Few charges carry more weight — legally, personally, and socially — than criminal sexual conduct. A conviction can mean years or even life in prison, mandatory sex offender registration, and a permanent mark on your reputation. If you are under investigation or have been charged with any degree of CSC in Grand Rapids or anywhere in West Michigan, the decisions you make now matter. You are not your accusation, and this fight is not over.
For 16 years, attorney Shawn Haff has focused his practice on defending people against serious felony charges across West Michigan. He knows how these cases are built — and how to take them apart.
What Is Criminal Sexual Conduct in Michigan?
Michigan does not use the term “rape.” Instead, sexual offenses are prosecuted as criminal sexual conduct (CSC) under MCL 750.520b through 750.520e. The law separates offenses into four degrees based on two questions: (1) whether the act involved sexual penetration or sexual contact, and (2) whether aggravating factors were present — such as the age of the alleged victim, the use of force or coercion, injury, or a weapon.
The Four Degrees of CSC — Charges & Penalties
First-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520b)
The most serious sexual offense in Michigan. First-degree CSC involves sexual penetration combined with an aggravating circumstance — such as an alleged victim under 13, the use of a weapon, personal injury, or penetration during another felony. Penalty: up to life in prison. If the alleged victim is under 13 and the defendant is 17 or older, there is a mandatory minimum of 25 years, plus lifetime electronic monitoring and Tier III registration.
Second-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520c)
Involves sexual contact (not penetration) plus an aggravating factor. Penalty: up to 15 years in prison, and possible lifetime electronic monitoring depending on the facts.
Third-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520d)
Involves sexual penetration where the alleged victim is 13 to 15 years old, or where force or coercion is alleged, or the victim is incapacitated. Penalty: up to 15 years in prison.
Fourth-Degree CSC (MCL 750.520e)
Involves sexual contact obtained through force or coercion, or with a victim 13 to 15 years old under certain age differences. Fourth-degree CSC is a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $500 — but it still triggers sex offender registration.
Michigan Sex Offender Registration (SORA)
Every CSC conviction requires registration under the Sex Offenders Registration Act (MCL 28.721 et seq.). Registration is tiered:
- Tier I — 15 years of registration (e.g., certain fourth-degree offenses).
- Tier II — 25 years of registration (e.g., certain second-degree offenses involving a minor).
- Tier III — lifetime registration (e.g., first-degree CSC).
Registration affects where you can live and work, and it is public. For many clients, minimizing or avoiding SORA registration is as important as avoiding jail — and it is a central focus of the defense.
Defending a CSC Charge
CSC cases often come down to credibility and evidence, not eyewitnesses. A strong defense examines every part of the prosecution’s case:
- False or exaggerated allegations — motive to lie, custody disputes, or coaching.
- Consent — where legally applicable between adults.
- Mistaken identity and unreliable identification procedures.
- Forensic and DNA challenges — testing errors, contamination, and interpretation.
- Constitutional violations — improper interrogation, illegal search, or Miranda issues.
- Inconsistent statements and gaps in the timeline.
- Age-gap (“Romeo and Juliet”) defenses — where a close age difference between teenagers may apply. See Michigan’s Romeo and Juliet law.
- Statute of limitations — depending on when the alleged conduct occurred, the state may be out of time. See CSC statute of limitations.
Prosecutors count on defendants being too afraid or ashamed to fight back. I’m not. I investigate, I challenge the evidence, and I hold the state to its burden of proof.
How CSC Cases Are Investigated — and Why Early Action Matters
Most CSC cases do not start with an arrest. They start with an accusation and a quiet investigation — a forensic interview at a child assessment center, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exam, a police “pretext” phone call designed to get you to say something that can be used against you, or a knock on the door asking you to “come in and clear things up.” What you say in those first moments can define the entire case.
Understand this: you can be charged on an accusation alone. Michigan law does not require physical evidence or an independent witness to bring a CSC charge — a complainant’s testimony, if believed, can be enough. That cuts both ways. It means these cases are often winnable on credibility, and it means getting a lawyer involved before charges are authorized can change the outcome. In many cases I can step in during the investigation, control your contact with police, and sometimes keep a charge from ever being filed.
Related Sex Crime Defense
Shawn Haff defends the full range of sex offenses in West Michigan, including child pornography, solicitation of a minor, statutory rape, indecent exposure, and human trafficking. See all sex crime practice areas or review our case results.
Criminal Sexual Conduct FAQ
What are the four degrees of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan?
Michigan divides criminal sexual conduct into four degrees under MCL 750.520b–750.520e. First and third degree involve sexual penetration; second and fourth degree involve sexual contact. First-degree CSC is the most serious and carries up to life in prison, while fourth-degree CSC is a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years. The degree depends on the type of act, the age of the alleged victim, and aggravating factors such as force, injury, or a weapon.
Will a CSC conviction put me on the Michigan sex offender registry?
Yes. A conviction for any degree of criminal sexual conduct requires registration under Michigan’s Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA, MCL 28.721 et seq.). Registration is tiered: Tier I offenses require 15 years, Tier II require 25 years, and Tier III (including first-degree CSC) require lifetime registration. Avoiding or reducing registration is often one of the most important goals in a CSC defense.
Is consent a defense to a criminal sexual conduct charge?
Consent can be a defense in some CSC cases involving adults, but it is never a defense when the alleged victim is legally unable to consent — for example, a minor under the age of consent, or a person who is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless. An experienced defense attorney evaluates whether consent, mistaken identity, false allegations, or constitutional violations apply to the specific facts of your case.
Can a criminal sexual conduct charge be dismissed or reduced?
Yes. CSC charges can be dismissed or reduced when the defense exposes weaknesses in the prosecution’s case — inconsistent statements, lack of physical or DNA evidence, improper police procedure, or unreliable witness testimony. Attorney Shawn Haff investigates every angle, challenges forensic evidence, and negotiates aggressively to protect your freedom and your record.
What a CSC Charge Puts at Risk
The prison exposure is only part of the picture. A CSC charge — even before any conviction — can trigger a no-contact order that separates you from your own family, a Child Protective Services case, and the loss of custody or parenting time. A conviction reaches into every corner of your life: your job and any professional license, your housing (SORA registration carries residency limits), your immigration status if you are not a citizen, and your reputation in a community that too often assumes guilt from the moment an allegation is made. I defend the whole picture — not just the charge on the complaint.
Charged With CSC? Call Now.
The sooner an attorney is involved, the more can be done to protect you — before charges are filed, before you speak to police, and before the case takes shape. Call Shawn Haff at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.