Were you charged with a sex crime in Collin County? Are you unsure of what to do next? If so, contact Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to speak with an experienced Collin County criminal defense attorney.
Our legal team will review the details of your case and work on building a strong defense for you. We know the stigma that comes with a sex crime conviction, so we make it our business to defend Texans from harsh penalties they don’t deserve. We’ll fight hard to protect your rights and secure your freedom.
This is a stressful time in your life. You could face years in prison and have to register as a sex offender. There are risks to your reputation and job. That’s a lot to worry about, so we want to help you get through it.
You won’t be alone in this fight. We’ll be by your side throughout your entire case. You can depend on us to work hard to try to get your charges reduced or dropped entirely.
You deserve competent, dedicated legal representation. To find out about our legal services and the sex crimes we can defend, call us today at (214) 845-7007. We’ll schedule your free initial consultation with a Collin County sex crime defense attorney.
How to Define Sex Crimes
A sex crime is a category of criminal offenses that occur when one party forces a sexual act on another through violence or physical force and without consent.
Violence and Lack of Consent
Many sex crimes involve offensive behavior. Sexual assault is a forced and unwanted sexual act performed on one person by another without receiving consent. It can include battery, threats, and other forms of violence. It consists of sexual contact, such as touching, kissing, or penetration.
When someone engages in sexual intercourse because of a threat of force from another person, that offense is known as rape. This type of sex crime requires a lack of consent. If the victim did not consent to the sexual act, the offender could be convicted of rape.
Crimes Against Children
Children can’t give consent to sexual acts under Texas state law. It’s a crime to engage in any form of sexual touching with a minor child. Child molestation occurs when an adult commits a sexual act against a child.
Prosecuting a sex crime involving a child can be difficult. Children sometimes experience false memories. Some children might wrongfully accuse an adult of a sex crime if their parents are going through a divorce or they don’t like their foster parents.
Public Sex Crimes
Some sex crimes happen in a public area. For example, public indecency involves individuals exposing themselves or behaving in an inappropriate sexual manner in front of other people. Sexual misconduct is another charge that applies to sexual acts that bystanders find offensive.
Types of sex crimes include:
- Child Molestation
- Indecency with a Child
- Internet Sex Crimes
- Juvenile Sex Crimes
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Public Lewdness
- Rape and Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Sex Offender Registration Violations
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Trafficking of a Child
- Solicitation of a Minor
- Solicitation of Sex and Prostitution
- Statutory Rape
How to Defend Your Sex Crime Charge
Every case is different and includes a different set of circumstances. However, there are common defenses Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter might use to get your sex crime charge dropped.
Innocence: It’s possible that you didn’t commit the crime. To prove your innocence, we’ll review all available evidence and witness testimony to poke holes in the prosecution’s story. We may be able to document an alibi that shows you were nowhere near the scene of the crime at the time it occurred.
Tainted evidence: Sometimes, the evidence collected while building a case becomes tainted. For example, statements an officer makes while questioning a child could introduce false memories of what actually happened. If we find that any evidence the prosecution found is unreliable, we’ll ensure a jury can’t see it during the trial.
Illegal search and seizure: The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from illegal searches and seizures. If law enforcement searched your property and removed any belongings without a search warrant, prosecutors can’t present it to the jury in court.
Hearsay: Some sex crime cases turn into a “he said, she said” situation. Sometimes the alleged victim’s motive is to paint another person in an unpleasant light to gain custody of their child during a divorce. As a result, they might wrongly accuse their spouse of sexually harming them in some way.
Lack of medical evidence: When investigating a sex crime, officers will look for DNA evidence. If there isn’t any forensic evidence linking you to the crime, it will be challenging for the prosecutor to convince a jury that you’re guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mental illness: Some sexual offenders have a mental illness that prevents them from understanding the gravity of their actions. An insanity or mental illness defense could result in a less harsh penalty if we can prove this to the jury.
Penalties for Sex Crimes in Texas
Anyone convicted of the following sexual offenses must register as a sex offender for the rest of their life:
- Incest
- Aggravated kidnapping
- Sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault
- Indecency with a child by contact or exposure
- Compelling prostitution of a minor
- Possession or promotion of child pornography
- Sexual performance by a child
If someone is convicted of the following sex crimes, they must register as sex offenders for ten years:
- Compelling prostitution
- Attempted sexual assault
- Unlawful restraint
- Indecent exposure (second offense)
In addition to the sex offender registry, those convicted of a sex crime could face the following penalties:
- Class C misdemeanor: Up to $500 fine
- Class B misdemeanor: Maximum of 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine
- Class A misdemeanor: Maximum of one year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines
- Third-degree felony: Between two and ten years in prison and a maximum of $10,000 in fines
- Second-degree felony: Between two and twenty years in prison and a maximum of $10,000 in fines
- First-degree felony: Between five and 99 years in prison or a life sentence
Choose Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter
At Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our Collin County sex crime defense attorney understands the challenges you face. Don’t try to defend against a conviction yourself. When you hire us, we’ll begin working on your case immediately and use aggressive tactics to show you’re innocent or that the prosecution’s case isn’t strong enough to convict you of the charges.
We offer a free initial consultation to review the details of your case and advise the legal options available to you. If you choose to hire us, you can count on honest communication from a legal team that cares.
We’re ready to fight for you to protect your rights. Call us at (214) 845-7007 if you face sex crime charges and need assistance with your defense.
