Farmington Hills Criminal Sexual Conduct Lawyers

Being accused of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) is life-altering. Our experienced Farmington Hills criminal sexual conduct lawyers are here to guide you through the uncertainty and help you navigate the challenges ahead. A single allegation can separate you from your children, cost you your career, and place you under the glare of Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) for decades, or even for life. At Blank Law, PC, we draw on the elite prosecutorial backgrounds of our founders, Attorney Nicole Blank Becker and Attorney Christopher Coyle, both former Chiefs of the Sex Crimes Unit, to deliver informed, strategic, and compassionate defense when everything is at stake.

Prosecutorial Insight on Your Side

Nicole Blank Becker spent years inside the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, ultimately leading the Sex Crimes & Child Abuse Unit. Christopher Coyle served as Chief of the Sexual Assault Unit in neighboring Genesee County. They trained detectives, approved warrants, and tried the most challenging CSC cases in Oakland County and across Michigan before dedicating their careers to defending the accused. That insider knowledge lets our criminal sexual conduct defense team anticipate charging decisions, detect investigative shortcuts, and challenge evidence long before trial.

What Counts as Criminal Sexual Conduct in Michigan?

Michigan divides CSC into four degrees, each tied to specific factual allegations:

• First-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520b) involves sexual penetration plus an aggravating factor—force or coercion with injury, a victim under 13, a weapon, multiple actors, or the accused being in a position of authority. It is a life felony; if the victim is under 13 and the accused is 18 or older with a prior qualifying conviction, it carries mandatory life without parole. 
• Second-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520c) covers sexual contact (not penetration) combined with the same aggravators as first degree. It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and mandatory electronic monitoring when the victim is under 13.
• Third-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520d) addresses penetration with factors such as a victim aged 13–15, coercion through force or incapacity, or a teacher/administrator having sex with a student. It is a 15-year felony.
• Fourth-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520e) is a high-court misdemeanor (treated as a two-year felony) involving sexual contact plus circumstances like force, a victim aged 13–15, or the defendant being a mental health professional. 

Penalties Go Far Beyond Prison

A CSC conviction triggers:

• Lifetime or tier-based SORA registration. Although a February 2025 federal ruling struck down parts of SORA, removing mandatory lifetime registration for roughly 17,000 people, most CSC convictions still require registration, community notification, residency restrictions, and in-person reporting.
• Electronic monitoring. First- and second-degree convictions involving minors require a GPS tether for life.
• Loss of professional licensure and employment. Healthcare workers, teachers, and even engineers with security clearances can see their licenses revoked.
• Immigration consequences. Nearly every CSC offense is a deportable aggravated felony for non-citizens.
• Family-court ramifications. CPS investigations, no-contact orders with minors, and loss of custody rights often follow quickly.

How Farmington Hills CSC Investigations Start

Most cases originate with:

• Direct police report. The Farmington Hills Police Department or the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office interviews the complainant, often alongside CARE House forensic nurses.
• School or medical-mandated reporting. Teachers, doctors, and counselors must file reports if they suspect abuse.
• Internet-crimes unit probes. State and federal cybercrime task forces monitor file-sharing networks for suspected child pornography downloads and obtain IP address subpoenas.

Nicole Blank Becker and Christopher Coyle honed the checklists detectives use to secure warrants; we know which steps should appear in every report, chain-of-custody logs, SANE-kit documentation, forensic-interview DVDs, and we seize on missing items to undermine probable cause.

Strategic Defenses We Tailor to Your Case

• Motive-to-fabricate & credibility attacks. False allegations often arise during divorces, custody disputes, or teenage peer conflicts. We dig into digital footprints, prior statements, and witness bias.
• Consent & capacity arguments. In cases involving teenage peers, we challenge proof of age difference and whether the prosecution can rebut a good-faith belief in age.
• Forensic reliability challenges. We retain former MSP and FBI lab analysts to scrutinize DNA mixtures, latent fingerprints, and Cellebrite phone extractions.
• Polygraph as leverage. Michigan uniquely allows the defense to request a police-monitored polygraph under MCL 776.21 (5). A passed exam can persuade prosecutors to dismiss or reduce charges.
• Speedy pre-charge advocacy. Because CSC warrants require prosecutorial sign-off, early intervention lets us present exculpatory texts, SnapChat messages, or expert affidavits before a formal filing.

Pre-Charge Representation Can Change Everything

Many people first learn they are under investigation when an Oakland County detective calls “just to talk.” Do not meet without counsel. Our Farmington Hills criminal sexual conduct lawyers contact the detective on your behalf, confirm whether a warrant is pending, and, in many instances, arrange a voluntary interview under terms that protect you or decline interviews entirely. In past Farmington Hills investigations, the timely preservation of evidence (such as ring-camera footage, Uber GPS logs, or swipe-card data) has prevented cases from ever reaching court.

Court Process in Oakland County

Farmington Hills CSC cases are heard at the 47th District Court for arraignment and preliminary examination, then transferred to the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac for trial. Understanding each judge’s pre-trial motion preferences, evidentiary-hearing schedules, and sentencing tendencies helps us craft a roadmap that minimizes risk and surprises.

Why Choose Blank Law, PC?

• Prosecutorial experience you can’t fake. Very few defense firms can claim that their lead attorneys created the protocols that police still use today.
• Exclusive focus on sex crimes defense. Unlike volume-practice firms, we cap our caseloads so that every client receives full-team attention.
• Local credibility. Prosecutors and judges in Oakland County are aware of our reputation for meticulous preparation, which results in more favorable plea offers and trials proceeding on a level playing field.
• Cutting-edge experts. We maintain relationships with forensic psychologists, pediatric medical specialists, and digital forensics examiners who testify regularly in Michigan courts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to register as a sex offender?
Nearly all CSC convictions trigger registration under SORA, though recent federal decisions may shorten or remove lifetime requirements for some defendants. We evaluate whether constitutional challenges or tier reductions apply to your facts. 

Can a minor be charged with CSC?
Yes. Michigan prosecutes juveniles for CSC and may designate them as “public-sexual-offenders,” requiring registration. Diversion or consent-based defenses may keep a youth off the registry.

Do I need a lawyer if I’m only being investigated?
Absolutely. Early representation allows us to attend polygraphs, monitor search warrant requests, and present evidence that can help head off charges.

Take the First Step Toward Your Defense

If you or a loved one is facing CSC allegations in Farmington Hills, do not face the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office alone. Contact Blank Law, PC today for a confidential consultation. Our former Sex Crimes Unit Chiefs will review your case personally, outline immediate protective steps, and craft a defense strategy designed to safeguard your freedom, your family, and your future.

Blank Law, PC
Aggressive Farmington Hills Criminal Sexual Conduct Defense
Phone: (248) 515-6583 | Available 24/7 for emergencies