Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys Blog
Recently, a father and son from Birch Run were charged with the sexual assault of a young female relative. According to news reports at Mlive.com, 66-year-old Juan Cabello Sr. and 41-year-old Juan Cabello Jr. were charged with multiple sex-related counts after allegedly assaulting a relative over a span of five years. The alleged sexual assault began when the girl was younger than 13.
The two Cabellos were arrested by Michigan State Police on July 17 after prosecutors charged the men with sexually assaulting the young girl beginning in 2008, and continuing through late last year at their Birch Run Township home. Cabello Sr. was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against someone under the age of 13, and one count of second-degree CSC against a relative age 13 through 16. Cabello Jr. faces two counts each of first- and second-degree CSC against a relative.
The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, and were held on $50,000 bonds ordered by Saginaw County District Judge Kyle Higgs at their July 18 arraignment. The Cabellos are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 30.
First-degree criminal sexual conduct is an extremely serious charge, and involves penetration. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life in prison. Individuals who are found guilty of most sex crimes are also required to register for a determined amount of time to life as a sex offender, depending on whether the crime is considered a Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III offense. Being a registered sex offender is often the worst punishment of all for an individual who serves little time behind bars, as it makes finding employment or housing difficult. Society also tends to shun those who are known sex offenders.
In many cases such as the above which involve young children, adults may be wrongly accused. There are occasions on which someone is accused of sexual assault or misconduct by a young person who has been coerced by another adult to make such allegations. In any event, any person who is accused of rape, child molestation, child pornography, or any sex-related offense should make it a top priority to contact a skilled and aggressive Michigan sex crimes attorney. There are many legal options that may result in having the charge dismissed or reduced, helping minimize the damage and potential criminal penalties.