Sexual Assault
Upon conviction of sexual assault charges, the Crown will almost always seek a Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) order, which requires you to comply with registration conditions for 10 to 20 years, sometimes for life. Even without a conviction, the stigma of an allegation alone can damage your relationships, your employment, and your livelihood.
If you have been charged with sexual assault, do not speak to police until you have spoken to a defence lawyer. Remember: anything you say can and will be used against you. People accused of sexual assault are too often treated as guilty before trial. Michael Bloom doesn’t approach his clients that way. He treats you with respect, builds a solid defence, and ensures the media is handled appropriately throughout the case.
Consent in Sexual Assault Cases
Consent is the voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the specific sexual activity in question. It is one of the most contested issues in sexual assault trials. A miscommunication, a mistaken belief, or a complainant who later withdraws consent after the fact can put a person on the defendant’s side of the courtroom. Age, the relationship between the parties, and the surrounding circumstances all factor into how the law assesses consent.
Michael Bloom rigorously cross-examines the complainant’s evidence, scrutinizes every text, message, and witness statement, and challenges any aspect of the Crown’s case that doesn’t hold up under careful review.
Sexual Interference
Sexual interference is defined in the Criminal Code as touching, directly or indirectly, and for a sexual purpose, any part of the body of a person under the age of sixteen. A conviction carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence and can result in up to 14 years in prison. The Crown takes these cases extremely seriously and will push hard for a lengthy sentence.
A SOIRA order, restrictions on attending parks, schools, and other places frequented by young people, and limits on contact with minors (including members of your own family) are all standard consequences. Skilled, thorough defence work is indispensable to protect your record, your reputation, and your ability to live a normal life.
Child Pornography
Child pornography charges include possession, accessing, production, and distribution. Texting, emailing, posting, and sharing images can all qualify as distribution. These charges carry mandatory minimum sentences, and the Crown pushes aggressively for incarceration.
Even without a conviction, the reputational damage from a charge like this can be devastating to your employment, your family, and your standing in the community. If you are facing a child pornography investigation or charge, hire a defence lawyer immediately. Michael Bloom focuses on minimizing the impact of this allegation on your life, challenging police evidence, and, where possible, protecting you from a criminal record.
Voyeurism
Voyeurism charges typically involve secretly observing or recording another person who has a reasonable expectation of privacy, often in a sexual context. A conviction can result in jail time and SOIRA registration. Michael Bloom has resolved numerous voyeurism cases through Conditional Discharges, Section 810 Peace Bonds, and pre-charge resolution, in many instances avoiding any criminal record.
Prostitution and Related Offences
Prostitution law in Canada has shifted considerably over in recent years. Several provisions have been struck down as unconstitutional, while others remain on the books and are still actively prosecuted, including:
- Communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services
- Procurement (including running an escort agency or employing sex workers)
- Contacting an escort service online to arrange paid sexual contact
- Living off the avails of prostitution (pimping)
These charges are embarrassing to face, and this legal area is often changing and can be clouded with uncertainty. An experienced defence lawyer knows how to have charges dropped, kept out of the public eye, or resolved through a diversion program where eligibility allows.
Michael Bloom understands the stigma that comes with any sexual offence allegation. Trust his thorough, prosecutorial-trained approach to protect your record, keep your name off any sex offender registry where possible, and shield you from the lifelong consequences of these charges.