Being accused of sexual assault can feel like your life is already over. This can happen even before you walk into a courtroom.
Cory Wilson has spent over 16 years defending people accused of sex offences across Alberta. He has helped many individuals protect their record, their name, and their future.
Why work with Cory Wilson?
- Over 16 years of criminal defence experience across Alberta.
- Lead counsel on serious sexual assault charges, including high-profile and complex cases.
- Rated among Calgary’s top criminal lawyers by Three Best Rated and Calgary’s Best Rated.
- Over 125 five-star Google reviews (average rating of 4.9 from 134 reviews).
If you’ve been accused of sexual assault, call 403-978-6052. Cory Wilson offers free, no-obligation consultations and takes calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3 things to do right away if you’re accused of sexual assault
What you do in the hours and days after being accused of sexual assault often decides how your case unfolds. Take these steps as soon as you learn you’re being investigated or charged:
- Stay silent with the police. Do not give a statement, agree to a polygraph, or answer any questions other than to identify yourself. Nothing you say at this stage will help you.
- Write everything down that you can remember. Memories fade quickly, and your trial might be a year away. Write down everything you can remember to share with your lawyer.
- Call a Calgary sexual assault lawyer. Explain your side of the story to your lawyer, not to the police or the complainant.
These simple steps will help protect your case and your future. Once your lawyer is involved, do exactly as they say.
“Far too many people think that giving a statement to the police is going to help them. In fact, talking to the police rarely helps any accused person. Everything they say can be used against them at trial, and often is.
When an individual goes in to talk to the police, they’re going to be incredibly nervous. And understandably, even if they’re trying to be truthful, they’re going to say things that are incorrect. Those things, though they tried to be truthful, will come back and cause serious issues at trial.”
Cory Wilson, Criminal Defence Lawyer
What are the levels of sexual assault and their penalties?
Sexual assault means touching another person in a sexual way without their consent. It can range from unwanted contact to full penetration. The Criminal Code sets three levels of sexual assault, as follows:
|
CHARGE |
EXAMPLE |
MAXIMUM PENALTY |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual assault (s. 271) | Unwanted sexual touching, with no weapon or serious injury. | Up to 10 years (indictable), or up to 2 years less a day (summary offence). |
| Sexual assault with a weapon, threats, or causing bodily harm (s. 272) | Using or threatening a weapon, or causing injury, during a sexual assault. | Up to 14 years. Indictable only. |
| Aggravated sexual assault (s. 273) | Wounding, maiming, disfiguring, or endangering someone’s life during a sexual assault. | Up to life in prison. Indictable only. |
Beyond the lengthy jail sentences for a conviction, offenders may need to register with Canada’s National Sex Offender Registry, sometimes for life.
Other long-term consequences that many people don’t see coming may include:
- The risk of deportation for immigrants (often with no right of appeal).
- Loss of employment or difficulties finding a new job.
- Loss of professional licence due to a criminal conviction.
- Inadmissibility to the U.S. and other travel restrictions.
Preventing these consequences should be a priority.
How can Cory Wilson help?
If you call Cory Wilson early in your case, he can:
- Work to secure your release if you’re held.
- Fight for the least restrictive bail conditions possible.
- Begin work on building your defence.
- Discuss resolutions that may be able to prevent a criminal record.
Working for your release after a sexual assault charge in Calgary
The Calgary Police Service has a sex crimes unit. This team investigates most sexual assault complaints in the city. Trained officers usually handle these cases:
- If you’re arrested, you may be released by the police with a notice to appear in court on a certain day.
- If not, the police may take you to the Spyhill Services Centre in northwest Calgary.
- Bail hearings are held before a Justice of the Peace or a judge at the Calgary Courts Centre (601 5 Street SW), usually within 24 hours of arrest.
- Cory Wilson will represent you at this hearing, either by video or in person.
- If bail is denied, you’ll be held at the Calgary Remand Centre until your next court date or trial.
Bail conditions for sexual assault charges are often strict. You will likely need to agree to:
- Have no contact with the complainant.
- Stay away from certain locations.
- Report regularly to a bail supervisor.
- Limit your internet or alcohol use.
Cory Wilson pushes for conditions that can help you keep your job and your routine as your case moves forward.
Can your case be resolved before trial?
Sexual assault allegations are taken extremely seriously by the prosecutor’s office. Favourable resolutions are quite rare in these cases. More often than not, a prosecutor will be seeking a lengthy period of jail for a sexual assault offence.
For very minor offences, it’s sometimes possible to get the charges withdrawn or enter into a peace bond, which prevents a criminal record. The charge is withdrawn in return for an agreement not to contact the complainant or to undergo counselling or community service.
“Unless the allegations are relatively minor, the prosecutor’s office will rarely agree to divert the program into alternative measures. However, after reviewing all of the disclosure, if I’m able to find significant credibility issues, I approach the Crown Prosecutor to see if the charges can be withdrawn or a peace bond entered into.”
Cory Wilson, Criminal Defence Lawyer
Cory Wilson has years of trial experience. Sexual assault cases often come down to credibility. Early preparation and strong cross-examination matter more here than with almost any other charge.
Testimonials
Although past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, recent clients have said this about us:
The best outcome that could’ve possibly occurred
“During trial, Cory executed with incredible precision. He methodically proved the plaintiff to have no credibility and was able to clearly articulate to the judge through thorough questioning how the allegations could not have actually happened. The trial was won before the defendant or his witnesses even spoke, as the Crown stayed the charges, which ultimately became withdrawn. This was the best outcome that could’ve possibly occurred.”
— C.B.
An amazing lawyer
“Cory is an amazing lawyer who takes good care of his clients. His communication is highly efficient and very knowledgeable. He’s the man!”
— A.
Highly recommend
“Cory was very professional and explained everything clearly throughout the process. I really appreciated his support and guidance, and I would highly recommend Cory to anyone looking for a trustworthy lawyer.”
— E.
What are the main defences for sexual assault charges?
Cory is often able to employ one of the following defences in the sexual assault cases he takes on:
|
DEFENCE |
HOW IT WORKS |
|---|---|
| It didn’t happen | You argue the alleged act never took place. This is often supported by alibi evidence, phone records, or witness testimony. |
| Consent | The other person agreed to the sexual activity. You can show that agreement existed at the time. |
| Honest but mistaken belief in consent | You wrongly, but honestly, believed the other person agreed. You must show the real steps you took to find out.* |
*An honest but mistaken belief in consent defence isn’t available if you didn’t take real steps to find out. It’s also not available if your belief came from being drunk, high, or careless about whether the other person agreed.
“An honest mistaken belief in consent is a very nuanced area of the law in which we have to assess what the complainant said or did to make the client’s belief of consent reasonable. In serious cases of sexual assault, any time my client tells me that they did not commit the offence, I advise them that they need to fight it by pleading not guilty and going to trial. In a serious sex assault case, oftentimes the starting point is three years in jail. So, a guilty plea is a non-starter.”
Cory Wilson, Criminal Defence Lawyer
Cory’s recent sexual assault cases
Check recent sexual assault cases that Cory Wilson has successfully defended.
Frequently asked questions
Will I go to jail for a first sexual assault charge?
Not always. In sexual assault cases, judges get to decide the sentence when the complainant is 16 or older. There’s no mandatory minimum. The outcome depends on the facts, any injury, and how the case is resolved.
Does a sexual assault charge become public?
The charge itself can become public. The complainant’s name is usually kept private by an automatic ban. Your name isn’t protected the same way, though.
What happens if the Crown withdraws the charge?
If a charge is withdrawn, you’re not convicted, and you don’t get a criminal record from it. Cory Wilson looks for weak points in the Crown’s case early. Some charges get withdrawn before trial when the evidence doesn’t hold up.
Can I be convicted based on just one person’s word?
Yes. Canadian courts don’t need extra proof to convict someone of sexual assault. That’s exactly why challenging the complainant’s story, carefully and fairly, is often central to a strong defence.
Legal references
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 271 (sexual assault).
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 272 (sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party, or causing bodily harm).
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 273 (aggravated sexual assault).
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 273.1 (meaning of consent).
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 273.2 (when belief in consent is not a defence).
- Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 486.4 (publication ban).
- Sex Offender Information Registration Act, SC 2004, c 10.
Contact Cory for a free, no-obligation consultation
Every person charged with a criminal offence deserves skilled representation, regardless of their economic background.
During your free consultation, we will discuss the charges, possible outcomes, defences, and legal fees. We will also explain all the steps ahead, so you know what to expect.
