NH Legal Resource | Personal Injury | DWI | Criminal Law | New Hampshire Lawyer

What is sexual assault? How is that different from a rape charge? Those charged with either type of crime can easily get confused with the classifications of crimes in New Hampshire and how the state laws affect those who are convicted. If charged with a sex-related crime, understanding the meaning behind the charge is crucial in determining the best course of legal action.

What is Sexual Assault?

A sexual assault charge is a broadly defined term that can include a rape charge, and any number of other sexually-related crimes. Essentially, sexual assault is a statutory offense that refers to any sexual act, circumstance, or behavior that was committed without consent to another person. Sexual assault charges include:

• Attempted rape
• Rape
• Indecent exposure
• Child pornography/child sex abuse
• Groping
• Sexual harassment
• Lewd conduct
• Prostitution or solicitation of a prostitute

When charged with sexual assault, the authorities will determine the specific type of assault that the crime falls under.

What Does a Rape Charge Mean to Me?

If you are charged with rape, hire a NH criminal defense attorney immediately. Don’t discuss your case with the authorities, don’t try to reason with the opposing party, just call a lawyer. Ryan Russman is one of New Hampshire’s leading criminal and rape defense attorneys. His understanding of sexual assault crimes and the related laws can dramatically change the outcome of your case.

Sexual Assault and Rape Penalties in NH

In New Hampshire, the rape penalties are uncompromising. Those who have been found guilty live with a lifetime of regret and penalties that extend for years. Some sexual assault penalties for New Hampshire include:

• A prison sentence – anywhere from a year to life in prison without parole, depending on the severity of the crime
• Lifetime parole supervision
• Included on a state and national database for sex offenders
• Public announcement of criminal record
• Rehabilitation courses
• Restrictions on housing
• Decreased availability for job opportunities

The list could go on. A rape charge easily could turn into a Class B or regular felony which could ruin a number of positive opportunities for your life. Aggravated sexual assault charges are serious crimes that could result in your loss of freedom forever. Depending on the circumstance, rape penalties could be longer in duration and more severe than a sexual assault charge. Rape penalties are not to be taken lightly, contact NH criminal defense attorney Ryan Russman right away.

Hiring a NH Criminal Defense Attorney May be Your Best Option

No matter if you have a sexual assault or rape charge, attorney Ryan Russman can defend you. He doesn’t just review the law and past cases, he thoroughly investigates your case. He researches, interviews, and even conducts medical research to ensure you have the best defense possible. If falsely or wrongly convicted, the courts, and those who love you may see you as a criminal for the rest of your life. Avoid the pain that sexual assault or rape penalties can bring. Talk to Russman today about your case to hear your options.

What is Hindering Apprehension and Prosecution in New Hampshire

Within the category of a criminal mischief charge is the crime of hindering apprehension and prosecution. This is commonly associated with harboring or concealing someone whom you know is wanted by law enforcement. If you have been charged with this offense, immediately contact a New Hampshire criminal defense attorney.

Hindering apprehension, though, also includes providing that individual with transportation, a weapon, or a disguise to elude detection. Warning the wanted person that police are coming is included under this offense.

Further violations include concealing, altering or destroying any evidence that police could use in finding, apprehending or convicting the person at large; and by deceiving the police or obstructing an officer from performing any act that could lead to the apprehension or conviction of that person.

Wiretaps are sometimes used in discovering a wanted person or in gathering evidence against him or her. If you know that any communication, including emails or phones, are being tapped or traced and you alert the person of this, you can be charged with hindering apprehension.

Hindering apprehension is generally charged as a misdemeanor, unless the accused had reason to know that the person he or she is harboring or assisting under the elements of this offense committed a Class A felony. In this case, the accused can be charged with a Class B felony.

A Class B felony carries possible state prison time of 3 and one-half to 7 years.

Examples of hindering prosecution include:

• Concealing evidence that could be used to convict someone
• Laundering money or exchanging it for other bills if you know or suspect the bills are marked is a chargeable offense, as is keeping stolen goods in your possession until they can be distributed.
• Destroying evidence such as discarding a weapon that you knew was used in committing a crime could be charged as a Class B felony.

Criminal Defense for Hindering Apprehension and Prosecution

A person must obviously have been aware that the person being hid or concealed is wanted by the police. Merely having that person stay the night or by giving them funds for a bus is not sufficient without the intent to help the person elude capture.

One of the more famous examples was that of Dr. Samuel Mudd who treated Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, while Booth was fleeing, and allowed him and his cohorts to stay at his residence, but probably was unaware of Booth’s act.

Although hindering apprehension or prosecution in New Hampshire is typically a misdemeanor offense, this should not dissuade anyone charged with this offense from retaining the best possible NH criminal defense attorney. Misdemeanor convictions are included on your criminal record and will be seen by any potential employer or landlord.

Also, your misdemeanor could be upgraded to a Class B felony if evidence reveals that the underlying crime becomes murder or a Class A felony. Felonies involve serious prison time and a conviction can drastically affect your life for years, if not permanently, unless you retain a New Hampshire criminal defense lawyer with experience and knowledge to ensure all your rights are protected and all viable defenses and alternatives researched and presented.

Ryan Russman is one of New Hampshire’s premiere criminal defense attorneys who has successfully represented persons charged with hindering apprehension and prosecution throughout New Hampshire. Contact him today for a free consultation.

Identity Theft Arrest: What Now?

In an increasingly technological world, identity theft has become a familiar crime. It has been a familiar crime in some areas of New Hampshire like Exeter, Portsmouth and Manchester. A New Hampshire identity theft offense is a matter of serious concern since it is classified as a class A felony if the loss exceeds $1,000. Otherwise, it is a class B felony.

Identity theft consists of a number of different acts. These include the following:

• Impersonating someone with the intent to defraud someone out of money, goods, services or anything of value.

• Obtaining the personal records of another person, including social security number, bank account numbers, driver’s license, or other identifying documents without that person’s consent with the intent to pose as that person.

• Obtaining the personal records of another person without their consent to help another party pose as that person.

• Impersonating another person with the intent to obtain confidential information not available to the general public.

How Does Identity Theft Occur?

Most identity theft occurs online by computer savvy hackers who are able to gather data from unprotected computers, or by enticing a computer user into giving up credit card, banking, or other data.

Personal information can also be obtained by stealing mail or by sifting through someone’s garbage or discarded documents.

Skimming is another method used by retail employees who use a device that copies information contained in a credit card’s magnetic strip to create a new card.

Safeguarding your security card number is essential. People could use your number to apply for credit cards, loans, government benefits, and even a driver’s license to slowly drive up debt in your name or slowly drain your bank accounts.

Penalties for Being Convicted of Identity Theft

Most identity theft cases in New Hampshire involve a loss of more than $1,000, which classifies the offense as a class A felony, which carries up to 15 years in prison and/or a $4,000 fine. This usually encompasses credit card fraud. If the loss is under $1,000, it is a class B felony, with imprisonment of up to 7 years. In some circumstances, the theft may be downgraded to a misdemeanor.

If you used a scanning device to skim a credit card’s magnetic strip to obtain information to create a new card, the crime is a misdemeanor. However, if you used the device at least two times for such purposes, the offense is enhanced to a class B felony.

The court will also order you to pay restitution to the victim or to the bank or other financial institution, if it reimbursed its defrauded customer. A civil suit could result in your having to pay $5,000 per incident, or three times the actual damages, whichever is greater.

Retain a New Hampshire Identity Theft Attorney

You face considerable penalties if convicted of identity theft in New Hampshire. You could spend years in prison and be subject to thousands of dollars in fines and restitution to your victims.

Once you are released from prison, you will be on probation and may be subject to certain restrictions that could seriously affect your lifestyle. You also face considerable obstacles in seeking employment, housing, enrolling in school, or in obtaining a professional license.

Don’t trust your freedom and your future to any criminal defense lawyer. Get a free consultation with Ryan Russman, one of New Hampshire’s premiere criminal defense lawyers.