Whereas rape is considered any nonconsensual sexual contact, statutory rape is sexual contact with a person under the age of consent, i.e., the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally old enough to consent to participation in sexual activity. There are some exceptions to the sexual assault laws but, in most cases, if an adult is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of consent, he/she will face a criminal conviction and jail time in Ontario. Sentencing is on a case-by-case basis as there is no specific legal punishment for statutory rape. The circu ..read more

If you ever have a drink before you drive in Ontario, it’s essential to understand the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels that apply here. The consequences associated with an impaired driving (DUI) charge are potentially life-changing, with hefty fines, license suspension, a criminal record and even imprisonment possible in addition to any accident injuries suffered. Let’s go through the legal BAC levels that apply in Ontario. Request A Free Consultation Understanding BAC and the legal alcohol limits in Ontario BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration measures the amount of alcohol p ..read more

One honest mistake, a poor decision, an unfair verdict—the paths to a criminal record are many but they all result in similarly harsh consequences that can impact your future. Many people convicted of a crime in Canada must endure a criminal record for the rest of their lives. But it’s not just convictions that appear on the record—any arrest and charge, even if subsequently found not guilty, will be visible to the public. We receive many inquiries about how to seal or remove a criminal record in Canada. Here’s what you need to know… Request A Free Consultation Potential consequences of a c ..read more

There are several options open to judges in Ontario as alternatives to jailing offenders. One of these is a conditional sentence order (CSO), which is sometimes known as house arrest or home confinement. However, this option has strict eligibility criteria under the Criminal Code and is not available for many types of crimes. Request A Free Consultation What is a conditional sentence order in Ontario? A Conditional Sentence Order or “house arrest” has some similarities with probation in that the sentence is served in the community. Under the terms of the CSO, the subject of the order will u ..read more

Some criminal offences in Ontario are bound by a statute of limitations. This specifies a timespan during which criminal charges can be filed against an alleged perpetrator. Generally speaking, after this period passes, it is no longer possible for the individual to be charged with the crime. However, for many of the most serious offences (indictable offences), no statute of limitations applies in Canada — anyone can call the police and report a crime that took place at almost any time in the past and the alleged offender can be charged as long as he/she is alive. A good example is a histori ..read more

Accusations of theft or fraud in the workplace can result in consequences that go far beyond losing your job. It can lead to criminal action, with far-reaching consequences that can harm many aspects of your future if you are convicted. It’s important to seek legal help from a qualified criminal defence lawyer to mitigate the negative outcomes that can result from these accusations. Request A Free Consultation Theft and fraud in the workplace Under Canadian law, theft and fraud is broadly categorized into two main types: Theft under $5,000 Theft over $5,000 Theft under $5,000 rarely lead ..read more

The Canadian criminal justice system comes down heavily on anyone convicted of a serious drug offence. Since 2012, mandatory minimum sentences have applied to some of the most serious drug-related offences, such as drug production, drug trafficking and importing/exporting. Even some types of possession can lead to a mandatory minimum sentence if aggravating circumstances are present. This means that judges must impose prison sentences on anyone convicted of these crimes, regardless of the circumstances or how convincing the mitigation pleas are. If you’ve been charged with a serious drug cri ..read more

In domestic violence cases, the police often take a statement under oath from the alleged victim and use it to charge the accused. But is recanting a statement possible? Domestic violence cases are varied and range from relatively minor cases like a grab on the arm or light shove to extreme violence resulting in significant injuries. Sometimes, after the victim has given a statement to the police, the couple reconciles their differences and the victim wants to recant the statement, claiming that he/she is no longer certain of remembering the events clearly. The expectation that the police wi ..read more

The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is considered capable of making an informed decision about whether to engage in sexual activity. Depending on certain other circumstances, any sexual activity with any individual who is under the age of consent at the time may be considered a sexual offence and punishable under the criminal justice system of Canada. Request A Free Consultation What is the age of consent in Ontario? The standard age of consent in Ontario (or any other Canadian province or territory) is 16. However, the age of consent is higher in some circumstances ..read more

There are several options open to judges in Ontario as alternatives to jailing offenders. One of these is a conditional sentence order (CSO), which is sometimes known as house arrest or home confinement. However, this option has strict eligibility criteria under the Criminal Code and is not available for many types of crimes. Request A Free Consultation What is a conditional sentence order in Ontario? A Conditional Sentence Order or “house arrest” has some similarities with probation in that the sentence is served in the community. Under the terms of the CSO, the subject of the order will u ..read more