Calgary Criminal Lawyer David Chow

Calgary Sexual Assault Lawyer

(403) 452-8018

CALGARY sexual assault lawyer

FREE CONSULTATION: (403) 452-8018


There are many categories of "assault".  A less serious kind of assault is "common assault". A more serious kind of assault is assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer.  In the assault taxonomy, "sexual assault" carries the most serious stigma.  Today, sexual assault is garnering increased attention by the news media and special interest groups. 

There are also secondary categories of assault.  For example, a person can be charged with an assault in a domestic context. Sexual assault can also be prosecuted as a "domestic sexual assault".  This situation often involves allegations against persons within a household. 

In our common law, there is also a category of sexual assault called "major sexual assault".  A major sexual assault is defined by Courts of Appeal as a sexual assault involving penetration.  Accordingly, if the allegation is intercourse, digital penetration or oral sex, the category of assault is "major".  A major sexual assault usually triggers a starting point jail sentence if convicted of 3 years in a Federal penitentiary. 

What makes a sexual assault different that a non-sexual assault? 

Sexual assault involves a touching that is intended to be sexual in nature. With that in mind, accidentally touching somebody in the genital area may not be sexual assault, but touching a person on any part of their body with sexual intent could be sexual assault.

what are the defences to sexual assault?

If you have been charged with a sexual assault in Calgary, Alberta or anywhere else, it is imperative that you hire a sexual assault lawyer to evaluate all potential defences.  Some typical defences are "consent" and "honest but mistaken belief in consent".  In some cases, the allegations are simply false. Whatever the case, the consequences for the accused are high. Not only does the accused face the social stigma and possible jail, but he or she may be registered on the Sexual Offender Information Registry.  

David Chow has run hundreds of trials in his legal career.  If you have been charged with a sexual assault in Alberta, call for a free telephone consultation. David is a Calgary sexual assault lawyer of choice.  Don't choose just any criminal lawyer, choose the right one.  Choose wisely.

403.452.8018

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Recent Case Results

R. v. J.L.L.

R. v. J.L.L.

(Calgary P. C. - Assault). JLL was charged with assault arising from an incident with a condo board and landlord. In this case, JLL arrived home to find uninvited persons in the home. JLL responded by attempting to force these persons out of the apartment. ...
R. v. L.D.L.

R. v. L.D.L.

(Calgary, P. C. - Assault Causing Bodily Harm). In Canada, there are several kinds of assault. Common assault (sometimes referred to as "simple assault") is defined as a non-consensual touching of another.  Proof of a degree of force is not required to prove an assault. ...
R. v. N.B.B.

R. v. N.B.B.

(Medicine Hat, P. C. - Domestic Assault). Assault is a commonly charged criminal offence. Domestic assault is likely one of the most prevalent offences dealt with by criminal law courts today. For approximately the last two-decades, criminal law courts in Alberta have had courtrooms dedicated specifically to cases of domestic violence. ...
R. v. L.K.

R. v. L.K.

(Cochrane, P. C. - Domestic Assault). The practice of criminal law is not only about the law and procedure, it is often a practice between people who have a genuine interest in responding to a situation without making things worse by way of the imposition of a criminal record. LK's case was precisely this type of case. L. K. ...
R. v. K.K.A

R. v. K.K.A

(Calgary, P. C. - Assault Causing Bodily Harm). KKA was charged with assault causing bodily harm arising from an alleged attack in a parking lot in Calgary. The police investigation consisted of a video depicting an assault. Notwithstanding the video, KKA had a plethora of defences, including "identification". ...
R. v. K.D.

R. v. K.D.

(Okotoks, P. C. - Assault Causing Bodily Harm). KD was charged with assault causing bodily harm arising from a physical altercation with a family member. The trial was heard in Okotoks by an experienced and erudite Provincial Court Judge. The issues in KD revolved around self defence and credibility. ...
R. v. I.L.

R. v. I.L.

(Calgary, P. C. - Assault). There are generally 4 paths to defending an assault or assault type allegation: (1) did not occur, (2) identification, (3) self defence or (4) consensual fight. Had the case of IL going to trial, it is likely that three of four defences would have applied. ...
R. v. M.D.D.

R. v. M.D.D.

(Calgary, P. C. - Aggravated Assault). MDD was charged with aggravated assault arising from a one-punch incident that occurred outside of a downtown nightclub in Calgary, Alberta. MDD was found "not guilty" after trial after the judge agreed that MDD acted in "self defence". Self defence is a "defence of justification". ...
R. v. T.C.C

R. v. T.C.C

(Red Deer, P. C. - Assault Causing Bodily Harm).  In any assault case a competent criminal defence lawyer will immediately evaluate the defences of justification: consensual fight and self defence. TCC was charged with assault causing bodily harm. Both defences of justification had an air of reality. ...