Denton County Sex Crimes Lawyer
Aggressive Representation Against the Most Heinous Criminal Allegations
Texas is known to be tough on crime, and this couldn’t be more true than with alleged sex offenses. From sexual assault to child pornography, our state doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to prosecuting these crimes. Unfortunately, negative repercussions don’t even require that a person be proven guilty in a court of law. The stigma attached to such allegations is incredibly difficult to escape. However, a Denton County sex crimes lawyer may be able to help you avoid the most difficult outcomes.
At Edgett Law Firm, we’ve seen people’s lives ruined due to sex crime charges. We have seen people who engaged in consensual sexual intercourse accused of rape, and convictions for lesser sex crime allegations are common due to unfair plea deals. The simple fact is that these allegations could completely ruin your future. The State of Texas is going to come at you with everything they have, so make sure you have a dedicated criminal defense lawyer on your side.
Contact the Edgett Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation.
What Should You Do When Charged With a Sex Crime?
Perhaps you had consensual sexual intercourse, and now your partner regrets their actions. Maybe you set up a camera for security reasons, and this act has been misconstrued as a crime. Regardless of the specifics of the allegations you’re facing, it’s important to understand your best options when charged with a sexual offense in Texas. While it’s important not to take your legal advice from fictional crime dramas, these shows do get one thing right: you have the right to remain silent.
Regardless of the circumstances of your case, you should always exercise this right. This is true even if you believe speaking with the police would exonerate you. Many people make this mistake — particularly in instances where no sexual contact occurred with the alleged victim. However, police often already have assumptions once they start asking questions. In many cases, they fully intend to file sex offense charges. They simply want you to slip up and say something incriminating first.
Any allegation of improper sexual conduct can result in major consequences. A conviction of a first-degree felony — such as aggravated sexual assault — could land you in prison for up to 99 years. Some sex crimes can lead to castration, and the law even allows for the death penalty in certain situations. Even if the charges against you aren’t this serious — such as with a third- or second-degree felony — you should still refuse to speak with police and contact a Denton sex crime attorney immediately.
What Sex Crime Charges Could You Face Under Texas Law?
When people discuss sex crimes, their minds typically think of rape and inappropriate actions with a child. However, it’s important to realize that there are various types of sex crimes identified under Texas law. In fact, prosecutors will often use this fact to obtain plea deals for lesser crimes — typically by overcharging defendants as a scare tactic. If you want to be treated fairly under the law, it’s critical to work with a criminal defense attorney. However, it’s also important to understand the potential charges you could face:
- Statutory rape
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Child pornography
- Criminal solicitation of a minor
- Indecent exposure
- Prostitution
- Public lewdness
- Improper photography or visual recording
- Compelling prostitution
- Sexual performance by a child
- Improper relationship between educator and student
- Aggravated promotion of prostitution
This list may seem extensive, but under Texas law, it’s far from exhaustive. There are various criminal charges that qualify as sex crimes. Not all of them will require registration as a sex offender — particularly if a plea deal is reached — but the consequences of these crimes are detrimental. Even a third-degree felony could result in up to 10 years of prison time. Unfortunately, for those facing sex crime charges, prosecutors will typically seek a felony conviction. Even soliciting prostitution was upgraded to a felony recently.
Put simply, you need a sex crimes lawyer in Denton County if you’re facing any of these or related charges. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and how to move forward.
What Is Aggravated Sexual Assault and Similar Higher Crimes?
On the list of potential sex offenses in Texas, you’ll sometimes see the word “aggravated.” While working with criminal defense lawyers is critical for any sex crime allegation, doing so is particularly critical for those charged with aggravated circumstances. That’s because these charges are far more serious than their lesser underlying counterparts. For instance, sexual assault may be charged as a second-degree felony — which could lead to 20 years in prison. However, aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony — with a potential sentence of 99 years.
There are various circumstances that could result in a crime being charged as “aggravated.” For instance, sexual assault of someone under 14 years old or the use of “date rape drugs” can warrant such charges. Claims that a deadly weapon was used or serious injury was threatened can similarly lead to these upgraded charges. The distinguishing characteristics between these crimes can be difficult to understand, but the one thing to remember is that a conviction carries serious consequences. This is why you should speak with a Denton sex crime lawyer today.
Should You Accept a Plea Deal?
It may surprise you, but most people convicted of sex crimes in Denton, TX were not prosecuted in court. As it turns out, the majority of criminal cases are resolved with plea negotiations. This is particularly true in Texas for serious crimes — when life imprisonment may seem far preferable to a heavily-used death penalty. In some situations, a plea deal may be the right option in your case. However, you should never agree to such a deal without first contacting a law office.
The simple fact is that prosecutors will try to maximize your penalty even when you agree to a deal. This is particularly problematic with those facing sex crime charges. However, the reality is that such cases are incredibly difficult to prove. Only about half of individuals accused of rape are arrested — and when prosecuted, just over half of these cases result in convictions. Because of this, prosecutors will often overcharge and then offer defendants a “fair deal” to simply plead guilty.
Unfortunately, these plea deals are often agreed to by individuals who would otherwise be found not guilty. In fact, many of these people could have the charges against them dropped entirely had they worked with a sex crimes attorney in Denton County. Even if a prosecutor is particularly lenient, having your name listed on an online database as a sex offender has lasting consequences. Before you agree to any plea deal, contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation.
What Happens if You Register as a Sex Offender?
When a person is charged with a sex crime in Denton, prosecutors may claim that they’re willing to offer leniency. In these situations, they’ll often say that a person can avoid prosecution by simply pleading guilty and being placed on the sex offender registry. Whether this is viewed as “lenient” or as part of a larger punishment, such placement can have long-lasting consequences you might not realize:
- Public stigma
- Employment challenges
- Housing restrictions
- Educational limitations
- Travel and mobility restrictions
- Legal and supervision requirements
- Impact on personal relationships
- Financial consequences
- Community participation
- Targeting by vigilantes
Before you make any decision related to the charges against you, it’s important for you to understand all potential consequences that you might face. A Denton County sex crimes attorney can help in this process. Overcoming the charges against you might be a difficult challenge, but having an experienced legal professional on your side can help. Contact us today. We’re ready to assist you with understanding the path forward.
Contact a Denton County Sex Crime Lawyer Today
If you’ve been charged with a Denton sex crime, it’s important for you to act quickly. In fact, it’s typically wise to reach out to an attorney even if an arrest has not been made. Even if police opt not to charge you with a crime, a prolonged investigation triggered by untruthful allegations can drag a person through the mud. An experienced sex crime attorney can review your case and work to show police that there’s no evidence worth pursuing. And if charges are eventually brought against you, having legal help from the start can prove invaluable.
At Edgett Law Firm, our legal team knows what you’re up against. Even for those who manage to avoid prison time, placement on the sex offender registry can destroy their lives. Unfortunately, far too many people agree to plea deals because they’re fearful of going to trial. In some cases, police and prosecutors have even scared individuals into making false confessions. The simple fact is that the system is against you, so working with a Denton County sex crimes lawyer is imperative. Contact us at (972) 810-3410 to schedule your free consultation today. We’re here to help.