Charges

Two Counts of Statutory Rape of Child, NCGS 14-27.25; Two Counts of Indecent Liberties with Child, NCGS 14-202.1; One Count of Statutory Sex Off with Child, NCGS 14-27.30; One Count of Contributing Delinquency of Juvenile, NCGS 14-316.1.

Facing

Facing LIFE in prison for each Statutory Sex Offense; 59 months in prison for each count of indecent liberties with a minor; 120 days for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Description

State vs. 'Confidential Client' - Attorney Patrick Roberts, a criminal defense lawyer for statutory offenses, defended a client who was accused of dating and engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor. The alleged victim and the client met on an 18+ dating application. After conversations with the client's roommates and the minor's father, Attorney Roberts was successful in negotiating a misdemeanor plea deal. The client pleaded guilty to a Class 1 misdemeanor for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Under this plea, the client, who was facing potential felony charges that could have resulted in a lifetime prison sentence, received a "time served" sentence and was released from jail post-plea without any probation. The client also avoided sex offender registration. As a result of Mr. Roberts' defense, the client was released from jail within 2 months of the initial charges.

Result

"Time-served" sentence.

The client was given a "time-served" sentence for a misdemeanor plea, effectively avoiding imprisonment, a felony conviction, probation, and the need to register as a sex offender.