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Rape

Do you think that you could be under investigation or were you already arrested in the Research Triangle area for an alleged rape? Even if you are completely confident in your innocence, do not say anything to authorities until you have contacted the Coolidge Law Firm.

Raleigh criminal defense attorney David Coolidge aggressively defends clients accused of sex crimes in communities throughout Wake County, including Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Apex, Cary, and Fuquay-Varina. Our firm also represents students at such local colleges as Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Shaw University, and Duke University. You can have our lawyer review your case and help you understand all of your legal options as soon as you call to schedule a free initial consultation.

Rape Defense Attorneys in Raleigh

Few sexual offenses are prosecuted as aggressively as rape. People accused of these crimes can be sentenced to very lengthy prison terms and have their lives dramatically altered.

While every person accused of a crime is entitled to a presumption of innocence, individuals who are accused of rape can often feel as though friends, family, and co-workers have already judged them guilty. Alleged offenders in these cases need legal counsel familiar with these matters in order to expose false or exaggerated allegations.

(919) 239-8448

North Carolina Rape Offense Information Center

How are rape crimes classified in North Carolina?
What are the possible prison sentences if alleged offenders are convicted?
Where can I learn more about rape in Raleigh?

Forcible Rape Charges in Wake County

State law in North Carolina establishes two different degrees of rape. An alleged offender commits second-degree forcible rape under North Carolina General Statute § 14-27.22 if that person engages in vaginal intercourse with an alleged victim either:

By force and against the will of the other person; or

Who is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know the other person is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

Second-degree forcible rape is a Class C felony

An alleged offender commits first-degree forcible rape under North Carolina General Statute § 14-27.21 if that person engages in vaginal intercourse with another person by force and against the will of the alleged victim, and does any of the following:

Employs or displays a dangerous or deadly weapon or an article which the alleged victim reasonably believes to be a dangerous or deadly weapon;

Inflicts serious personal injury upon the alleged victim or another person; or

The alleged offender commits the offense aided and abetted by one or more other persons.

First-degree forcible rape is a Class B1 felony

A person convicted of second-degree or first-degree forcible rape has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the alleged offender have any rights related to the child under Chapter 48 or Subchapter 1 of Chapter 7B of the North Carolina General Statutes.

Rape Penalties in Raleigh

Under North Carolina’s “structured sentencing” method of sentencing and punishing criminals, alleged offenders are classified based on the severity of their crimes and on the extent and gravity of their prior criminal records. Lesser degrees of felony may result in lesser punishments such as intermediate or community punishments, but all rape offenses are punishable by active punishments—meaning that convictions result in prison time.

The prior criminal records of alleged offenders are assigned a point value that determines their “prior record level score” that can increase the lengths of sentences. Sentencing ranges are further staggered by mitigated ranges for cases with more mitigating factors, aggravated ranges for cases with more aggravating factors, and presumptive ranges for cases with an equal amount of or no mitigating factors and aggravating factors.

Alleged offenders accused of second-degree or first-degree forcible rape could face the following ranges of possible prison sentences:

	Prior Record Level I (0-1 point)	Prior Record Level II (2-5 points)	Prior Record Level III (6-9 points)	Prior Record Level IV (10-13 points)	Prior Record Level V (14-17 points)	Prior Record Level VI (18+ points)
Class B1	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
Aggravated	240–300 months	276-345 months	317-397 months	365-456 months	Life Without Parole	Life Without Parole
Presumptive	192-240 months	221-276 months	254-317 months	292-365 months	336-420 months	386-483 months
Mitigated	144-192 months	166-221 months	190-254 months	219-292 months	252-336 months	290-386 months
Class C	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
Aggravated	73-92 months	83-104 months	96-120 months	110-138 months	127-159 months	146-182 months
Presumptive	58-73 months	67-83 months	77-96 months	88-110 months	101-127 months	117-146 months
Mitigated	44-58 months	50-67 months	58-77 months	66-88 months	76-101 months	87-117 months

North Carolina Resources for Rape Crimes

North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NC DPS) | Rape Victim Assistance Program —
Visit this section of the DPS website to learn more about the Rape Victim Assistance Program. You can find all of the requirements as well as answers to frequently asked questions. You can also find provider information and information about crime victim compensation.

Department of Public Safety
512 N. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 733-7974

InterAct of Wake County, North Carolina — InterAct is a private nonprofit United Way agency that provides safety, support, and awareness to victims and survivors of rape and other sexual offenses. On this website, you can learn more about the services InterAct provides. In the website’s library section, you can access various reference materials relating to rape, sexual assault, and other offenses.

InterAct’s Family Safety & Empowerment Center
1012 Oberlin Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 828-7501

The Coolidge Law Firm | Raleigh Rape Defense Attorney

If you have been accused of any kind of alleged rape offense in the Research Triangle, it will be in your best interest to make sure you have legal counsel before making any kind of statement to authorities. The Coolidge Law Firm fights to protect the rights of individuals in Wake Forest, Wendell, Zebulon, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, and many other surrounding areas of Wake County.

David Coolidge is an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Raleigh who also helps students accused of sex crimes at such institutions of higher learning in the area as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech), and William Peace University. Call (919) 239-8448 or fill out the contact form below to have our attorneys provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case during a free, confidential consultation.

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I can not say enough good about David Coolidge and the Law Firm! From the moment of our 1st interaction, I could tell that David TRULY cares and has a passion about the cases he takes on. I was anxious and nervous about my case from the beginning. David immediately showed his support and listened with an empathetic ear. From that moment on, I felt as though I knew I could trust him to put his whole heart into helping me with my case. He is intelligent, kind and completely nonjudgmental. He will listen to you and is so very supportive. I really felt, and still do, that he really cared about helping me. His passion for his work and in helping others shines. We VERY HAPPILY, had a GREAT outcome from the case and I could not be happier. As I told him when we left the court room that morning... “David, you have changed my life forever”. I would recommend David and this Law Firm to EVERYONE who is reading this review.

- Brian L.

David Coolidge is a wonderful attorney! I hired him twice for two different cases that I had which were only 2 months apart. He's very thorough and efficient. I was even able to reach him after hours through phone calls, texts, and email. Hopefully I never need his services again but if I am in a similar predicament I would most definitely hire David again.

- Tiffany C.

Excellent Customer Service. I had a Speeding ticket and they resolved it positively with no points on my Driver License. They represented me in Court and by midday on the Court date, they had updated me on the outcome. Very efficient service. I highly recommend them if you are in need of Legal Services.

- Stephen O.

I got a speeding ticket for going 17 over. They sent me a letter in the mail explaining that I could plead improper equipment and get no points on my insurance or license. They even gave me the fees straight out on the letter including court costs. They represented me and made the ticket go away.

- David G.

I cannot say enough about Attorney Coolidge and his staff. He’s handed several matters for me and in every instance he has exceeded my expectations. He even answered a frantic call from me on a Saturday night. I called in desperation not really expecting an answer. Mr. Coolidge delivered on all that he promised and more. I highly recommend.

- Craig S.