If you are accused of a sex crime, you should be proactive about securing the legal support necessary to build a robust defense. Sex crimes are classified as felonies in Tarrant County, Texas, and can carry heavy penalties. For example, anyone found guilty of a sex crime in Texas must register as a sex offender in the state’s online registry and may be required to pay significant fines and serve a lengthy prison sentence.
A qualified Tarrant County sex crimes lawyer knows how dramatic an impact a sex crime charge could have on an accused person’s life, and could work with you to construct a strong defense in your case.
Sex Crimes in Texas
Examples of sex crimes in Texas according to the Texas Penal Code include but are not limited to:
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Online solicitation of a minor
- Aggravated kidnapping if the intent of the kidnapping is sexual misconduct
- Indecent exposure
- Prostitution
- Possession, creation, propagation, or solicitation of illegal pornography such as child pornography
- A sexual act with someone under 17 years of age, including sex abuse, aggravated kidnapping, child prostitution or trafficking, exchanging sexual messages, and statutory rape
The aforementioned offenses are all classified as felonies in the state of Texas. There are five tiers of felonies in Texas punishable by degrees of consequences ranging from fines to life imprisonment. Furthermore, there is no statute of limitations on certain sex crimes, such as the sexual assault or sexual abuse of a child, meaning that an individual suspected of committing such a crime can be charged at any point in time.
The Online Registry
Anyone convicted of a sex crime in Tarrant County will be required to provide a great deal of information about themselves, including their name, date of birth, race, gender, home address, a recent color photograph, a set of fingerprints, the age of the victim the crime was carried out against, the type of offense, and more.
People registered in the online sex offender registry in Texas often remain in the registry for the rest of their lives. Juvenile defendants are required to register for up to ten years following the date of conviction. If a sex crime defendant fails to sign up for the online sex offender registry, they can be charged with another felony.
An experienced Tarrant County sex crimes attorney could build a case on behalf of an individual charged with a sex crime and work to prevent their client from being required to register as a sex offender.
Contact a Tarrant County Sex Crimes Lawyer Today
Being charged with a sex crime carries potential consequences of heavy fines, incarceration, parole, community supervision, and a requirement to register with local law enforcement agencies as a sex offender. When you enlist the help of a Tarrant County sex crimes lawyer, you are taking active steps toward building a team who will work tirelessly to defend you and represent your best interests in a court of law. Call today to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.
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