Bend Child Molestation Attorney

State & Federal Defense for Child Molestation Charges in Deschutes County

Child molestation charges carry consequences that reach far beyond a courtroom. A conviction in Oregon can mean decades in prison under mandatory minimum sentencing, lifetime sex offender registration, and a permanent criminal record that can’t be expunged. At Ward Grover & Thomas, we represent individuals facing these charges in both state and federal courts, serving clients throughout Deschutes County with over 50 years of combined criminal defense experience.

The period between investigation and formal charges is often the most critical window in these cases. Contacting a child molestation attorney before charges are filed can help avoid investigative missteps that compromise your defense. We’ve handled sex crime cases since 2011, and we understand what’s at stake from the moment allegations surface.

Call Ward Grover & Thomas today at (541) 312-5150 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our child molestation lawyer in Bend.

How Oregon Law Defines Child Molestation

Oregon statutes don’t use the term “child molestation” as a standalone charge. Instead, conduct that falls under this category is prosecuted under several statutes in ORS Chapter 163, depending on the specific acts alleged. Which charge applies matters because penalties and mandatory minimums differ by offense.

Charges commonly associated with child molestation allegations include:

• Sexual abuse in the first degree (ORS 163.427): Applies when the victim is under 14, when force is used, or when the victim is incapable of consent. This is a Class B felony and a Ballot Measure 11 crime.
• Sexual abuse in the second or third degree: Covers a broader range of prohibited sexual contact with minors.
• Rape, sodomy, or unlawful sexual penetration: Felony charges that carry some of the longest mandatory minimums under Measure 11.
• Encouraging child sexual abuse: Covers possession or distribution of child pornography and using a child in sexually explicit displays.

Oregon law also bars ignorance of the victim’s age as a defense when the charge depends on the victim being under 16, under ORS 163.325. Our attorneys can identify which charges apply and where the prosecution’s theory has weaknesses.

Penalties for Child Molestation Convictions in Oregon

Oregon’s Ballot Measure 11 makes child molestation charges among the most serious in the state. In most cases, judges can’t impose a lesser sentence than the mandatory minimum, and defendants can’t be paroled before serving it in full. Oregon law provides narrow exceptions for certain offenses, including Sexual Abuse I under specific conditions, but those exceptions don’t apply to the most serious charges.

The sentencing consequences by charge type include:

• Sexual abuse in the first degree (ORS 163.427): 75-month mandatory minimum, no parole, no reduction for good behavior.
• Rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree: Mandatory minimums of 100 months or more.
• Class A felony sex offenses: Up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $375,000.

Beyond incarceration, a conviction triggers sex offender registration under ORS Chapter 163A, which restricts where a person may live, work, and travel. Probation typically requires completion of an approved treatment program and submission to polygraph examinations. Unlike many criminal convictions, sex crime convictions in Oregon generally can’t be sealed or expunged. The record is permanent. Measure 11 also applies to defendants aged 15 and older, so juveniles in that age range charged with covered offenses are prosecuted as adults.

Defense Strategies for Child Molestation Charges in Bend

Every case is different, and a defense that works in one situation may not apply in another. Our attorneys analyze the full record before developing a strategy, and we have access to a team of investigators and resources to support that analysis. When the evidence and circumstances call for it, we’re prepared to take a case to trial.

Defense approaches we may pursue include:

• False Accusations: False allegations in child cases can arise from custody disputes, coaching by adults, improper forensic interview techniques, or a child’s misunderstanding of events. Our investigators can examine the circumstances of the initial disclosure, the child’s other relationships, medical records, school records, and the child’s own writings to uncover inconsistencies.
• Forensic Evidence Challenges: Physical and DNA evidence can be contested on chain of custody grounds, methodological reliability, or the qualifications of prosecution expert witnesses.
• Constitutional Violations: Evidence obtained through unlawful searches or other Fourth Amendment violations can be challenged and potentially suppressed before trial, which may weaken the prosecution’s case.
• Alibi: When supported by evidence, establishing that a client wasn’t present at the time and place alleged can be a straightforward defense.

Our firm has obtained a Not Guilty jury verdict on charges including Attempted Rape I, Sexual Abuse I (a Measure 11 offense), Sexual Abuse III, and Assault IV. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect how seriously we prepare and litigate these cases.

Reach Our Bend Child Molestation Attorneys Today

The stakes in a child molestation case demand immediate, experienced attention. We represent clients from the moment allegations arise through investigation, pretrial motions, and trial in Deschutes County Circuit Court and federal court. The sooner we’re involved, the more options may be available.

Contact Ward Grover & Thomas today to speak with a Bend child molestation attorney about your case.