Aggravated sexual assault is a serious offence in Australia, and if you have been accused of aggravated sexual assault, you risk going to prison for up to 20 years if proven guilty. As a result, it's critical to obtain the services of a criminal defense lawyer. Here's how these professionals can help you.

1. Put Together a Strong Case

Aggravated sexual assault consists of a number of components, and if you are accused, the prosecuting lawyer has to prove that your actions meet all the criteria of the crime. At the same time, your defense lawyer needs to fight against those charges and prove that you did not commit aggravated assault.

Note that aggravated assault involves a lot more than many other types of sexual assault. That's also why this type of assault carries a worse penalty than other types of assault. Because there are so many elements to this crime, it's critical to get a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced dealing with clients accused of this type of crime in particular. That can help to ensure he or she puts together a strong case in your favour.

2. Convince the Court of the Nature of Your Relationship

One of the defining traits of aggravated sexual assault is that the assailant must have some type of control over the victim. This can happen in cases where the alleged victim has a physical or cognitive impairment, and that's typically hard to argue.

However, in other cases, the crime can be classed as aggravated because the victim was under the authority of the assailant. For instance, this may occur in boss-employee or teacher-student relationships. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can help you illustrate the nature of your relationship with the victim to the court to prove that you were not in a position of authority.

3. Help You decide When to Plead Guilty

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can often look over a case and have a good idea if you are going to win or not. If the lawyer believes that you are likely to be convicted for the crime, he or she can advise you of when it makes sense to enter a guilty verdict instead of fighting the charge. Typically, when you enter a guilty verdict, that shows remorse to the courts, and you may even receive a reduced sentence.

If you have been accused of aggravated sexual assault or any other criminal offense, you should contact a lawyer immediately. They can help you move forward.