COLUMBUS OHIO

Rape Defense Attorney

No one takes rape accusations lightly, least of all the accused.

If you are accused of rape or other sex crimes in Columbus, Ohio, you may be facing some serious jail time, and likely registration with the sex offender registry. Not only that, but you may also experience fallout in your personal life. All this can cause difficulty down the road when it comes to employment, housing, and getting your life back on track.

The good news is that at Hiltner Trial Lawyers, we take these accusations seriously, too. It’s our job to tell your side of the story.

Call 330-475-3164 for a free consultation

"Max was incredibly empathic and communicated every step of the way. Max and his team are consummate professionals, their legal and people skills distinguish them, and I would recommend them to anyone in need of legal aid. Truly grateful!"

- Nicholas M.

Rape Cases in Columbus Ohio

Rape and sexual assault laws can vary widely by state. The definition of rape under Ohio law is pretty standard:

Ohio law has a fairly typical definition of rape:

“any form of unwanted sexual contact obtained without consent and/or obtained through the use of force, threat of force, intimidation, or coercion.”

But Ohio also takes it a step further. Someone can be charged with rape if they did any of the following:

“engaged in sexual conduct with another person who is not their spouse, or is their spouse but lives separately, and:

They substantially impaired that person’s judgment or control in order to prevent resistance, by giving that person drugs, controlled substances or some other intoxicant by force, threat of force or deception;
The other person is less than 13 years old; or
The alleged offender knew or had reasonable cause to believe the other person’s ability to resist or consent was impaired by a mental or physical condition, or advanced age.”

In other words, sexual conduct outside of a marriage under one roof can be considered rape if the person was drugged or under 13, or if the accused knew that the person were unable to consent.
In Ohio, Rape usually leads to a first degree felony charge, which can mean a sentence of up to 11 years. However, there are some circumstances that could lead to a more serious sentence:

Rape is typically considered a first degree felony, but there are some elements that can exacerbate the punishment, such as:

Administering a drug to the victim – leads to mandatory sentence
Using force or coercion – leads to life imprisonment

Why Choose Hiltner Trial Lawyers

At Hiltner Trial Lawyers, we have a reputation for fighting to keep good people out of prison in Columbus Ohio. We have successfully defended many people accused of rape.

Here are some cases we’ve tried in recent years:

A 40-year-old Delaware County, Ohio man was charged with assaulting, raping, and kidnapping his wife in 2005. Max Hiltner was brought in to help try the case by local counsel. This case was originally dismissed, only to be reopened 11 years later in 2016. These charges rested on the word of the alleged victim and local police officers. If convicted, Hiltner’s client could have faced over 30 years in prison. During the four-day trial, Hiltner presented evidence of witness dishonesty and faulty investigation and advocated passionately for his client. This ultimately led the jury to find not guilty verdicts on all felony charges. Out of the 30 years in prison the client was facing, he received zero.

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