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Boca Raton Sex Crimes Attorney
In Florida, “sex crime” is a term that covers a wide range of sexually-motivated criminal acts. Actions like lewd exhibition are categorized as sex crimes, along with much more serious offenses such as sexual contact with a minor and rape.
If you or someone you care about has been accused of a sex crime, it’s crucial that you seek expert representation immediately. Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A. is a Boca Raton law firm that will build your defense.
If you have been accused of any type of sexually-motivated crime, it is in your best interest to contact a Boca Raton sex crimes attorney immediately. You could be facing fines and possible jail time, depending on the accusation. Do not wait to begin developing your defense. You need an attorney who understands how Florida’s criminal courts handle sex crimes and who can work to help you and your case reach a favorable outcome. Contact our Boca Raton sex crime attorneys.
Types of Sex Crimes
Many different offenses are classified as sex crimes in Florida. The following contains offenses that are classified as indictable sex crimes in Florida.
The three primary categories of sex crimes are lewd and lascivious acts, sexual battery, and unlawful sexual activity with minors.
Lewd and lascivious acts are crimes committed against children under the age of 16. This includes sexual touching of a minor, sexual act witnessed by a minor, and sexual intercourse with a child between the ages of 12 and 16.
Sexual battery is also known as rape. It is defined as any non-consensual sexual activity committed through force, coercion, or incapacitation.
Unlawful sexual activity with minors is any sex act committed between an adult of 24 years or older with a minor of 16 or 17 years.
Penalties for Sex Crimes
Sex crimes are taken very seriously by the Florida court system. Every defendant convicted of a felony-level sex crime is required to serve time in prison. In fact, Florida currently has the harshest sentences for sex offenders in the United States.
Certain convictions require the defendant to register as a sex offender for the rest of his or her life. In 1997, Florida’s Public Information Safety Act was ratified, creating the state’s sex offender registry.
This registry tracks individuals who have committed sexually-motivated crimes against minors. The following list contains some of the convictions that result in one’s having to register as a sex offender:
- Video voyeurism of a minor.
- Procuring a minor for prostitution.
- Selling or purchasing trafficked minors for the purpose of prostitution.
- Kidnapping a minor if the defendant is not the minor’s parent or guardian.
- Electronic transmission of child pornography.
- Electronic transmission of any harmful material to minors.
- Sexual activity with a minor.
Being convicted of a sex crime is one of the harshest criminal and social penalties that Florida citizens and residents can face. While some crimes have relatively minor consequences for a career and personal life, sex crimes and subsequent registration as a sex offender can be devastating.
Registered sex offenders will face:
- Difficult and negative relationships with family members, peers, and neighbors.
- The prospect of losing a job and not being able to find employment.
- Difficulty in securing a lease for housing with a landlord or property management company.
- Reduced opportunities when applying for loans like mortgages, business loans, car financing, and personal loans.
- A complete loss of access to some private residential communities.
Additionally, jail time is required for any felony-level sex crime committed in Florida. The following are examples of prison terms for various crimes.
- Lewd and lascivious battery: 7-15 years in prison.
- Lewd offenses: up to 15 years in prison with a minimum sentence of required sex offender registration.
- Sexual battery/Rape: 9 years to life in prison.
- Statutory rape: 5-15 years in prison.
Reasonable Legal Defenses When Facing a Sex Crime Charge
In normal circumstances, there are three valid legal defenses that can be presented to a court.
- Innocence is the most common defense for people who are accused of committing a sex crime in Boca Raton, Florida. If you have been accused of a crime and have not committed the act, then your attorney can present your case. Charges against innocent people are not always malicious in nature. Mistaken identity is a possibility. Whatever the circumstances, it is crucial that you have a competent legal team that can build a successful case to prove your innocence.
- Consent is also a challenge that the accused face. In some cases, the accused may admit that the sexual act took place but that it was legal under Florida law and fully consensual. Proving consent can be difficult, and it’s important that you are able to provide evidence in a way that is compelling for the court. The expert legal team at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A. can assist with ongoing support, counsel, and legal representation.
- Insanity or Mental Incapacity is a potential defense, depending on the circumstances. As with all defenses for sex crimes, presenting the case can be challenging. Anyone accused of committing a sexual crime that is proven to be incapable of understanding the criminality of the event may receive leniency from the court.
No form of defense is guaranteed, which is why it’s so important that you seek legal advice as soon as charges are made. In Boca Raton, Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A. can provide the most professional and experienced legal professionals to contest a sex crime charge and build a defense.
Our Boca Raton Sex Crime Attorneys Can Help
If you’ve been accused of any kind of sex crime in Boca Raton, Florida, call Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A. at 561-395-0000 for your legal consultation. You’ll be able to discuss your case and its individual circumstances with a knowledgeable attorney who knows Florida sex crime laws and can help you build a strong defense. Be proactive – a sex crime is a very serious accusation that could alter your life forever. Don’t make the mistake of not seeking expert criminal defense.