Sexual Allegations
When you have been accused of a sexual crime, it’s very important that you do not have any contact with the accuser. Additionally, do not answer any questions asked by law enforcement or otherwise without your attorney present. Note & Kidd have many years of experience defending those accused of sex crimes and we understand how to protect you and your rights.
Facing these accusations on your own can be overwhelming. Contact Note & Kidd today so you can be confident that you have the best defense possible
Sexual allegations can be devastating to those accused, and unfortunately, many people are falsely accused of these crimes.
What Happens If I’m Convicted of a Sex Crime?
A sex offense is any crime of sexual assault or crime committed with sexual motive. Sex crimes include rape, child molestation, sexual misconduct, indecent liberties, assault with sexual motivation, child pornography, indecent exposure, voyeurism, promoting prostitution, communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, incest, and custodial sexual misconduct.
Sex crimes vary significantly in severity and consequences. A good sex crime attorney can help you understand both.
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Class A sex offenses are the most serious and include:
First-degree rape
Second-degree rape
First-degree child molestation
Indecent liberties with forcible compulsion
All of these charges are class A felonies carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. Unlike any other charges, one convicted of a Class A sex offense will be sentenced to an indeterminate life sentence. This means that once a fixed prison sentence has been served the defendant will have to appear before the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB or parole board) for a determination as to whether they can be released.
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Class B felonies carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. These charges include:
Second-degree child molestation
Indecent liberties without forcible compulsion
Sexual exploitation of a minor
Like Class A sex offenses, many of these are subject to the ISRB, but unlike Class A sex offenses, the maximum prison sentence is 10 years.
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Class C sex offenses are felony sex crimes that carry a maximum prison sentence of five years in prison and include:
Third-degree rape
Third-degree child molestation
Voyeurism
Possession of child pornography
Most of these charges carry a sentencing range of jail or prison depending upon circumstance. Unlike Class A and B felonies, they are not subject to the ISRB.
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Certain sex crimes are classified as misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors such as:
First conviction for indecent exposure
Communication with a minor for immoral purposes
Fourth-degree assault sexual motivation.
These charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 364 days in jail but carry no mandatory minimum sentence.
All felony sex offenses and certain misdemeanor sex crimes require sex offender registration and community notification, inclusion of a DNA sample in a criminal database, DNA sampling, loss of civil rights, loss of firearm rights, and in certain circumstances, HIV testing. Be sure to get a sex crime attorney to fight for these rights, regardless of the severity of the charges.
Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA)
Unfortunately, sometimes good people do bad things. Many times these good people are horrified by their actions, want to take responsibility for what they did and seek professional counseling to ensure that it never happens again. The legislature has recognized that certain offenders are treatable in the community and unlikely to reoffend if properly monitored. Under certain circumstances, instead of being sentenced to a lengthy prison term, someone convicted of a sex offense other than Rape 2 or a serious violent offense may be granted a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA).
When the court grants a defendant a SSOSA, it will impose a jail sentence up to 12 months and suspend the remainder of the prison sentence upon the successful completion of outpatient sex offender treatment and community custody (probation). Although the defendant is ultimately convicted of the offense and is required to register as a sex offender, he or she has the ability to avoid a lengthy prison sentence by completing treatment and complying with the terms of supervision.
Defending a Sex Crime
No other charge is as complex and demanding to defend as sex offense. Knowledge, experience, and grit are required for a sex crime attorney to thoroughly investigate the facts, effectively interview and cross examine the victim and State DNA expert, cautiously select a jury, and fiercely fight for the defendant’s freedom. Note & Kidd have successfully defended every type of sex offense and secured freedom for many of our clients. If you or a loved one is accused of a sex crime, call us today to discuss your options.