabrication, including a motive to make a false allegation — for example, in a contested child custody dispute, out of jealousy, or in retaliation
• Mistaken identity
• Improper influence over a child witness by a parent or other adult
• Insufficient or unreliable evidence to meet the Commonwealth's burden of proof

• Do not discuss the case with anyone other than an attorney, including friends, family, or on social media.
• Do not contact the accuser under any circumstances, even to attempt to resolve the situation directly.
• Preserve any evidence — text messages, emails, photos, or records — that may be relevant, and provide it to the attorney rather than deleting or altering it.
• Be completely honest with the attorney. A defense can only be built on accurate information, and any details withheld from counsel can surface unexpectedly later in the case.

• Investigation
• Arrest or summons
• Arraignment and bail hearing
• Discovery and evidence review
• Plea negotiations, where applicable
• Pre-trial motions
• Trial
• Sentencing, if convicted
• Appeal, where applicable

• Indecent Assault and Battery
• Indecent Assault and Battery Penalties
• Rape
• Statutory Rape Charge in Massachusetts
• Defenses to Sex Crimes in Massachusetts
• Internet Sex Crimes
• Possession of Child Pornography Defense
• Open and Gross Lewdness and Lascivious Behavior
• Indecent Exposure
• Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender if Convicted?
• What Do I Do If I Am Falsely Accused of Sexual Assault?
• Photographing an Unsuspecting Person in the Nude