Palm Beach County, FL (February 19, 2019) - A 29-year-old man is behind bars this week after police made an arrest in a rape case that originated in 2015. 29-year-old Richard Christophe was charged by Boynton Beach Police with sexual battery on a victim older than 12 and kidnapping/false imprisonment of an adult. Police say that the events took place in August 2015, when a 51-year-old woman was found naked in the middle of the road by a passerby. The woman later spoke to police and told them that she was walking along 8th Avenue South in Lake Worth when a man pulled up and offered her a ride. She got into the car but then the man grabbed her by the throat and forced her to perform oral sex. She was then taken inside a house and forced to perform oral sex again, this time inside a shower. When the man fell asleep, the woman was able to escape the residence. The case remained dormant until 2017, when a new DNA notification system allowed officers to identify Christophe as a possible suspect in the rape. Later, police were able to collect DNA from Christophe using a search warrant. The DNA sample from Christophe matched DNA taken from the crime scene and Christophe was taken into custody.

Palm Beach County Sex Crimes Laws

A sex crimes charge in Palm Beach County carries very severe penalties. You could be looking at decades, or possibly the rest of your life, in state prison. In addition, if you are convicted of a sex crime, you will likely have to register on the Florida sex offender registry for the remainder of your life. As a convicted sex offender, there will be restrictions on where you are allowed to live and work, not to mention the stigma associated with this status. When you are facing a sex crimes charge in Palm Beach County, including Boca Raton and surrounding areas, you must turn to a trusted and experienced Florida sex crimes attorney for help. At Musca Law, our Boca Raton criminal defense lawyers possess over 150 years of combined criminal defense experience. We understand the process of a sex crimes case, from the initial investigation through trial. We will counsel you on the best possible course of action and together we will decide on the best defense strategy for your case. Our phones are answered 24/7. For your free consultation with one of our attorneys, please call (888) 484-5057.