Date Posted: 2/8/2010

Sexsomnia: Overcoming the Sleep Disorder Defense

Can a sleeping defendant involuntarilly sexually assault a child?  Many defendants are now claiming involuntary sexual assaults on children and adults, alike.  In Canada, a thirty-three year old man was acquitted of sexually assaulting a woman he had met earlier in the evening, despite a full confession to law enforcement.  In New Jersey, a forty-one year old man was acquitted of attempted aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault despite testimony from the seven year old victim that she awoke to the defendant on top of her. 

Read the whole article in the Violence Against Women folder on the Resources page of the website.