Sex crimes are among the most harshly prosecuted crimes and carry a substantial societal stigma for those accused of them. The mere allegations of involvement in a sex offense can cause immediate alienation from family and friends, job loss, and a permanent stain on your reputation in the community.
As a result, you should not hesitate to contact a Dumfries sex crimes lawyer as soon as you become aware that you are the target of a sex crimes investigation.
Various defenses may be available in sex crime cases. A lack of intent, mistake, miscommunication, entrapment, and false allegations are all potential defenses that you may consider, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the accusations against you.
The assistance of an accomplished defense attorney could be invaluable in fighting the charges against you.
Virginia law provides for a wide range of sex offenses, ranging from prostitution to child pornography possession to rape. Some crimes are misdemeanors, and others are felonies, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it involves minors.
As the consequences for these offenses can be extremely severe, so individuals who are facing sex offense charges should consult a sex crimes lawyer in Dumfries.
One of the most commonly charged sex offenses is sexual battery under Va. Code § 18.2-67.4. This offense occurs when individuals use force, threats, or deception to commit sexual abuse against others without their consent. Individuals convicted of sexual battery can face Class 1 misdemeanor charges, which carry the potential for a jail sentence of up two one year and a $2,500 fine.
Another much more serious sex offense is rape. According to Va. Code § 18.2-61, individuals commit rape when they have sexual intercourse with others against their will by using force, intimidation, or threats, taking advantage of the mental incapacity or physical helplessness of others, or by engaging in sex with children under the age of 13. Rape is a felony offense that can result in a prison sentence ranging from five years to life, and some aggravating circumstances may require minimum mandatory prison sentences for some rape offenses.
Under Va. Code § 18.2-374.3, it is unlawful to use different communications systems to facilitate specific criminal offenses involving minors, including producing or selling child pornography. Individuals who use the U.S. mail, common carriers, the Internet, or any form of electronic communications to carry out these offenses can face Class 6 felony charges.
Beyond the prison time, individuals can receive as punishment for a sex offense conviction, some sex offenses require that they register as sex offenders. As a result, these individuals must have their names, pictures, contact information, and criminal convictions posted on sex offender registry that is available to the public online. Some of the offenses that may require sex offender registration include the following:
Individuals with convictions for sexually violent offenses will remain subject to sex offender registration requirements for the remainder of their lives. Selected individuals convicted of non-violent sex offenders may petition for removal from the sex offender registry after 15 years if they have completed all court-ordered treatment and counseling, paid all court-ordered restitution, and can demonstrate that they are no longer a risk to society.
A sex crimes attorney in Dumfries may be able to assist individuals in avoiding the stigma of mandatory sex offender registration.
Sex offense convictions can result in severe penalties, mandatory sex offender registration, and a permanent mark on your criminal record that you may be unable to overcome in many respects. These sanctions can cause hardships that may seem impossible when you are attempting to find housing or employment.
Working with a Dumfries sex crimes lawyer may be essential to your ability to overcome the charges against you or reduce the potential penalties that you are facing.
Charges related to sex offenses do not necessarily mean that you will be convicted. By enlisting reliable defense counsel, you may be able to achieve a more favorable outcome in your case.
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