Sex, Drugs, and Criminal Charges

Unreliable date rape drug testing and a lack of solid evidence can make it difficult to prove drug-facilitated sexual assaults occurred.

Dangerous Date Rape Drugs

Date rape drugs have sedative properties that cause victims to experience unconsciousness and amnesia. Most drugs are odorless, tasteless, and colorless and dissolve easily in alcohol and other beverages within 30 minutes. Commonly used date rape drugs include over-the-counter drugs like tranquilizers and sleeping pills and various prescription medications including Rohypnol (roofies), Ketamine (special K), Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL). Drugs are available in pills, liquids, and powders that are easily accessible to perpetrators through illegal street drugs.

Accusers of date rape may have a difficult time proving that sexual assault occurred unless there’s strong physical evidence. There are often no witnesses to the alleged crime, and accusers can have little or no memory of what happened. Some date rape drugs leave the body very quickly, so waiting to report an incident or get medical attention can destroy evidence that a crime has been committed.

Date Rape Testing Flaws

Toxicology testing that confirms exposure to drugs or alcohol is an important factor in claiming sexual assault. In a recent investigation by BuzzFeed News, significant irregularities were shown in date rape testing procedures in state crime labs and hospitals across the country. There is no national testing standard for the range of drugs to be tested, which types of screens should be used, or drug levels that result in positive findings. In the United States, there are currently over 100 known substances now used in date rape assaults, and toxicologists are having difficulty keeping up with sufficient testing procedures.

Research in date rape drug testing shows that many labs only test blood, but evidence of drugs last much longer in urine. In some labs, testing equipment is not sensitive enough to detect even low levels of drugs, so lab results commonly reveal negative results. Other labs rely entirely on drug screening procedures proven to be completely unreliable by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

A positive urine test showing evidence of drugs is not always sufficient to support sexual assault charges. A positive urine test only proves that the person was likely exposed to the drug within five days prior to the drug test. It does not show how the accuser came to be exposed to the substance.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Drug Trafficking and Kidnapping Charges in Minneapolis: What You Should Know if You’re Facing Serious Allegations

A traffic stop initiated on a suspected drug-cartel member in St. Paul has resulted in drug and other criminal charges for a 45-year-old Maple Grove man. 

Can Past Allegations of Sex Crimes Be Used Against You in Minnesota?

One question people charged with a sex crime in Minneapolis, MN, ask is: Can past allegations of sex crimes be used against me? Under Minnesota Rules of Evidence, past sex crime allegations aren't admissible as evidence in court to prove a suspect's character and argue that it contributed to the commission of the current crime. However, there are circumstances in which the court may allow prior allegations or bad conduct as evidence. These circumstances include when the prosecution can demonstrate that prior allegations or acts are key to establishing intent, identity, or pattern of bad conduct related to the current crime.