Potential Consequences Of A Conviction For A Sex Crime

 Sex crime charges are very different from most other types of criminal charges, in that even if unfounded and unproven, they can result in a stigma that follows you for the rest of your life. While there is little that can be done about courts of public opinion and social media juries, avoiding the harsh legal penalties that often follow a conviction for such charges must be achieved. Below, the potential consequences of a sex crime conviction are discussed.

It is essential to work with a defense attorney who focuses on sex crime charges to ensure that you have the best possible chance of obtaining an acquittal. If you are convicted of some of more stringent sex offenses, you will be facing:

A jail sentence measured in years and thousands of dollars in fines

A criminal record that may interfere with accepting a job or 

finding housing

Court-ordered victim restitution

Summary probation, formal probation or parole

Lifetime registration on the sexual offenders list kept by the state

Some of the most serious sexual crimes include:

Rape

Sexual battery

Oral copulation, sodomy or penetration by a foreign object

Another category of sex crimes that has become far more common in the digital age are internet-based offenses. These can include:

Distributing harmful material to minors

Arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes

“Sexting” or exchanging lewd images electronically between an adult and a minor

For adults age 18 or older, any of these crimes involving minors can lead to a felony charge with life-altering consequences.

Can a Judge Deviate from Felony Sentencing Guidelines?

Before handing down a final verdict, judges are free to deliberate the specifics of each case presented to them and may pronounce verdicts outside the proposed range. A defendant’s behavior before, during, and after the offense is one of the common factors that judges consider.

Aggravated factors are actions that cause a judge to increase the sentence above the proposed maximum. Examples of aggravating factor include:

Abduction

Death of one or more people

Use of a deadly weapon during the crime

Serious physical injury to a victim

The judge may consider mitigating aspects that can be used to justify a sentence less than the proposed minimum, such as:

The perpetrator having committed the crime under pressure or forced

The victim's conduct contributing greatly to infuriating the perpetrator

Helping authorities in bringing more defendants to justice

Are you charged with a sex crime and would want to know is how severe it is? Your first move should be contacting an experienced sex crime attorney who will help you understand whether you are likely to face misdemeanor or felony sex charges. Sexual offenses receive varied classifications depending on their severity. Infractions are the mildest crimes, while more serious crimes are referred to as misdemeanors. The most serious crimes of all are referred to as felonies. It is imperative to understand the main differences between these classifications since they impact the substance and procedure of any criminal charge.