Massachusetts sex crime defense lawyer
handling sensitive cases with discretion and force
Protect your rights and your future
Sex offense allegations bring intense scrutiny, potential incarceration, and sex offender registry (SORB) exposure. Castel & Hall LLP treats these cases with urgency and confidentiality—from college-campus incidents in Boston and Amherst to accusations in Middlesex County. Our statewide
criminal defense team challenges unreliable identifications, shaky timelines, and biased digital snippets while protecting your reputation at every step.
Assault, internet cases, and registry issues
We defend charges including rape and sexual assault, indecent assault and battery, statutory offenses, internet stings, child pornography possession, and prostitution/solicitation. Many convictions trigger SORB classification hearings that affect housing and employment. We prepare you for interviews and evaluations and coordinate expert testimony where needed. If police want a statement,
contact us before speaking to anyone.
Sex Crimes Defense – FAQ
Should I talk to police to “clear things up”?
No. Even short, “informal” interviews create statements that drive charges. Have counsel handle communications, preserve devices, and coordinate any forensic exams.
What happens if I’m contacted during a sting operation?
What happens if I’m contacted during a sting operation?
Do I have to register if charged but not convicted?
Registration follows certain convictions, not mere charges. However, pretrial conditions and publicity can feel like punishment. Defense counsel can also represent you in SORB classification proceedings if registration becomes an issue.
Can consent be a defense?
Yes, in many adult-adult cases. The defense often turns on communications before and after the incident, witness accounts, and forensic consistency. In age-based offenses, consent is not a defense.
What if the accusation is tied to a campus Title IX case?
University processes can run in parallel with criminal cases. Statements in campus hearings can be used against you. Coordinate strategy so your academic defense doesn’t compromise the criminal case.
How are phones and computers handled in pornography cases?
Law enforcement relies on warrants, hash-matching, and forensic imaging. Defenses include lack of knowledge/possession, multi-user devices, or flawed attribution. Chain-of-custody and search scope are frequent motion targets.
What is a dangerousness hearing and should I expect one?
For certain sex charges, prosecutors may seek pretrial detention. A dangerousness hearing tests whether release conditions can ensure safety. Prepared release plans and third-party custodians can make the difference.
Can these cases be sealed or expunged later?
Dismissals and not-guilty outcomes may be sealable; convictions in this category are difficult to seal and typically not expungeable. Record strategy should be part of your defense from day one.
Evidence, experts, and strategic silence
We dig into forensic issues (DNA, device forensics, cloud data), attack warrant affidavits, and use investigators to locate alibi witnesses or exculpatory messages. In consent-based cases, we analyze communications and context rather than letting a single text tell the story. Our multilingual team ensures no nuance is lost in translation for clients who prefer Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Haitian Creole.