Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

The son of a of former Bermuda leader Ewart Brown recently went on trial. He is in court facing dozens of sexual assault charges in Los Angeles stemming from his medical practice. The prosecutors are making claims that the practitioner sexually assaulted 11 of his patients and an undercover vice officer using the guise of performing breast and pelvic checkups on these patients, according to the Associated Press.

Brown entered a not guilty plea to the more than 30 felony sex count charges. He is on $4 million bail and is currently facing a sentence of life in prison if convicted on all of the charges.

Our Orange County defense attorneys understand that these types of allegations can be devastating to a doctor as they are oftentimes falsified. In this particular case, victims alleged that Brown performed a number of breast or vaginal exams on the patients after they complained about pains pertaining to ankle injuries or the flu. One female patient is even claiming that Brown raped her.

Brown was initially charged back in 2008. Brown's attorneys report that none of his patients reported the claims to any office personnel when they occurred.

Sexual assault can be considered as attacks such as rape or attempted rape or any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Typically a sexual assault happens when someone touches a part of another person's body in a sexual way. This touch can occur through clothes, but must happen without that person's consent. Other types of sex acts that fall under the sexual assault category include forced sexual intercourse (rape), sodomy (oral or anal sexual acts), child molestation, incest, fondling and attempted rape, according to The National Center for Victims of Crimes.

Essentially, prosecutors have great discretion in how they charge a sex crime -- much more so than with many other criminal offenses. And many times, the accusations are falsified. A number of recent studies have concluded that roughly 50 percent of rape accusations are falsified.

After being falsely accused of a sexual crime, many have spent years in prison because their case lacked a significant defense. Aside from jail, these types of allegations can be detrimental and can turn lives upside down. Oftentimes people's careers are ruined and close friends and family are lost forever.

Remember, if you are facing sex crime allegations, you do not have to speak with the police. If you are arrested, you don't have to say anything. Explaining yourself and providing an immediate defense will most likely not improve the situation. In many cases it can make your situation much worse. At this point you are urged to contact a lawyer as you are granted the right to competent legal representation under the U.S. constitution.