"She guided me through the entire process and was incredibly thorough. She always had an answer for my questions and made me feel confident and positive."
Charged or under investigation in Edmonton?
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A sexual assault charge demands an exceptional defence.
Stacey Purser has built her reputation defending the most serious cases in criminal law, at trial and on appeal, in Edmonton and across northern Alberta. Her preparation is relentless and her advocacy is direct. When your liberty, your record, and your name are on the line, you want her in your corner.
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- Edmonton based. Serving northern Alberta
- Trial and appeal experience
- Judge and jury trials
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Trial and appeal defenceProvincial Court and Court of King's Bench
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Edmonton · Yellowknife · KelownaOffices across Western and Northern Canada
Read this before you talk to anyone
If You Have Been Charged, or Think You Might Be
The first hours of a case often decide how it ends. Four things to do right now:
1
Say nothing without counsel
Police are trained to take statements. You are not required to give one. Ask for a lawyer, then stay silent until you have one.
2
Do not contact the complainant
No calls, no texts, no messages through friends. Bail conditions usually forbid it, and any contact can be used against you.
3
Preserve everything
Keep texts, photos, and call logs. Write out your timeline while it is fresh. Delete nothing.
4
Call a defence lawyer now
Bail, the police interview, and the Crown's first read of the file all happen early. So should our involvement.
What you are facing
The Stakes in a Sexual Assault Case
Section 271 of the Criminal Code covers sexual assault. It is a hybrid offence, which means the Crown chooses whether to proceed summarily or by indictment. That choice alone can mean the difference between eighteen months in jail and ten years in a federal penitentiary. More serious forms of the offence are charged under sections 272 and 273.
- A criminal record that follows you: employment, travel, volunteering, immigration
- Mandatory registration under SOIRA, the national sex offender registry
- Bail conditions that start immediately: no contact orders, curfews, address requirements
- DNA orders and weapons prohibitions on conviction
These are maximums set by Parliament, not predictions. Sentencing depends on the facts, the Crown's election, and the defence advanced on your behalf.
| Offence, Criminal Code | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Sexual assault, s. 271 proceeding by indictment |
Up to 10 years imprisonment |
| Sexual assault, s. 271 summary conviction |
Up to 18 months imprisonment |
| Sexual assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, s. 272 | Up to 14 years imprisonment |
| Aggravated sexual assault, s. 273 | Up to life imprisonment |
How we defend these cases
A Defence Built Months Before Trial, Not the Week Before
Sexual assault trials usually turn on credibility. Credibility is won in preparation.
01
Case Assessment
We obtain the full Crown disclosure: statements, digital evidence, medical records. Then we map every weakness in the case against you.
02
Evidence and Charter Review
We examine how the evidence was gathered. An unlawful search or an improper statement can exclude evidence, and sometimes end a case before trial.
03
Testimony Preparation
If you testify, preparation starts at least a month before trial in weekly sessions. Cross examination should hold no surprises.
04
Trial and Appeal
We appear in Provincial Court and the Court of King's Bench, before judges and juries. If the trial court gets it wrong, we take it on appeal.
Why Purser Law
Serious Charges Deserve a Serious Defence
Led by Stacey Purser
Every file is led personally by Stacey Purser, known for meticulous preparation, straight answers, and strong advocacy in the courtroom. Complex sexual assault cases are a core part of her practice.
Preparation as strategy
We prepare clients to testify in weekly sessions starting at least a month before trial. You will know the questions before they are asked.
A team on your file
More than one set of eyes on every case. Our lawyers and staff review disclosure, test defences, and prepare you together.
Discretion built in
These cases are personal before they are legal. Consultations are confidential, and every file is handled with care.
Local knowledge
We appear at the Edmonton Law Courts and throughout northern Alberta. We know the Crown's office and how these cases are run here.
Straight answers, fast
You will always know where your case stands and what happens next. In plain language, without waiting days for a call back.
Client reviews
What Clients Say About Working With Us
"Stacey and Catelyn were extremely detailed in my case. I got the best possible result ending with no criminal charges or record. Highly recommend this law firm."
"She was upfront about everything and kept me in the loop the whole time. If you ever need a lawyer, I highly recommend Purser Law."
Common questions
Your Questions, Answered Plainly
Do not give a statement before speaking with a defence lawyer, even if you believe you can
clear things up. The Charter gives you the right to silence and the right to counsel. Tell
police you want a lawyer, then call us. What you say in an interview often becomes the
Crown's best evidence.
Sometimes. Once we have the disclosure, we can often show the Crown the weaknesses in its
case. That can lead to a withdrawal, a peace bond, or a resolution that avoids a criminal
record. Whether any of that is realistic depends on the evidence, which is why the case
assessment comes first.
Section 273.1 of the Criminal Code defines consent as the voluntary agreement of the
complainant to the specific sexual activity. There is no consent where the complainant is
incapable of consenting, where agreement comes from an abuse of trust or authority, or where
the complainant expresses a lack of agreement. Many defences turn on the fine detail of what
was said and done.
It depends on the charge, the Crown's election, the facts, and your history. Section 271
carries up to ten years by indictment. Sections 272 and 273 carry up to fourteen years and
life. A conviction also means SOIRA registration and a criminal record. Once we see the
evidence, we give you a frank assessment.
No. The choice is always yours, and the Crown must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt
whether you testify or not. If you do testify, we prepare you in weekly sessions starting at
least a month before trial.
Most cases run several months to over a year from charge to resolution. It depends on the
court, the pace of disclosure, and whether the case goes to trial. At the outset we map the
likely timeline so you know what to expect.
The consultation is free and carries no obligation. Legal fees depend on the complexity of
the case and whether it goes to trial. We set out fees in writing before you commit to
anything.
Free and confidential
The Sooner You Call, the More Options You Have
Bail is set in the first days. Interviews happen in the first hours. Early advice shapes everything that follows. Tell us what happened and a lawyer will contact you as soon as possible.
780-851-7435Call or text, any time. Urgent matters are answered around the clock.
Edmonton, Head Office: #200, 10237 104th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B1
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
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