Under Illinois law, sexual abuse – also referred to as sex abuse – is different from sexual assault. Sexual abuse involves an act of sexual conduct, which is committed by the use of force or the threat of force or an act of sexual conduct against someone who cannot consent to the act. One of the major differences between sexual assault and sexual abuse is that sexual abuse victims tend to be minors.
Criminal sexual abuse is prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine (up to $2,500) and jail time (up to one year). On the other hand, if the defendant is 5 years older than the victim, they can be charged with aggravated sexual abuse, which is a Class 2 felony. Similarly, if the sex was not consensual, the charge of sexual abuse can be upgraded to sexual assault, which is a Class 1 felony.
Criminal sexual abuse charges are not something you can defend against on your own – even if you are completely innocent. You need to have a dedicated and accomplished Chicago sexual abuse lawyer, someone who has been through the legal battles before and knows how to make a strong case, in order to protect your reputation and future.