Fort Worth and Dallas Sexual Assault Attorney
Sexual Assault and other offenses that require Registration
Being branded a ‘sex offender’ can ruin your life. Following a conviction, you are likely to serve ‘hard time’ in prison and you are required to register as a sex offender.
Hire An Experienced Attorney
Society generally views alleged sex offenders as guilty as soon as accusations are made and, because sex crimes are considered among the most shameful, cases involving sexual misconduct are often highly publicized.
Your reputation, relationships, employment, housing, life and future are at risk when faced with a sexual assault allegation. Contact Shane Lewis to employ his years of practice in the defense against charges of sexual assault.
This is a very serious accusation and you should contact our office to schedule a free initial consultation as soon as possible.
Understanding Sexual Assault and Sex-Related Crimes
Arguably the most vilified of all offenses, sexual assault and related crimes carry heavy penalties in Texas. Each year, nearly 20,000 Texans are accused of sexual assault, with the largest demographic of these alleged offenders being males aged 15-19 years old.
Sexual assault is a vague term that can be used to describe any number of interactions including people in a relationship and ranging from basic sexual contact to intercourse. New complications can occur due to advancements in technology, (the relatively new concept of “sexting,” for example) creating an ever-expanding and changing legal frontier for sex crimes.
Penalties for these crimes are also becoming increasingly severe. For this reason, many defendants find themselves dealing with prison time, hefty fines and the lifelong stigma of becoming a registered sex offender. Understanding the charges and penalties facing you can help you to find the right Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer.
Defining Sexual Assault and Other Sex-Related Crimes
Sexual assault can be best defined as unwanted sexual contact against another person. This can happen through force, manipulation, coercion, lack of consent or violence.
In addition to sexual assault, many people do not realize the wide variety of offenses that can be construed as sex-related crimes. Often a misunderstanding or a youthful indiscretion can carry unintentional and heavy consequences.
These crimes can include, but are not limited to:
Indecent exposure, voyeurism, indecency with a child, improper relationship between educator and student, invasive 
visual recording, child pornography (the aforementioned “sexting” laws may fall under this category), prostitution or solicitation.
Due to the nature of the crime, Texas law requires little evidence to prosecute sex crimes. This creates a large space for wrongful accusations, giving an Arlington Sexual Assault Defense Attorney the power to help his clients in the event of a false or misleading accusation.
Understanding Potential Penalties
The potential penalties for these crimes can be extensive and severe. Sexual assault is typically construed as a 2nd degree felony, carrying with it a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years. If the assault included a weapon, a more legally-protected victim, a threat or particularly violent act, it can be upgraded to aggravated sexual assault, a 1st degree felony with an even harsher potential sentence of 5 to 99 years in prison.
Something like child pornography, which is a 2nd degree felony, can include a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years.
A lesser crime like indecent exposure still carries a significant sentence, with an alleged offender typically facing no more than 180 days in jail and fines up to $2000.
Knowing What to Do Next
Your case will be set in motion immediately following your arrest. A Tarrant County Sexual Assault attorney can help you navigate the case and begin collecting data for your defense. So the sooner you call one, the better. Your life may depend on it. Contact me today and let’s begin working on your defense.