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Criminal Sexual Conduct

Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorneys St. Paul, MN

Challenging Accusations in Dakota County and Washington County

If you were charged with a criminal sexual conduct offense, you need a lawyer on your side ready to do everything in their legal power to fight the accusations. These matters are taken extremely seriously, and the prosecution will work hard to land a conviction. If you're found guilty of the crime, you could be sentenced to prison, fined, and/or ordered to register as a sex offender. The penalties can have lasting consequences. For example, you might suffer a ruined reputation, have difficulty finding a job, or be required to notify the community you move to that you're a registered sex offender.

When you fight your charge with the help of a skilled St. Paul criminal sexual conduct attorney, you increase the chances of obtaining a favorable outcome, such as having the charges reduced or the case dismissed. Backed by over 80 years of combined experience, our St. Paul criminal sexual conduct lawyers know how to effectively challenge CSC allegations. We have handled tens of thousands of cases and hundreds of jury trials, and we have intimate knowledge of the court system and know what to expect from the prosecution. Our team will explore every legal option and expend all our resources to seek a favorable result for you.


We do what's most effective for our clients. Call Rogosheske, Rogosheske & Atkins, PLLC at (651) 413-9004 today.


Criminal Sexual Conduct Degrees in Minnesota

Minnesota law defines five degrees of criminal sexual conduct, and the charge a person could be facing depends on the specifics of the circumstances. Most of the offenses are felonies, while one is a gross misdemeanor. Regardless of the level, any accusation of CSC must be taken seriously. Our St. Paul criminal sexual conduct attorneys can provide the defense you need.

First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct in MN

This offense occurs when a person has sexual contact with someone under 13 years of age or sexual penetration with another individual, and:

  • The alleged victim is younger than 13 years of age and the person is more than 3 years older than them;
  • The alleged victim is between 13 and 15 years of age and the person is more than 4 years older than them;
  • The person threatened to cause great bodily harm to the alleged victim or someone else;
  • The person used force or coercion or knew the alleged victim was mentally impaired and caused injury;
  • The person engaged in the conduct with one or more other people and the alleged actor or accomplice(s) used force or coercion or had a dangerous weapon on them; or
  • The person had a significant relationship with the alleged victim who was under 16 years of age and they engaged in the conduct, or under the same circumstances, they acted with one or more other individuals, caused injury, or repeatedly engaged in the conduct

First-degree criminal sexual conduct is penalized by up to 30 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $40,000.

Minnesota Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree

A person may be charged with this offense if they sexually contact another individual, and:

  • The alleged victim is younger than 13 years of age and the person is more than 3 years older than them;
  • The alleged victim is between 13 and 15 and the person is more than 4 years older than them;
  • The person threatened the alleged victim with great bodily harm (either to them or another person);
  • The person had a dangerous weapon on them;
  • The person used force or coercion or knew the alleged victim was mentally impaired and caused injury;
  • The person engaged in the conduct with one or more other individuals and they or the accomplice(s) used force or coercion or had a dangerous weapon on them; or
  • The person had a significant relationship with the victim who was under 16 years of age, or under the same circumstances, one or more accomplices engaged in the conduct with them, they caused injury to the alleged victim, or the act was committed repeatedly

A conviction for second-degree criminal sexual conduct may result in imprisonment for a maximum of 25 years and/or a maximum fine of $35,000.

3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct MN

This offense is charged when a person has sex with another, and:

  • The alleged victim was under 13 years of age and the person was more than 3 years older than them;
  • The alleged victim was between 13 and 15 years of age and the person was more than 2 years older than them;
  • The person used force or coercion;
  • The person knew the alleged victim was mentally impaired;
  • The alleged victim was between 16 and 17 years of age and the person was more than 4 years older than them and had a position of authority over them
  • The person had a significant relationship with the alleged victim who was between 16 and 17 years of age, or under the same circumstances, force or coercion was used to commit the offense, injury resulted, or the act was done repeatedly;
  • The person was a psychotherapist, member of the clergy, employee of a treatment or correctional facility, special transportation worker, massage therapist, or peace officer and they used their position to initiate the conduct; or
  • The person used deception to make the alleged victim believe that the act was for medical purposes

Depending on the circumstances, a conviction may result in a maximum of 5 or 15 years' imprisonment. The maximum fine that may be imposed is $30,000.

Minnesota Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree

A person could be charged with this offense if they have sexual contact with another under any of the following circumstances:

  • The alleged victim was under 13 years of age and the person was more than 3 years older than them;
  • The alleged victim was between 13 and 16 years of age and the person was more than 4 years older than them;
  • The person used force or coercion;
  • The person had a significant relationship with the alleged victim who was between 16 and 17 years of age, or under the same circumstance, force or coercion was used, injury was caused, or the offense involved repeated acts over an extended period;
  • The person was a psychotherapist, member of the clergy, treatment or correctional facility worker, special transportation worker, massage therapist, or peace officer and they used their position to initiate the conduct; or
  • The person deceived the alleged victim into believing the conduct was for medical purposes

If the person is found guilty, they could be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 10 years and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $20,000.

Criminal Sexual Conduct 5th Degree MN

This offense occurs when a person does either of the following:

  • Has nonconsensual sexual contact with another, including taking off or attempting to take off the alleged victim's clothing and making the alleged victim touch the person's intimate parts; or
  • Masturbates or exposes their genitals to a child under 16 years of age

If the offense is charged as a gross misdemeanor, the conviction penalties include up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $3,000. If it's a felony, the maximum term of imprisonment is 7 years, and the maximum fine is $14,000.

Contact Rogosheske, Rogosheske & Atkins, PLLC Immediately

If you've been accused of any degree of CSC, it's imperative that you seek legal representation right away. Our skilled St. Paul criminal sexual conduct lawyers can guide you through the process of defending your rights and freedoms from the beginning of your case until its resolution.

What is Criminal Sexual Conduct in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, five statutes concern offenses involving sex-related acts. Broadly defined, these laws prohibit sexual penetration or sexual contact that is unwanted or committed against a person with whom the actor has a specific relationship.

Sexual penetration is defined as:

  • Sexual intercourse, oral sex, or anal intercourse
  • Entering the genital or anal opening of the actor or the alleged victim with any part of the body of either person or another individual, or by an object used by any person

Sexual contact is defined as:

  • Touching the actor's, alleged victim's, or another person's intimate parts by anyone
  • Touching the clothing covering another person's intimate parts
  • Making the actor's sperm touch the alleged victim's body or clothing

To discuss your case with one of our criminal sexual conduct attorneys St. Paul, MN, reach out to us by calling (651) 413-9004 or submitting an online contact form.


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