Sex Offenses

Aggressive, Respected, Experienced Representation
throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties

If you are under investigation or have been arrested for a sex offense you are facing a list of potential penalties and consequences including jail or prison time, fines, a Sexual Deviancy Evaluation and Sexual Deviancy Treatment, a requirement that you provide a DNA sample and a  Register as a Sex Offender.  Call us now, one of our attorneys is avalable to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After Hours Call 253-951-0037

Investigation ∙ Preparation∙ Negotiation ∙ Trial
253-656-4829 ∙ 1-866-346-8448 ∙ Contact Us

The law office of Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S., provides the knowledge and experience that is necessary to ensure that your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly. Our attorneys have over sixty years of combined experience aggressively representing thousands of persons charged with criminal offenses, including Sex Offenses such as:

Rape

Rape of a Child

Child Molestation

Sexual Misconduct with a Child

Comunicating with a Minor for Immoral Purposes

Indecent Liberties

Voyeurism

Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and 

Indecent Exposure

We have aggressively represented persons at every stage of their criminal proceedings including their Initial Appearance, Arraignment, Case Setting, Pretrial, Omnibus Hearing, Trial, Sentencing and Review Hearing. 

After Hours, Weekends and Holidays call 253-951-0037

See our Sex Offenses Information Center for more information.

•· A lawyer at your first hearing: When an accused person has been arrested and is being held in-custody he or she has the right to a hearing within 48 hours to determine probable cause (unless probable cause was determined prior to the arrest). At this "preliminary hearing" the court is required to advise the accused person of (1) the nature of the charge against him or her, (2) that he or she has a right to be represented by a lawyer at every stage of the proceedings, and (3) that he or she has the right to remain silent, and anything said can be used against him or her. If judge is able to find probable cause, he or she then determines whether or not to set bond or bail, which prevents the accused from being released posting some financial guarantee, also sets conditions on the accused person's release, which are meant to control and/or monitor the behavior of the accused while the case is pending.

You are not required to go through this process alone alone. You are entitled to be represented by an attorney. At Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S., we have experience doing what needs to be done in the very short period between the arrest and preliminary appearance to represent our clients at this hearing and to begin preparing their defense. We will prepare material to present to the court such as information about of our client's ties to the community including his or her employment and employment history, family ties and relationships, length of residence in the community, the lack of an extensive criminal record, as well as his or her reputation, character and mental condition, and the willingness of responsible members of the community to both vouch as to the accused persons reliability, and to assist in his or her compliance with the other conditions of release. We will then stand with you at your hearing, present this and other information to the court, and begin the fight to keep you out of jail, and ensure that all of your rights are protected.

•· A lawyer at your arraignment: When an accused person has not been arrested, but is summoned in for his or her first court appearance, the first appearance is usually an arraignment. At this hearing the judge will generally advise you of the nature of the charge, the potential penalties associated with the charge and your rights. The judge may also review evidence that is available to the prosecution and make a finding of probable cause. When this is done he or she may set conditions on your continued release or require bail and take you into custody. As with a preliminary appearance, you are not required to go through this alone. You are entitled to be represented by an attorney. At Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S., we will advise you as to what needs to be done prior to your arraignment to begin preparing your defense and to limit the likelihood that you will be taken into custody. We will prepare material to present to the court to show that you do not pose a threat to fail to appear at future court dates, intimidate witnesses or commit a violent crime. We will then stand with you at your arraignment, provide any necessary information to the court, and begin the fight to keep you out of jail and will make sure that all of your rights are protected.

•· Investigation of charges: Our law firm will fully investigate your Sexual Offense charge, working hard to discover any and all available evidence. This investigation is done with a purpose and we work aggressively to develop each of the available facts which might convince the prosecutor and, if necessary a jury, of your innocence. Where appropriate, we will employ an outside investigator. Our firm generally works with investigators who are previous members of law enforcement and have experience as a police officer and/or detective investigating similar cases. The people that we work with are highly respected professionals with excellent reputations for the quality of their work. Furthermore, they provide us with an insider's view on how the police and prosecution are approaching our client's case. In the past, their involvement in our more complex cases has proven invaluable. Once we have the evidence we begin looking for inconsistencies, irregularities and legal technicalities. If we believe that it was obtained improperly or is technically deficient, we will challenge it and, whenever possible, have it excluded. Inconsistencies are noted, to be utilized at the precise moment that where they can most benefit our client's case.

•· Negotiations/Motions: Once we have reviewed the prosecution's evidence our attorneys identify any challenges that might be available to challenge the admissibility of any material that is harmful to our defense. Where legal arguments are available, we file motions, often extensive, on behalf of our clients to either exclude evidence or, where appropriate, dismiss the case.  Where evidence is excluded, it weakens the government's case, increasing the likelihood that the prosecution will be more open to reasonable plea negotiations.  Depending on the evidence available to the prosecutor, and the jurisdiction, we may be able to negotiate a plea to a lesser charge, or a specific sentencing recommendation. Of course, in some circumstances the prosecution simply refuses to agree to an acceptable disposition. When this happens, our attorneys are prepared to set our Sex Offense cases for trial. And we will prepare and try the case using the full resources of our firm with the single ultimate purpose of a Not Guilty verdict. The decision whether to agree to a plea disposition or set the case for trial will, of course, be yours. But you will not be required to make it until are confident that you have fully consulted with your SBMH attorney and he or she has explained the risks and benefits of each available option and made his or her recommendations.

•· Experienced Trial Lawyers: While most of cases resolve by way of a plea bargain including a plea to a lesser charge, or agreed sentencing recommendation, our law firm has extensive experience trying cases to a jury. Be Aware: many of the firms that claim to be experienced criminal defense attorneys have little or no actual trial experience. Cases are set for trial but, presumably as a result of fear or a lack of self confidence, clients are convinced to plead guilty to the charges as the cases approaches trial. Prosecutors are aware when lawyers and law firms are hesitant to take their cases to trial and this can impact the effectiveness of those attorneys during pre-trial negotiations.

Neither a lack of self confidence, nor fear, have ever been attributed to the attorneys at Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S. Our lawyers have been involved in over a four hundred jury trials. The reputation that we have earned for our preparedness and willingness to take these cases to trial is tremendously important. A person charged with a Sex Offense needs an attorney with this reputation. It's even better when the lawyer is a recognized winner. The attorneys at Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S., are recognized as aggressive, successful and experienced trial attorneys. Our firm's reputation and our attorney's skills allow us to approach each of our client's cases from a position of power. This generally results in the best available disposition for each of the persons who have trusted us with their defense. When we are not able to reach an agreement with the prosecution, each of our client's can be confident that their SBMH attorney is ready to aggressively defend them in front of a jury. This because when we do go to trial we are fully prepared, and always intend on winning.

After Hours, Weekends and Holidays call 253-951-0037

If you have been arrested for a sex offense, if law enforcement wants to question you or if you are the target of a sex offense investigation, make sure you have a criminal defense attorney by your side defending your rights and preparing your defense. Call Stewart Beall MacNichols & Harmell, Inc., P.S. and talk to a lawyer now.

We accept Visa, MasterCard and other payment options.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as legal advice or as a guarantee of the outcome of any future case. This is because every case has unique facts, and no one can ever guarantee results. Furthermore, this information does not establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.