Charissa J. Liller recently obtained an acquittal for a client accused of sexual assault. After a two-day trial and an hour and a half of deliberations, a Bucks County jury returned a not guilty verdict on all counts.
This case was notable for a variety of reasons. Upon learning that our client wanted a jury trial, the Commonwealth added an extra count that would have required the client to report under Megan’s Law if he was convicted. Most people do not realize that Megan’s Law can apply to crimes which occur strictly between adults.
After the Commonwealth presented the testimony of the complainant, Charissa conducted an extensive cross-examination, revealing multiple discrepancies in her story. She then called the police officer who filed the charges. He corroborated that the majority of the woman’s testimony was not consistent with what she first reported. It is highly unusual for a defense attorney to call the prosecuting police officer in a case to support her client. However, since the Commonwealth never called him to testify, it was necessary to call him as a witness for the defense.
The client testified during the trial. This is a rare occurrence in criminal court. In this case, however, Charissa believed it was important for the jury to hear from the defendant directly as to what happened, i.e. that he and this woman engaged in a consensual act. Due to excellent preparation, he provided a compelling response to the Commonwealth’s story.
At the end of the day, Charissa obtained a victory for our client. The jury quickly ascertained that the woman’s story did not make sense, and found our client not guilty in under two hours.
Charissa J. Liller practices primarily in the areas of Criminal Defense and Family Law, including divorce, custody, support and adoption matters. Prior to joining the firm in 2005, Charissa Liller served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bucks County and Berks County. She has substantial experience representing clients charged with sex-related crimes, including appearances at Sexually Violent Predators hearings under Meghan’s Law. .
