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Facing criminal charges doesn’t mean facing them alone. Pazuki Law Group offers free, confidential consultations so you can understand exactly what you’re dealing with and what your options are—before making any decisions.
Facing criminal charges doesn’t mean facing them alone. Pazuki Law Group offers free, confidential consultations so you can understand exactly what you’re dealing with and what your options are—before making any decisions.
Few criminal charges carry the weight of a sexual assault allegation. The case can affect your work, your family and your reputation long before a court reaches any conclusion. If you have been charged, or police have asked to speak with you, the time to speak with a sexual assault defence lawyer is now, before you say anything to police.
Pazuki Law Group represents people charged with sexual assault and related offences throughout Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Bradford, Barrie and communities across York Region and Simcoe County. As a criminal defence law firm, we start from the presumption of innocence: the Crown must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are also governed by special rules on consent, evidence and records, many of which require applications well before trial.
Consent is defined in the Criminal Code. It means voluntary agreement to the specific sexual activity, at the time it took place. There is no such thing as consent given in advance, and there is no consent where a person is incapable of giving it, or where someone abuses a position of trust, power or authority.
A defence based on an honest but mistaken belief that consent was communicated is narrow. The law requires that the accused took reasonable steps, in the circumstances known to them at the time, to find out whether the other person was consenting. How that applies to a particular case depends entirely on the evidence, which is why a careful review of the disclosure comes before any opinion about the outcome.
Sexual assault cases often involve related allegations, such as assault, uttering threats or breaching release conditions. We defend those alongside the main charge.
We work from the evidence. That means reading every page of disclosure, listening to the recordings, examining the timeline and assessing what the Crown can actually prove.
Cross-examination in these cases is prepared carefully and conducted with restraint, because respect in the courtroom is both required and effective.
You will get a realistic picture of the case, including the difficult parts. The decisions are yours to make, and we make sure you understand what each one involves.
Many people believe that explaining themselves will end the matter. It rarely does. You have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer without delay. Use both. Do not message, call or arrange to meet the complainant, and do not ask anyone else to do it for you.
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Keep anything that may matter later, such as messages, call records, photographs, and travel or work records. Do not edit or delete anything, even material you think looks bad. Preserving the record protects you.
Charges laid in Newmarket and most of York Region are heard at the Newmarket courthouse at 50 Eagle Street West. Simcoe County charges are heard in Barrie, Bradford, Orillia, Collingwood or Midland, depending on where the charge was laid. More serious cases may proceed in the Superior Court of Justice.
Before you speak to police, talk to us privately about the allegation, your conditions and your options.
Someone in custody? Call our 24/7 emergency line: 647-284-2824.
Speak with a lawyer before you agree to anything. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer, and a lawyer can deal with police for you. Anything you say in an interview becomes evidence.
Only the Crown can withdraw a charge. The complainant's position may be taken into account, but it does not decide the matter, and these charges are rarely withdrawn on that basis alone.
A publication ban usually protects the complainant's identity. It does not automatically protect the identity of the accused. Whether a case attracts attention depends on the circumstances.
That depends on your employer, your regulator and the charge. Some professions require you to report a charge. Raise it early so it can be part of the plan rather than an afterthought.
Yes. The consequences of a conviction for a sexual offence are serious and long-lasting, and there may be options you are not aware of. No one should make that decision without advice.
Every legal matter is different. Share a few details about your situation, and our team will contact you to discuss your case, your options, and the next steps.
