Dallas Sex Crimes Lawyer

A conviction for a sex crime in Dallas, TX carries heavy penalties. In addition to jail time and financial fines, you could be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. If you have been charged with a sex offense, or are under investigation, it’s important to fight back.

At the Edgett Law Firm, our experienced Dallas sex crimes lawyers are here to help by providing an aggressive, bold defense that’s backed up by evidence. Protecting your future is our priority. To learn more about how we can help, don’t hesitate to call for a free consultation at 214-661-1699.

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How Our Dallas Sex Crimes Lawyers Can Help You Fight The Charges

When you choose to hire the Edgett Law Firm, you can expect a powerful legal advocate who will stand by your side every step of the way.

From getting you released on bail to fighting for your rights at trial, we’ll be here. You can expect that our Dallas criminal defense attorneys will:

Help With The Tough Choices

When you’re accused of a sex crime, you might have to make some difficult decisions along the way. You need to understand the facts when making these choices. If you make the wrong choice, the prosecution’s job might become easier–or you might lose out on valuable options down the road.

When you hire our attorneys, you’ll always have someone by your side to help. We’ll walk you through the consequences of any option that arises. That way, you can make the smartest choice possible based on the facts.

Negotiate With The Prosecution

In most cases, prosecutors don’t want to risk taking your case to trial. They might offer to reduce your charges in exchange for a fast guilty plea. While plea bargaining has its value, it’s always a good idea to try and negotiate a better deal.

Our lawyers will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your case at the outset. That way, when we go into negotiations, we’ll have all of the favorable evidence we need to get you a better deal–if accepting a guilty plea is advisable at all. In some cases, we can use the plea bargaining process to get your charges dropped if the prosecution’s evidence is weak.

At the Edgett Law Firm, our defense attorneys have negotiated hundreds of plea bargains over the years. We know what it takes to get the best deal possible–and we’ll use those skills to your advantage.

Advocate For You In Court

Accepting a plea isn’t always your best option. If you’re charged with a sex crime, you have the right to be heard by a judge and jury. You need an experienced, aggressive advocate who can make a strong case for your acquittal.

Our lawyers are known for our success at trial. We know what it takes to build the strongest case possible–and we know how to introduce the reasonable doubt needed to win a not guilty verdict. We’ll do everything we can to discredit the prosecution’s witnesses, challenge their evidence, and present reasonable alternatives about what might have happened.

When you choose the Edgett Law Firm to protect your rights, you can rest assured that you’ll be receiving the kind of high-quality, competent representation you need.

Overview Of Texas Laws On Sex Crimes

At the Edgett Law Firm, we defend clients accused of all types of sex crimes, from sexual assault to child pornography, prostitution, indecent exposure, and more. We can help if you’ve been accused of criminal charges, such as:

Sexual Assault (Rape)

Under Texas Penal Code Section 22.011, sexual assault is defined as intentionally or knowingly:

Penetrating the anus or sex organs by any means and without consent
Penetrating someone else’s mouth with the sexual organ without consent
Causing another person’s sexual organ to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus or sexual organ of another person

These types of sexual contact are also criminalized if the victim is under the age of 17, regardless of whether the defendant knew the child’s age.

Sexual assault is “without consent” if the actor:

Uses physical force, coercion or violence
Threatens the use of physical force or violence, and the victim believes that the actor has the ability to follow through on the threat
Engages in sexual contact with someone incapable of consent, whether because of mental disability, unconsciousness or otherwise, if the actor knows that the person is incapable of consent

Rape is a serious offense that can be aggravated to an even more serious crime if the actor causes serious bodily injury or uses a deadly weapon in committing the rape.

In most cases, sexual assault is punished as a first or second-degree felony in Texas.

Indecency With A Child

Indecency with a child is a second or third-degree felony in Texas. Under Texas Penal Code Section 21.11, to convict, the prosecution must prove that the victim was a child under the age of 17 (regardless of whether the actor knew that), and:

The actor engaged in sexual contact with the child or caused the child to engage in sexual contact, or
With the intent to arouse sexual gratification, the actor either (1) exposes someone’s anus or genitals, knowing the child is present, or (2) causes the child to expose the child’s anus or genitals.

Any sex crimes involving minors are taken extremely seriously. However, defenses do exist. With respect to indecency, it is a defense if the actor was no more than three years older and did not use force. That defense stands only if the actor had no prior sex crime convictions.

What Are The Consequences Of A Sex Crime Conviction In Texas?

Conviction on sex crime charges in Dallas, Texas will impact every aspect of your life. You can expect that a conviction will negatively impact:

Child custody rights
Employment opportunities
Housing options
Federal and state assistance
And more

Of course, you’ll also be facing jail time and financial penalties. The severity of those penalties depends on how your charge is graded. In Texas, you might face:

First-degree felony: five to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. In aggravated sexual assault cases, a minimum 25-year sentence applies if the victim was a young child.
Second-degree felony: two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Third-degree felony: two to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
State jail felony: 180 days to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.

When convicted on sex crime charges, the penalties will usually extend well beyond prison. The societal stigma attached to these crimes can destroy your reputation, your career, and even your personal relationships.

Our Dallas criminal defense lawyers at the Edgett Law Firm will work tirelessly to clear your name and protect your future. Getting help is simple. All you have to do is call our law office to schedule a free consultation.

What Are The Sex Offender Registration Requirements In Texas?

One potentially devastating aspect of a sex offense conviction involves Texas sex offender registration requirements. If you’re required to register, you can face an uphill battle finding a job and housing even after you’re released from prison. Examples of convictions that will result in sex crime registration requirements include:

Sexual assault
Continuous sexual abuse of children
Sexual assault of a child
Aggravated sexual assault
Indecency with children
Possession or distribution of child pornography
And more

Sex offenders are required to register with the local police in the city or county where they live. To register, sex offenders must provide:

Their name and address
A color photograph of themselves
Details about the specific sex crime conviction
A description of your vehicle
And more

Past offenders must also provide periodic updates to verify the accuracy of the information–and must register again anytime they move. This information can be made public, meaning that members of the community obtain private information about your past conviction.

Violation of the registration requirement is, in itself, a felony.

How Can A Skilled Lawyer Build A Fierce Defense To Sex Crimes Charges In Dallas?

Not everyone who’s accused of committing a sex crime is guilty. At the Edgett Law Firm, you’re always innocent until proven guilty. We’ll put the full weight of our experience into preventing the prosecution from proving otherwise.

Your strategic sex crime defense might include:

Challenges to the admissibility or reliability of scientific evidence
Questioning the truthfulness or credibility of prosecutorial witnesses
Introducing evidence to prove your innocence, including alibi witnesses and evidence to show racial bias may have led to a case of mistaken identity
Using forensic specialists to discredit DNA and other evidence

A successful defense is one that is custom-tailored to your specific case. At the Edgett Law Firm, we put in the hard work needed to see the big picture. That means we’ll find every piece of favorable evidence available to help with your case.

To learn more about our criminal defense team, give us a call for a free consultation today.

Contact An Aggressive Dallas Sex Crimes Lawyer To Protect Your Rights

When you’re facing sex crime allegations, there is no room for error in your criminal defense strategy. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney with a proven history of success in sex crime cases. With decades of experience under our belt, the Edgett Law Firm is prepared to provide the effective defense you need.

To learn more about how we can fight to protect your freedom, call today for a free consultation with a trusted Dallas sex crimes lawyer. Our lawyers in Dallas, Texas represent clients across Dallas County and the surrounding areas.