The Brazilian psychic Jaõa Teixeira de Faria, also known as Jaõa de Deus, or “John of God,” has been faced with a mind-blowing amount of sexual assault allegations over the last couple of weeks. The deluge began at the beginning of this month with a Dutch Choreographer accusing the psychic of rape. More than 500 hundred women have now come forward accusing Faria of sexual abuse. Faria's fame was boosted when he appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and began hosting “pilgrimages” around the world. In Brazil, the wave of allegations against the psychic is being compared to the wave of allegations against Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein.

Since the beginning of the #metoo movement, there are have been several high profile individuals lambasted for their involvement in sexual harassment and sexual abuse. Some are heralding the speed at which Faria investigation is taking place as an example to the collective power of women.

Sexual Abuse in Washington

Rape is a very serious offense in any iteration of the crime. That being said, the crime does not just take place between strangers nor is it only committed by men in positions of power. Often, rape is a crime that takes place between friends and family members and can be considered domestic violence. To understand how this may happen, you must understand what Washington law says about rape. There are two classifications of rape: rape in the first degree and rape in the second degree. In the state of Washington, a person is guilty of rape in the first degree when “such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion where the perpetrator or an accessory:

• Uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon or what appears to be a deadly weapon; or
• Kidnaps the victim; or
• Inflicts serious physical injury, including but not limited to physical injury which renders the victim unconscious; or
• Feloniously enters into the building or vehicle where the victim is situated.”

Rape in the first degree is the more serious classification of rape charges and is a class A felony. If you are convicted of rape in the first degree you may be facing the following penalties:

• Up to life in prison;
• Up to $50,000 in fines.

A rape can also become a domestic violence charge if it committed by one family or household member against another family or household member. A family or household member can include several different categories of people, including but not limited to spouses, former spouses, dating partners, children, and parents or grandchildren.

Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi

If you or a loved one have been arrested for any rape charge, then you need the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Attorney Steve Karimi is a top-rated criminal defense lawyer in the Seattle area. He is a former King County prosecutor who now uses his knowledge and insight into prosecution strategies to fight for the rights of those accused. Washington takes rape charges very seriously, so do not hesitate to protect your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today.