What Happens If You Are Charged With a Sex Crime in Texas? 

 Posted on January 12, 2022 in Criminal Defense

It can be overwhelming to face criminal charges alone - especially when the charges are for a sex crime. Given the weight that a sex crime carries, this is not a situation that anyone takes lightly. 

One of the most common questions that we hear is, “What are the consequences of being charged with a sex crime?” In order to understand the potential ramifications of a sex crime charge, it helps to first familiarize yourself with what a sex crime entails and what to do if you are charged with one.  

What is a Sex Crime? 

If you are charged with a sex crime in Texas, you may be worried that the outcome of this experience will follow you for the rest of your life. With an experienced attorney on your side, your lawyer may be able to build a case that defends your name and seeks to prevent long-term consequences of the sex crime charge. 

However, in order to craft a case in your favor, your lawyer will need to know what you have been charged with officially. There are many different types of sex crimes in Texas. 

According to the penal codes of Texas, sex crimes recognized by the state of Texas include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• An improper relationship between an educator and his or her student 

• Invasive visual recording, or taking videos of someone's private areas without consent 

• Unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material, such as explicit photographs 

• Voyeurism, or exposing oneself indecently to an unsuspecting individual 

• Unlawful electronic transmission of sexually explicit visual material 

• Distribution of explicit content and possession of child pornography 

• Kidnapping with intent to sexually violate a minor fourteen years of age or younger 

Possible Outcomes of a Sex Crime Charge 

There are two potential outcomes of a sex crime charge. Someone charged with a sex crime will either be proven guilty or shown to be innocent. If an individual is believed to be innocent, then the charges will be dropped and the person will be free.  

However, if someone is guilty of the sex crime in question, then they could be at risk of receiving one of the following consequences: 

• Incarceration 

• Steep fines

• House arrest

• Community service

• Registration on the sex offender list

What To Do If You Have Been Charged With a Sex Crime

Keep in mind that you are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty, meaning you are not automatically guilty. This remains true, even if you have been charged with a sex crime. 

Remembering that you are innocent in the eyes of the law can help you feel hopeful in the face of a sex crime charge, which on its own is often daunting. 

If you have been charged with a sex crime, do not hesitate to seek legal advice from a criminal defense lawyer who has experience defending clients facing sex crime charges. As your lawyer, a sex crime attorney will take on the responsibility of gathering evidence, evaluating the available information, and building a defense strategy to present in court. 

Contact a Llano County Sex Crime Lawyer 

If you are facing a sex crime charge and you are in need of legal representation, reach out to a Marble Falls criminal defense attorney at Law Office of Russ Alan Baker, PLLC by dialing 325-216-2006. We are read to assist you by building a defense case against a sex crime charge in Texas. 

Source: 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/pe/htm/pe.21.htm