Dallas Defense Attorney for Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is an egregious offense. In our society, sexual misconduct charges are some of the most despised offenses on the books. Sexual misconduct involves violating another person’s dignity and disrupting their basic sense of security. If you’ve been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of sexual misconduct, the consequences are extensive and can severely impact your life.

If you’ve been arrested for or charged with a sexual misconduct offense in Dallas, you need the Dallas sexual assault attorney of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to handle your defense. Call us at (214) 845-7007 or contact us online today for help.

Types of Sexual Misconduct

According to the Texas Penal Code, the different types of sexual misconduct offenses prosecutable by the state include:

Continuous sexual abuse of a young child or disabled individual
Public lewdness
Indecent exposure
Bestiality
Indecency with a child
Improper relationship between an educator and their student
Invasive visual recording
Unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material, such as revenge porn
Voyeurism
Sexual coercion, including prostitution and solicitation
Unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material

Penalties for Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct convictions come with steep fines and lengthy prison sentences. Several misconduct charges are felony offenses that may result in two years to life in prison and upwards of $10,000 in fines and court fees. Additionally, a convicted person’s permanent record and public reputation will also take a hit. Some of the most common and negative repercussions of a sexual misconduct conviction are:

The convicted person’s name and address appear on the Texas sex offender registry;
Professional licenses will be reviewed, including medicine, nursing, law, teaching, or pharmacy;
Limitations as to where the convicted person can live and work;
Curtailed custody or visitation rights for the convicted person’s children and
A jeopardized immigration status.

The stigma of being a sexual deviant cannot be ignored and is a powerful shaming force in many communities. To avoid such a damaging and life-changing conviction, you will need a bold criminal defense lawyer to aggressively fight the sexual misconduct charges against you.

How Do I Defend Against a Sexual Misconduct Charge?

You and your lawyer will need to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the alleged misconduct didn’t happen or that it didn’t happen, as your accuser says. In other words, you will need substantial evidence to support your side of the story. A seasoned sex crimes defense attorney will gather, organize, and submit all necessary evidence available to a judge. They can also present it before a jury in a way that gives you the best chance of proving you were not guilty of the alleged crime.

There are some actions your attorney can take to defend you against accusations of sexual misconduct. These include:

Challenging the arrest. Suppose your arrest occurred without probable cause. Your lawyer can challenge all subsequent charges because the initial arrest violated your Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
Challenging the testimony. The private nature of most sexual encounters means that a sexual misconduct charge could come down to “they said vs. you said.” This means there is a general lack of concrete evidence or eyewitness accounts. Your lawyer will compile all available evidence and information to show why someone would lie about your sexual conduct and then challenge their testimony directly based on the apparent inaccuracies of their claim.
Mistaken identity. You could be wrongfully convicted of an act based on your appearance. Cases of mistaken identity are terrifying, but a knowledgeable lawyer will know how to find proof of your alibi and any other evidence that could exonerate you. They can also collect primary source witness statements and nearby surveillance footage to demonstrate that a mistake of identity was made.
Affirmative defenses. This type of defense admits that a sexual encounter happened but offers evidence and/or an explanation as to why it was not a criminal offense. A common affirmative defense is consent. If both parties consent, they were voluntarily engaged in a sex act, making it legal rather than criminal. Consent is not a legitimate defense if the alleged victim of statutory rape is more than three years younger than the accused and both are over 14 years old.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct in Texas?

Dallas Defense Attorney for Sexual Misconduct 2 The statute of limitations for bringing criminal sexual misconduct charges in Texas allows for ten years from the date of the alleged incident, granted that both parties are over 18 years old. If the victim is under 17 when the offense occurs, the statute of limitations allows for criminal charges to be brought 20 years from the victim’s 18th birthday. Some crimes against children have no statute of limitations attached, such as indecency with a child and sexual assault against a child.

You should contact a reputable defense attorney as soon as you believe you are being charged with sexual misconduct. They will take on your defense and advise you on how to respond, or not respond, to the state or to the alleged victim’s attorney. With a strong legal defense, convincing the judge or jury of your innocence could be challenging.

Hiring a Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer

No one wants a sexual misconduct conviction on their record and with good reason. The seasoned attorneys of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter understands the complexities of fighting sexual misconduct charges. We know how to fight aggressively for your rights in court. Our criminal defense attorney takes accusations of sexual misconduct seriously. We will work diligently to provide a strong defense for your case. Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter knows how to ask the right questions and create plausible doubt surrounding a variety of criminal charges.

Let us help you overcome a potentially devastating conviction by preparing a top-notch legal defense for you. Call us today at (214) 845-7007 or contact us online to consult with our tough, dedicated, and successful criminal defense lawyer.

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TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

More Reviews

Defense Lawyer for Sexual Misconduct in Dallas

Types of Sexual Misconduct

Penalties for Sexual Misconduct

How Do I Defend Against a Sexual Misconduct Charge?

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct in Texas?

Hiring a Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer