Professionals Accused of Sex Crimes

If you’re a professional accused of a sex crime in Michigan, you risk not only prison and a criminal record but also the loss of your license, career, and reputation. For doctors, teachers, executives, and others, even an allegation can trigger media scrutiny or employer action.

As an experienced criminal sexual conduct attorney, I’ve defended professionals facing the most serious charges imaginable. I know the stakes are higher when your career is on the line, and I know that a swift, strategic defense is critical from day one.

Call Now: I’m Ready When You Are.

What My Clients Say

“Here’s the bottom-line: you need to call Shannon Smith if you’re accused of a sex crime. She knows how to stand up in-front of a jury, gain their trust, and earn you back your freedom. If the life and future of you or your loved one is valuable to you, can you afford NOT to have Shannon Smith on your side? There is no one like her when it comes to criminal sexual conduct cases, and the entire criminal defense attorney community knows it.”

– Brian P.

“Energy, enthusiasm, commitment to the client even with the controversial nature of law. Shannon has a keen interest in her trade and demonstrates it in many different ways. Often attorneys will take clients for granted and not help them understand the process. Not with Shannon.”

– Greg B.

“If you have been charged with any type of sex crime Shannon Smith is one of the most aggressive, and knowledgeable attorneys you could hire. She teaches other lawyers how to handle these types of cases. I would highly recommend her.”

– Aaron B.

Understanding the Risks for Professionals

In Michigan, all sexual crimes are charged under the umbrella of criminal sexual conduct (CSC), ranging from unwanted touching to accusations of rape or child sexual abuse.

Michigan law recognizes four degrees of CSC, each with different penalties:

First Degree – Most severe, including life sentences and mandatory minimums if the alleged victim is under 13.
Second Degree – Serious felony charges involving contact without penetration.
Third Degree – Felony charges that can include prison time and mandatory sex offender registration.
Fourth Degree – Still carries incarceration, registration, and fines, even though considered the least severe.

For professionals, a CSC allegation also triggers:

Licensing board investigations
Mandatory reporting to employers or regulators
Media exposure and public stigma
Suspension or termination from employment

Even an acquittal cannot always undo the reputational harm. That’s why part of my job is to help you take back the narrative, handle media attention strategically, and protect you outside the courtroom as well as inside it.

Protecting Both Your Reputation and Your Freedom

Over the years, I’ve represented doctors, nurses, dentists, professors, teachers, and other professionals accused of sex crimes. I know what’s at stake when your career is on the line.

My defense often includes:

Filing creative motions, such as requesting gag orders to limit media exposure.
Fighting improper reporting to licensing boards.
Digging into every piece of evidence to challenge the prosecution’s claims.
Anticipating how allegations affect both your trial and your professional life.

Avoiding a conviction is always the highest priority. Even a fourth-degree CSC charge under Michigan Penal Code § 750.520e can flip your life upside down. More serious charges, such as those involving a child under 13, can carry decades-long sentences or mandatory minimums of 25 years.

I don’t back down from those cases. I know how to fight them.

Why Clients Choose to Work With Shannon Smith Law

Some lawyers avoid these cases because of the stakes, the public scrutiny, or the complexity. I don’t.

For decades, I’ve taken the cases others wouldn’t. I’ve stood before juries when the media is circling and prosecutors are pressing hard. My strategy is relentless: I prepare for every angle, file motions others overlook, and fight both in the courtroom and behind the scenes to protect your name.

When your freedom and career are on the line, you can’t afford hesitation. You need someone who will give you a plan, a strategy, and the fight of your life.

Call Now: I’m Ready When You Are.

Let’s Talk About How We Can Win Your Case

If you are a professional accused of a sex crime, your career, reputation, and freedom are all at stake. You don’t have the luxury of waiting or hoping things will sort themselves out.