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McGuire Law

Columbia Statutory Rape Defense Lawyer

Statutory rape charges in Columbia, South Carolina destroy lives based on consensual relationships between teenagers, Romeo and Juliet situations, or false accusations involving age misrepresentation—yet South Carolina law treats these cases as strict liability offenses where consent is irrelevant and mandatory sex offender registration applies even to young defendants close in age to alleged victims.

Facing Statutory Rape Charges? Your Future Is at Stake - Call Now
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Available 24/7 - Immediate Response for Sex Crime Allegations

Attorney Matt McGuire

Whether you're a college student at USC accused after a relationship with someone who lied about being 18, a young adult charged because your high school girlfriend's parents discovered your relationship, or facing allegations involving online interactions where ages were misrepresented, these charges carry the same devastating consequences as forcible rape despite completely different circumstances. Prosecutors with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office pursue statutory rape cases aggressively in Richland and Lexington County courtrooms, and South Carolina's criminal sexual conduct statutes create felony charges based solely on victim age regardless of relationship context, mutual consent, or defendant's reasonable belief about age.

Matt McGuire has defended statutory rape allegations throughout Columbia for over three decades, understanding how these cases often involve vindictive parents, relationship disputes escalating to criminal charges, or situations where young defendants face lifetime sex offender registration for teenage relationships. Call (888) 499-5738 now for 24/7/365 representation.

The Legal Expertise of McGuire Law

Statutory rape defense requires intimate knowledge of South Carolina's age of consent laws, Romeo and Juliet provisions, and strategies for protecting young defendants from lifetime sex offender registration.

Age of Consent Defense Mastery

Over 30 years defending statutory rape charges in Columbia—understanding how South Carolina's strict liability laws apply and where defenses exist despite harsh statutory frameworks.

Romeo and Juliet Expertise

Aggressively pursuing S.C. Code § 16-3-655 defenses that can reduce felony charges to misdemeanors and prevent lifetime sex offender registration for close-in-age relationships.

False Accusation Defense

Exposing vindictive parents, relationship revenge, and coerced allegations where teenage relationships become criminal charges through family pressure.

Digital Evidence Analysis

Challenging cell phone extractions, social media evidence, and digital communications prosecutors use to establish relationships and victim ages.

Charge Negotiation Success

Negotiating reduced charges to contributing to delinquency or non-sexual offenses that eliminate sex offender registration requirements.

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Specific Charges We Defend

South Carolina's criminal sexual conduct statutes create multiple charge levels based on victim age, with penalties ranging from years to life imprisonment depending on classification.

CSC with Minor (First Degree)

Sexual battery with victim under age 11, carrying mandatory minimum 25 years to life imprisonment without parole—the most serious statutory rape charge.

CSC with Minor (Second Degree)

Sexual battery with victim ages 11-14, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment with mandatory sex offender registration.

CSC with Minor (Third Degree)

When defendant is over 14 and victim is 14 or 15 years old, carrying up to 15 years prison and sex offender registry requirements.

Lewd Act Upon a Child

Sexual contact not constituting sexual battery with victim under 16, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment.

South Carolina Age of Consent

Age 16—sexual activity with anyone under 16 constitutes statutory rape regardless of consent, relationship, or circumstances under South Carolina law.

Romeo and Juliet Provision

Prevents felony prosecution when defendant is 18 or younger and victim is 14 or 15, reducing charges to misdemeanor with up to 5 years.

Strict Liability Warning

South Carolina law makes consent irrelevant and mistake about age generally not a defense. Good faith belief in victim's age is typically inadmissible at trial.

McGuire Law's Core Values

When statutory rape charges threaten to destroy a young person's entire future, you need an attorney who provides fierce advocacy while understanding the human complexity behind these cases.

Non-Judgmental Representation

We understand that statutory rape cases often involve teenage relationships, age misrepresentation, or situations that don't match the predator narrative prosecutors present.

Future-Focused Defense

Every strategy decision prioritizes avoiding sex offender registration—understanding that lifetime registry destroys careers, relationships, and community participation.

Family Support Integration

Working with families to present the full picture of young defendants—their character, accomplishments, and circumstances—to prosecutors and judges.

Confidential Handling

Protecting your reputation throughout proceedings, minimizing publicity, and preserving future opportunities regardless of case outcome.

Aggressive Negotiation

Fighting for reduced charges, deferred prosecution, or alternative resolutions that protect young defendants from permanent sex offender status.

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Common Arrest Scenarios

Understanding how statutory rape investigations begin helps identify defense opportunities and weaknesses in prosecution cases.

Parental Discovery

Parents report consensual teenage relationships to Columbia Police or USC Police seeking criminal prosecution of older partners after discovering the relationship.

School Investigations

Guidance counselors, teachers, or administrators report relationships to law enforcement triggering mandatory reporting obligations and police involvement.

Social Media Evidence

Text messages, Snapchat communications, or Instagram posts revealing relationships and ages become prosecution evidence after discovery.

Dating App Deception

Alleged victims misrepresented ages on Tinder, Bumble, or other platforms leading to criminal charges despite active deception by the accuser.

Medical Reporting

Pregnancy or STI diagnoses at Columbia medical facilities trigger mandatory reporting to law enforcement when patients are under 16.

Breakup Retaliation

Former partners or their families file complaints after relationships end poorly or new relationships begin, weaponizing criminal law for revenge.

The McGuire Law Difference

Statutory rape cases demand an attorney who understands both the legal technicalities and human circumstances—protecting young defendants from lifetime consequences for teenage relationships.

Three Decades of Sex Crime Defense

Matt McGuire has defended statutory rape charges throughout Columbia for over 30 years, protecting young defendants from lifetime consequences in Richland and Lexington County courtrooms.

Former Prosecutor Insight

As a former Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Solicitor, Matt understands how prosecutors build statutory rape cases—and where those cases are vulnerable to attack.

Romeo and Juliet Specialization

Aggressive pursuit of close-in-age defenses that can reduce felonies to misdemeanors and prevent lifetime sex offender registration for teenage defendants.

Local Court Credibility

30+ years practicing in Columbia creates credibility with prosecutors and judges essential to negotiating reduced charges or alternative resolutions.

Registry Avoidance Focus

Every defense strategy prioritizes avoiding sex offender registration—understanding that registry status destroys lives more than prison time in many cases.

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Defense Strategies

Despite South Carolina's strict liability framework, multiple defense strategies exist—from Romeo and Juliet provisions to challenging evidence to exposing false accusations.

Legal Defenses

  • Romeo and Juliet defense for defendants 18 or younger
  • Challenging victim age proof through birth certificates
  • Mistaken age where victim actively misrepresented
  • Lack of sexual battery under statutory definitions

Strategic Options

  • Exposing false accusations and parental coercion
  • Attacking digital forensic evidence quality
  • Negotiating reduced non-sexual charges
  • Constitutional challenges to strict liability

Registration Avoidance Priority

Negotiating reduced charges to contributing to delinquency, assault and battery, or non-sexual offenses can eliminate sex offender registration entirely.

Sentencing Consequences

Statutory rape convictions create devastating consequences extending far beyond prison—lifetime sex offender registration destroys careers, relationships, and community participation.

Sex Offender Registration

Mandatory registration for 10 years to life depending on conviction degree, requiring GPS monitoring, community notification, and quarterly in-person verification.

Prison Sentences

Ranging from up to 15 years (third-degree) to mandatory 25 years to life (first-degree) in South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Public Registry Listing

Name, photo, address, and offense details searchable by anyone, destroying employment and housing opportunities permanently.

Residence Restrictions

Prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, parks, or playgrounds throughout Columbia and surrounding areas.

Employment Destruction

Sex offense convictions eliminate careers in education, healthcare, childcare, government, military, and most professional fields.

Immigration Consequences

Automatic deportation for non-citizens as statutory rape constitutes aggravated felony under federal immigration law.

Rights During Police Encounters

What you say to investigators makes or breaks statutory rape cases. Invoke your rights immediately and contact Matt McGuire before answering any questions.

Never Speak Without Attorney

Statutory rape cases depend heavily on defendant admissions. Never speak to Columbia Police, USC Police, or any investigators without Matt McGuire present.

Invoke Fifth Amendment

State clearly: "I want my lawyer and will not answer any questions" regardless of officer claims about cooperation helping your case.

Refuse Device Searches

Do not consent to phone searches, computer examinations, or DNA collection without warrants—force investigators to obtain court orders.

Never Explain the Relationship

Do not discuss the relationship, victim's age, or your belief about ages—seemingly innocent explanations become incriminating trial evidence.

Decline Pretext Calls

Refuse participation in recorded calls where investigators have alleged victims contact you to elicit admissions or apologies.

Protect Passwords

Do not provide passwords to social media accounts, phones, or devices without attorney guidance and court orders compelling production.

Call Before Police Contact

Romeo and Juliet Provisions

South Carolina's close-in-age exception provides critical protection for teenage defendants—but eligibility requirements are strict and must be proven by the defense.

Statutory Framework

S.C. Code § 16-3-655 provides affirmative defense when defendant is 18 or younger and victim is 14 or 15 at time of relationship.

Misdemeanor Reduction

Eligible defendants still face up to five years imprisonment but avoid felony convictions and lifetime sex offender registry requirements.

Registration Reduction

Registration may be reduced from lifetime to shorter periods or potential exemption depending on specific circumstances and conviction details.

Burden of Proof

Defendant must establish Romeo and Juliet defense applicability through clear and convincing evidence—prosecution doesn't have to disprove it.

Age Calculation Precision

Defendants who were 19 at time of relationship don't qualify even if they just turned 19—precise age at time of conduct matters.

Limited Applicability

Defense only applies to specific charge combinations, not all statutory rape scenarios involving teenagers. Legal analysis is critical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Defendants and families facing statutory rape charges have urgent questions about defenses, consequences, and protecting futures. Here are direct answers.

Is consent a defense to statutory rape in South Carolina?

No. South Carolina treats statutory rape as strict liability—consent is irrelevant. The only question is whether sexual contact occurred with someone under 16.

What if she lied about her age?

Generally not a defense in South Carolina. Mistake of age is typically inadmissible, though limited exceptions may exist when victims actively misrepresented age through fake IDs or adult venues.

What is the Romeo and Juliet law?

S.C. Code § 16-3-655 provides defense when defendant is 18 or younger and victim is 14 or 15, reducing felony to misdemeanor and potentially avoiding lifetime registration.

Will I have to register as a sex offender?

Statutory rape convictions typically require sex offender registration for 10 years to life. Avoiding registration is often the primary defense goal through reduced charges.

Can charges be reduced to avoid registry?

Yes. Negotiating reduced charges to contributing to delinquency, assault and battery, or other non-sexual offenses can eliminate sex offender registration requirements entirely.

Should I talk to police to clear things up?

Never. Statutory rape cases depend on defendant statements. "Clearing things up" or "just talking" are interrogation tactics. Invoke your rights and call Matt McGuire immediately.

What if parents are pressing charges because they're angry?

Vindictive parents can trigger investigations, but prosecutors decide whether to pursue charges. We expose false accusations, parental coercion, and relationship revenge motivations.

Can I get bond on statutory rape charges?

Bond is possible but typically high ($50,000-$250,000) with GPS monitoring, no-contact orders, and strict conditions. Matt McGuire advocates for reasonable release conditions at bond hearings.

Matt McGuire - Attorney

About South Carolina Attorney Matt McGuire

Matt McGuire South Carolina Attorney

With over 30 years of experience defending South Carolina, McGuire Law provides elite legal representation with national recognition. McGuire Law has grown from a small practice into one of the most trusted law firms in South Carolina. We understand that legal issues can be overwhelming, whether you're facing criminal charges, dealing with injuries from an accident, or navigating family law matters.

McGuire Law is committed to each client's unique situation, and we don't believe in boilerplate solutions. Every case requires careful analysis, strategic planning, and aggressive representation. Our firm combines over 30 years of experience with cutting-edge legal strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

McGuire Law serves all 46 South Carolina counties. We know these counties, their courts, their legal communities, and most importantly, the people who live here. This local knowledge, combined with our legal expertise, gives our clients a significant advantage.

Matt McGuire received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Matt has served as a law clerk for a State Circuit Judge, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Carolina, and an Assistant Solicitor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Matt is a proud husband, father of two, and a long-time resident of Richland County, South Carolina.

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Get Started Today

When you're charged with statutory rape in Columbia and detained at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, prosecutors demand plea agreements including sex offender registration before you understand available defenses.

Columbia Police Department, USC Police, and Richland County Sheriff's Office investigations often begin with parental complaints, school reports, or social media discoveries leading to arrests that treat teenagers and young adults as predators. Matt McGuire protects young defendants from lifetime consequences. Call McGuire Law now.

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Columbia Office

2001 Assembly Street, Suite 102-B
Columbia, SC 29201

(888) 499-5738

Contact McGuire Law Today

Matt McGuire has defended statutory rape charges throughout Columbia and South Carolina for over 30 years, protecting young defendants from lifetime consequences in Richland and Lexington County courtrooms. Call (888) 499-5738 immediately when you learn of allegations, before police contact occurs if possible, to begin strategic defense immediately.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Martin Luther King Jr.