Talladega Sex Crime Lawyer

A sex crime can be any type of unwanted touching or sexual act that violates either federal, state, or local law. Consent an essential element of a case when it comes to cases involving sex crimes. Under the law, consent refers to permission or agreement to do something or to allow another to do something. What makes consent tricky is that it can either be implied or express.

It is more difficult to prove implied consent, rather than express. If you have been accused of a sex crime, the criminal punishment could be severe, along with the societal stigma. Speak to a Talladega sex crimes lawyer for more information. A dedicated defense attorney can help protect your rights throughout your case.

There are numerous sex crimes that legislatures have seen fit to punish. This is so because the nature of sexual crimes is often a sensitive and difficult subject matter. As a result of this inherent sensitivity, the legal justice system often treats sex crimes harsher than other types of crimes. This could translate into heavier fines or jail sentences.

Some of the crimes that an individual might be accused of include:

• Statutory Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Attempted Sexual Assault
• Rape
• Internet Sex Crimes
• Lewd behavior
• Date Rape
• Prostitution
• Indecent Exposure
• Domestic Violence
• Sex Offender Registration Violations
• Crimes Involving Minors
• Sexual Abuse
• Solicitation
• Molestation

If an individual has been accused of a sex crime, it is critical to speak with a Talladega sex crimes attorney to begin defending from the very beginning. Defending a criminal case does not begin in the courtroom.

Rather, it begins long before that with an investigation of the crime itself, gathering evidence, taking statements, and, when necessary, preparing for trial.

In sex crimes cases, there are several popular defenses that might be implemented depending on the facts of an individual’s particular case:

• Consent – arguing consent is very persuasive. In many cases, the crime could not have been committed if both individuals consented to participate in the activity beforehand
• Inadequate evidence – if the evidence does not support the claim, the prosecutor may have a weak case
• False accusation (mistaken identity) – the accused was not the individual that participated in the crime
• Alibi – the accused was not where the crime occurred
• No sexual contact – if no sexual contact was made, then the crime may not have taken place (as set forth under statute)

The successful implementation of one of the above defenses may result in a plea agreement to a lesser offense with no sex offender registration, or acquittal at trial (results are not guaranteed).

While a court of law may offer an accused person the services of a public defender, accused individuals should keep in mind the fact that public defenders are often overworked and underpaid. Public defenders often lack the time needed to devote to the representation of a criminal case, especially one that can become as complex as some sex crimes cases.

While the standard “innocent until proven guilty” sounds agreeable in theory, the unfortunate reality is that being accused of a sex crime often carries with it a stigma that is difficult to undo. Additionally, a criminal conviction carries a lengthy sentence, whether the result is probation, community service, registering as a sex offender, registering on the Megan’s Law website, a monetary fine, or years in jail.

A Talladega sex crimes lawyer can discuss your rights and options so that you can do what is best for you. Call for an initial evaluation to learn more.