Grand Rapids Criminal Sexual Conduct Lawyers

Facing a criminal sexual conduct (CSC) accusation in Grand Rapids is terrifying. A single allegation can cost you your freedom, your career, and lifelong relationships before you ever see the inside of a courtroom. Our Grand Rapids criminal sexual conduct lawyers marshal more than five decades of combined sex-crimes experience to shield you from those life-altering consequences. Founding Attorney Nicole Blank Becker served as Chief of the Macomb County Sexual Assault Unit, where she tried well over a thousand felony cases. Attorney Christopher Coyle spent 28 years at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, rising to Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Unit. Together, we understand precisely how police and prosecutors build CSC charges, having spent 28 years in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and risen to Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Unit. Together, we know precisely how police and prosecutors build CSC charges, and how to dismantle them. 

The Stakes Could Not Be Higher

Michigan’s CSC statutes (MCL 750.520b-e) expose defendants to penalties that range from one year in jail to life in prison and lifetime sex-offender registration. Even an unfounded rumor can lead to termination from work, loss of child-custody rights, housing denials, and relentless online harassment. The sooner our Grand Rapids criminal sexual conduct lawyers intervene, the better chance we have to protect your reputation, challenge unreliable evidence, and keep you out of the criminal justice system altogether.

Why Our Former Prosecutor’s Insight Matters

• Insider knowledge of charging decisions. We spent years screening police reports, approving warrants, and presenting CSC cases to juries. We anticipate every evidentiary move the State will make and counter it before it gains traction.
• Credibility at the negotiation table. Prosecutors are aware that we have held their job titles and understand the political pressures they face. That credibility translates into better plea offers—and, when necessary, harder-fought dismissals.
• Trial skill forged in thousands of felony hearings. From cross-examining pediatric SANE nurses to exposing flawed digital forensics in child pornography cases, our courtroom record speaks for itself.

Understanding Michigan CSC Charges

Michigan splits the CSC charges into four different degrees: 

First Degree CSC
Involves sexual penetration plus aggravating factors such as a victim under 13, a weapon, or serious injury. A conviction carries up to life in prison and a 25-year mandatory minimum if the complainant is younger than 13, and electronic monitoring for life. 

Second Degree CSC
Unwanted sexual contact without penetration, often charged in child molestation or caretaker cases. Punishable by up to 15 years and lifetime electronic monitoring when the child is under 13. 

Third Degree CSC
Sexual penetration with a teenager 13–15, or with force, two adults alleging force, coercion, or certain position-of-authority relationships. Maximum 15-year felony; mandatory minimum one year. 

Fourth Degree CSC
High-court misdemeanor/low-felony for non-consensual touching. Up to two years in jail and possible sex-offender registration.

Local Courts & Procedures in Grand Rapids

Most CSC cases begin with an arraignment in either the 61st District Court downtown (180 Ottawa Ave NW) or the 63rd District Court on East Beltline Ave. Felony matters are then bound over to the 17th Circuit Court for preliminary examination and trial. Understanding each courtroom’s unwritten rules, how certain judges treat bond conditions, which prosecutors demand pretextual phone calls, and the temperament of local jury pools can be the difference between dismissal and a decade behind bars. 

Our Grand Rapids Criminal Sexual Conduct Defense Blueprint

Early Intervention
We insist that our criminal sexual conduct defense team serve as the liaison between you and the investigator, preventing inadvertent statements that investigators may twist into “confessions.” Among our CSC attorneys in Grand Rapids, our first actions include filing motions to preserve surveillance footage before it is destroyed and demanding the complainant’s electronic communications to uncover motive, bias, or prior false accusations.

Forensic Scrutiny
Smartphones, laptops, and social-media accounts dominate modern sex-crime prosecutions. We partner with certified digital forensic examiners to:

• Verify geolocation metadata and message-timestamp integrity.
• Identify alternative suspects who had access to the device.
• Expose improper cloning or overbroad search warrant execution that violates the Fourth Amendment.

Medical & DNA Challenges
In many CSC cases, prosecutors rely on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) reports that sound damning but often prove medically nonspecific. We know how to rebut claims that minimal redness or microscopic abrasions equate to forced penetration.

Psychological & Memory Issues
Delayed disclosures, therapist-led “memory recovery,” or child-interview techniques can contaminate testimony. We know how to dissect forensic-interview videos for suggestive questioning, ensuring jurors see the difference between a genuine recollection and an implanted narrative.

Negotiation & Litigation
Thanks to their prosecution backgrounds, our Grand Rapids criminal sexual conduct lawyers speak the same language as the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney on your file. If the State’s proof is thin, we press for dismissal or a no-registration misdemeanor. When trial is inevitable, we prepare opening statements that humanize you and jury instructions that guard against passion-over-proof verdicts.

Collateral Consequences We Fight to Prevent

• Sex-Offender Registration: Even a fourth-degree CSC conviction can place you on SORA for 15 years, restricting residence options and daily life.
• Professional Licensing: Teachers, nurses, and other licensed professionals face immediate suspension or revocation of their licenses. We coordinate with licensing board counsel to mitigate fallout.
• Family Court Fallout: A CSC charge often triggers automatic CPS involvement and jeopardizes custody arrangements. Blank Law, PC collaborates with family-law co-counsel to present a unified defense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should I call a lawyer?
Immediately. Even informal police “chats” are designed to lock you into statements later characterized as admissions.

Do I have to take the police polygraph?
No. Polygraphs are tools for investigators, not truth serums. Declining cannot be used against you in court. A state polygraph should first be discussed with your lawyer. 

Can a complainant drop the charges?
Only the prosecutor can dismiss. Yet, a cooperative complainant can sign an affidavit of non-prosecution that we can use to leverage in negotiations.

Will my case make the news?
High-profile CSC arrests sometimes make headlines in local outlets. We craft media strategies, ranging from “no comment” to precision public statements, to protect your privacy and presumption of innocence.

The Blank Law, PC Promise

• You will speak directly with Nicole Blank Becker or Christopher Coyle, not a junior associate.
• Your phone calls are returned within one business day—often the same hour—because anxiety grows in silence.
• Every courtroom appearance is meticulously prepared, from expert lists to pretrial motions challenging forensic science.
• We treat you with dignity, recognizing that an accusation is not a conviction.

What Sets Our Firm Apart in West Michigan

• Courtroom Gravitas: Judges and jurors see two former Sex Crimes Unit Chiefs at the counsel table, a visual reminder that the state’s evidence must stand up to the most rigorous scrutiny.
• Statewide Reach, Local Insights: Although we defend statewide, our criminal sexual conduct attorneys maintain a firm grasp of what is happening in the Grand Rapids courtrooms.
• Holistic Support: We connect clients with trauma-informed therapists and digital footprint consultants to rebuild their personal and professional standing even as the criminal case unfolds.

Take Control Today

Waiting only benefits the prosecution. Contact Blank Law, PC at (248) 515-6583 for a complimentary, confidential strategy session, or use our secure online form. We will immediately begin discussing your case with you. Your future deserves nothing less than the unrelenting defense that two former sex-crimes prosecutors can deliver.