Consultations by Appointment Only
A sex crime accusation can begin long before any charge, with a call from a detective or a letter from a school. A Portland sex crime lawyer can explain the process and your rights, whether you have been charged or are being investigated.
A former Maine Assistant District Attorney on our team
Felony defense in all 16 Maine counties
Offices in Kennebunk, Brunswick and Portland
Confidential. Reviewed by an attorney, not an intake service.
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Some cases are investigated for weeks before any charge. The first contact may be a detective asking for a conversation.
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Maine uses charges such as gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact. Maine’s criminal code has no crime named “rape,” so a rape defense lawyer in Portland, Maine is usually defending a gross sexual assault charge.
Phones, messages and online accounts are often part of these cases.
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Some convictions carry sex offender registration, which is separate from any sentence.
The charge Maine uses for exposure.
Not sure what you are facing? Use the form to request a consultation.
Charged outside the city? Cases from South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, Falmouth, Gorham and Windham are also heard here. If you need a sex crime lawyer near South Portland, Maine, or a sexual assault lawyer in Westbrook, Maine, this is your courthouse.
We are on Commercial Street along the Portland waterfront, in the Old Port.
Fill in the form or call 207-571-8146 to set up a consultation.
Police gather statements and other evidence.
If a charge is filed, bail conditions are set and apply right away.
Felony-level charges generally go to a grand jury for indictment.
The State shares its evidence with the defense.
The prosecutor and the defense meet to discuss the case.
If the case is not resolved, it can go to motions and then trial.
Founder and Managing Attorney William T. Bly is a seasoned trial lawyer with two decades of experience defending clients in Maine state and federal courts against charges ranging from OUI and drug trafficking to manslaughter and serious sexual assault, drawing on advanced training from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College.
With nearly 25 years of experience as a former Maine Assistant District Attorney, seasoned trial attorney, and winning appellate advocate before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Attorney Feldman now brings rigorous preparation, an educator’s clarity, and nonjudgmental compassion to his criminal defense clients.
Sex crime cases from Portland are heard at the Cumberland County courthouse, 205 Newbury Street, in the Unified Criminal Docket. Felony-level charges generally go to a Cumberland County grand jury first. Cases from South Portland, Westbrook and other nearby towns are heard in the same building.
That is your decision. Everyone has the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and what a person says to police can be used as evidence. Some people choose to speak with a lawyer first. A Portland, Maine sex crimes defense attorney can explain your rights.
It depends on the specific offense. Maine assigns registration tiers by statute, and some convictions carry no registration requirement at all. The tier sets how long registration lasts. A sex crime attorney in Portland, Maine can explain what a particular charge could mean for registration.
It can happen, but it depends on the facts and the evidence, and no lawyer can promise it. A grand jury can decline to indict, a prosecutor can dismiss, and a court can exclude evidence. A Cumberland County sex crime attorney can explain which outcomes are possible.
There is no set timeline. It depends on the charge, whether it goes to a grand jury, how much evidence there is, and whether motions or a trial are needed. Felony cases generally take longer than misdemeanors. A lawyer can explain the likely steps after reviewing the case.
Every situation is different, and this page cannot give advice about yours. It can help to know your rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. You can request a consultation with our Portland office using the form above.
Our office is in the Old Port, close to the courthouse where Portland cases are heard, and a Portland sex crime lawyer on our team can explain the process. We focus on criminal defense, and meetings are by appointment. Call 207-571-8146 or use the form.
We are a boutique law firm, and we stand out by prioritizing our clients’ well-being. At The Maine Legal Group, our experienced team offers personalized attention in both criminal defense and divorce cases.
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