Collin County Indecent Exposure Lawyer

Have you been arrested for indecent exposure in Collin, Texas? You need an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side to protect your legal rights. In Texas, indecent exposure is classified as a sex crime.

That means you can face prison time and financial penalties and might even be required to register as a sex offender.

A skilled and knowledgeable Collin County independent exposure lawyer can work to minimize the fallout. At the Edgett Law Firm, we have decades of experience helping clients navigate the criminal justice system in Collin County.

We’re just a phone call away, so don’t hesitate to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Collin County indecent exposure defense attorney today.

How Our Experienced Collin CountyCriminal Defense Attorneys Can Help You Fight Indecent Exposure Charges

Indecent exposure might seem like a minor offense when compared to the range of sex crimes contained in the Texas Penal Code. In reality, there is no such thing as a “minor” sex crime. Police and prosecutors take any sex crime extremely seriously–and will work hard to punish you for your actions.

In many cases, indecent exposure charges might be brought in addition to other charges, like indecency with a child if a minor was present. The importance of a strong defense cannot be overstated in these cases.

Our Collin County criminal lawyers take a proactive approach to building your defense regardless of the facts surrounding your arrest. When you hire the Edgett Law Firm, you’ll gain the advantage of having nearly two decades of trial experience handling sex crime cases on your side.

Establishing an attorney-client relationship with us means you’ll have a legal advocate who will:

Protect Your Constitutional Rights

Whether you’re charged with a misdemeanor or a serious felony, you have legal rights that must be respected throughout the criminal process. Unfortunately, the acts of law enforcement officials don’t follow the letter of the law.

Our indecent exposure defense lawyers will examine your case closely. We’ll evaluate whether the police had probable cause to make the arrest and whether your Fifth Amendment rights were respected throughout the arrest and intake procedures.

If we find problems in the process, we’ll work to have any improperly obtained statements or evidence excluded from consideration in your case.

Get The Facts Straight

The prosecution has to prove every element of your charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Indecent exposure cases are usually fact-sensitive. We’ll work to locate all available evidence, including:

• Video surveillance footage
• Eyewitness testimony
• GPS and cellular data that can be used to establish a person’s location at the time of the alleged crime
• Character witnesses
• Witnesses who can testify to the motive and credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses

In other words, our attorneys will work to poke holes in the prosecution’s case. We’ll frame the evidence in the most favorable and persuasive light possible with one goal in mind: generating enough reasonable doubt to win a not guilty verdict.

Negotiate Behind The Scenes To Minimize The Consequences Of Your Arrest

If Texas prosecutors have charged you with a crime–any crime–they want to convict you. Once our attorneys have gathered all the facts, we work to negotiate behind the scenes to get your charges reduced or dropped if possible.

It’s never too early to call our law firm for help. Even if you have not yet been formally charged with indecent exposure, our legal team can get to work immediately. It may even be possible to secure your release before charges are ever filed.

If you want to learn more about how we can help, call for a free consultation as soon as possible.

How Is Indecent Exposure Defined Under Texas Law?

Under Texas Penal Code Section 21.08, a person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she:

• Exposes any part of the anus or genitals
• With the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of another person
• And is reckless about whether another person is present who would be offended or alarmed by the action

Indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor. For repeat offenders, it is possible to be charged with a more serious Class A misdemeanor.

In many indecent exposure cases, the issue of whether the defendant was reckless in committing the acts alleged comes into play. The prosecutor is required to prove that you ignored the reasonable possibility that someone was present and would be justifiably upset by your actions.

This is a highly fact-intensive and subjective determination. Your lawyer’s skills can be key to preventing the prosecution from proving the state’s case. Our lawyers at the Edgett Law Firm are seasoned in building the types of arguments that win in the courtroom. We’ll work tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened and develop the strongest possible defense for you.

To learn more, just give us a call.

Penalties For An Indecent Exposure Conviction

Although indecent exposure is classified as a misdemeanor, the penalties can still be serious. Judges have considerable discretion in sentencing matters. If the prosecution convicts you of indecent exposure, you could face:

• Up to 180 days in jail
• Up to $2,000 in financial penalties
• Probation

You’ll also have a conviction for a sex crime on your criminal record, which can be accessed by employers, landlords, and even educational institutions.

For repeat offenders, the penalties for a second or subsequent indecent exposure conviction are even harsher. Those penalties can include:

• Up to one year in jail
• $4,000 in financial penalties

If you’re convicted for indecent exposure a second time, you’ll also have to register as a sex offender for ten years after you’ve completed your punishment. That means your information will be entered into a publicly available database so that others will be able to access details about your conviction.

Failure to register as a sex offender is a crime in and of itself in Texas. While indecent exposure generally won’t expose you to lifetime registration requirements, the sex offender registry rules are detailed and complex.

At the Edgett Law Firm, we know the possibility of serious penalties can be overwhelming. Our indecent exposure attorneys offer a free consultation so that we can learn more about what happened and talk about how we can mitigate the damage.

Indecency With A Child

Indecent exposure in the presence of a minor is a much more serious offense. Under Texas Penal Code Section 21.11, you could face third-degree felony charges. If the prosecution can prove that you exposed yourself for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal in the presence of a minor, you could face between two and ten years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

A conviction for indecency with a child also triggers the Texas sex offender registration requirements. When someone sees an indecent exposure conviction involving a child, they might equate that with crimes as serious as child pornography or solicitation of a minor.

Regardless of the facts surrounding your case, a strong defense is your only option. Our experienced attorneys are here to put in the hard work necessary to help you get on with your life. If you’re ready to learn more, call our law firm to get started today.

Defense Strategies To Avoid Conviction For Indecent Exposure

Our skilled criminal defense attorneys will do everything we can to get the charges dropped or win an acquittal at trial. We don’t back down from a fight and know what it takes to protect your interests.

Workable defense strategies might include:

• Mistaken identity. It’s possible that someone wrongly identified you as the person who exposed themselves. Presenting sufficient evidence to convince the judge or jury might be enough to have the charges dropped.

• Lack of intent. It may be possible to convince a judge that while you did expose yourself, you did not intend to offend or alarm anyone present.

• Intoxication. Intoxication is not in and of itself a defense to indecent exposure. However, it could serve to convince the judge to be more lenient in sentencing.

• False allegations. Unfortunately, people often falsely accuse others of committing crimes. If we can establish that a witness had a motive to lie, we may be able to introduce sufficient doubt to win a not guilty verdict.

If convicted for indecent exposure in Texas, the judge determines your sentence within the range of options discussed above. Even if winning acquittal is not possible, an experienced lawyer can fight to minimize the consequences. We’ll present evidence of your good character and frame the evidence in a way that might convince the judge to go easy on you.

Our lawyers are here to help. Don’t hesitate to call to learn more about how we will fight to protect your legal rights.

Schedule A Free Consultation With A Collin County Indecent Exposure Lawyer Today

Defendants who are arrested on indecent exposure charges or public lewdness are often embarrassed and scared about the potential consequences. We understand. However, it’s important that you get legal help as soon as possible to secure the best chances of beating the charges.

At the Edgett Law Firm, our experienced criminal defense lawyers know how to navigate the legal system in Texas. We’ll work tirelessly to get the facts and help you through the process. To learn more about our experience and how we can help, call our law office today for a free consultation with a Collin County indecent exposure lawyer.

We serve clients across Collin County and Collin County, including Highland Park and University Park.