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OUR LAWYERS

Michelle Parhar

Criminal Defence and Litigation.
Michelle bases her criminal defence practice out of Calgary, and travels all over Alberta representing clients in each level of Court.
While at law school at the University of Alberta, Michelle won awards for her negotiation and advocacy, and began running criminal trials in her second year while volunteering with Student Legal Assistance. Following graduation, Michelle has tailored her practice exclusively to defending accused persons across the province. She has successfully defended her clients in Youth and Adult Provincial Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench, and the Alberta Court of Appeal. Over the years, Michelle has developed a reputation for strong advocacy, using her experience and skills to achieve results for her clients, whether at the bail stage, at trial, or on appeal. She has also used her experience dealing with Criminal Code prosecutions to defend clients charged pursuant to other Federal laws, such as the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Michelle can meet you in person or over the telephone to discuss your options, whether you are facing possible charges, or if you have already been charged with a criminal offence.

Kaitlyn Perrin

With extensive court experience and in-depth knowledge of the law, Kaitlyn gets the results you need
Kaitlyn Perrin practices exclusively in the area of criminal defence, representing clients throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

SEXUAL ASSAULT & SEXUAL OFFENCES

What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual Assault can be defined as an assault of a sexual nature that violates the sexual integrity of the victim. When it comes to investigating a sexual assault, some relevant factors are:

  • The part of the body that was touched
  • The specific nature of the contact
  • The situation in which the contact occurred
  • Any words and gestures accompanying the act
  • All other circumstances surrounding the act
  • If there were any threats that may or may not have been accompanied by force

Consent Matters!

Consent for any form of sexual activity must be given 100% freely. Consent cannot be given by someone who is intoxicated, unconscious, or otherwise in a state where there are incapable of giving their consent. If consent is not given – it’s sexual assault.
A person who is under the age of sixteen cannot give consent to sexual activity with another person who is five or more years older than them. If the person is under the age of fourteen years old, they cannot consent to sexual activity with another person who is two or more years older than them.

I’ve been accused of sexual assault…What do I do now?

Prosecution must first establish (beyond a reasonable doubt), that this sexual assault was actually committed. If it is determined that the alleged victim consent to the sexual act, or if there is reasonable doubt as to whether they consented, then the accused must be acquitted. However, if the prosecution is successful in proving that this sexual assault did occur and that the victim did not consent, then their next task is to establish that the act committed was sexual in nature. The judge must then decide whether to believe the complainant or the accused.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office immediately. It is essential to speak with an experienced criminal lawyer if you are being accused of sexual assault.

IMPAIRED DRIVING

Overview
Alberta has updated their impaired driving laws to adapt to the legalization of cannabis, and to set specific time limits for license suspensions. Some basic facts:

  • There is a zero tolerance policy for cannabis or illegal drugs in the blood stream of Graduated Drivers License (GDL) drivers. This is in addition to alcohol
  • Immediate 90-day license suspension for impaired drivers, this is then followed by participation in a one-year ignition interlock program
  • You must remain in the GDL program for 2 years, and have no suspensions in the last year to officially graduate from the program
Alberta’s 4 Impaired Driving Programs

This program applies to all drivers, (including those in the Graduated Driver Licensing Program) who have:

  • A blood alcohol concentration over .08%
  • A blood drug concentration over 2 nanograms of THC per mililitre of blood
  • A combination of 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 mililitres of blood + 2.5 nanograms or more of THC per one mililitre of blood
  • Refused or failed to provide a breath or fluid sample

These drivers are then subject to an immediate fixed term driving suspension. This consists of two parts:

  • A 90-day license suspension where the driver is unable to drive under and circumstances
  • A further one-year driving suspension where the driver may be eligible to drive if they participate in an Ignition Interlock Program. If they decide not to participate, they will remain suspended during the entire one-year term (with no legal ability to drive)


These drivers will also be subject to remedial education courses and:
A 3-day vehicle possession for the first offence
A 7-day vehicle possession for the second and any following offences
If you have been charged with impaired driving, call our office! Don’t wait. We know how to act quickly, to guarantee you the best result possible.

I’ve been accused of sexual assault…What do I do now?

Prosecution must first establish (beyond a reasonable doubt), that this sexual assault was actually committed. If it is determined that the alleged victim consent to the sexual act, or if there is reasonable doubt as to whether they consented, then the accused must be acquitted. However, if the prosecution is successful in proving that this sexual assault did occur and that the victim did not consent, then their next task is to establish that the act committed was sexual in nature. The judge must then decide whether to believe the complainant or the accused.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office immediately. It is essential to speak with an experienced criminal lawyer if you are being accused of sexual assault.

SEXUAL ASSAULT & SEXUAL OFFENCES

What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual Assault can be defined as an assault of a sexual nature that violates the sexual integrity of the victim. When it comes to investigating a sexual assault, some relevant factors are:

  • The part of the body that was touched
  • The specific nature of the contact
  • The situation in which the contact occurred
  • Any words and gestures accompanying the act
  • All other circumstances surrounding the act
  • If there were any threats that may or may not have been accompanied by force
Consent Matters!

Consent for any form of sexual activity must be given 100% freely. Consent cannot be given by someone who is intoxicated, unconscious, or otherwise in a state where there are incapable of giving their consent. If consent is not given – it’s sexual assault.
A person who is under the age of sixteen cannot give consent to sexual activity with another person who is five or more years older than them. If the person is under the age of fourteen years old, they cannot consent to sexual activity with another person who is two or more years older than them.

I’ve been accused of sexual assault…What do I do now?

Prosecution must first establish (beyond a reasonable doubt), that this sexual assault was actually committed. If it is determined that the alleged victim consent to the sexual act, or if there is reasonable doubt as to whether they consented, then the accused must be acquitted. However, if the prosecution is successful in proving that this sexual assault did occur and that the victim did not consent, then their next task is to establish that the act committed was sexual in nature. The judge must then decide whether to believe the complainant or the accused.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office immediately. It is essential to speak with an experienced criminal lawyer if you are being accused of sexual assault.

YYC DEFENCE ON LINE

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