St. Augustine Sex Crimes Lawyer

Sex crimes are a variety of acts that involve a sexual component. They can involve non-consensual or threatened harm, and in many cases, the perpetrator maintains an emotional hold on the injured party. Sexual activity with a minor (someone younger than 18) is illegal in Florida, even if the minor consents. However, legally navigating sex crimes can be nuanced. For example, the rules are different for an 18-year-old who engages in consensual sex with his 16-year-old girlfriend.

Some sex crimes are misdemeanors, and some are felonies. The consequences of a conviction can follow you for a lifetime, affecting your personal relationships and compromising your career. You may be left with a criminal record and your name in the sex offender registry. If you are arrested, you should wait to give the police a statement until after you have spoken with a St. Augustine sex crimes lawyer from the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A. Our experienced defense attorneys are available now to discuss your options during a free consultation.

How Does the State Define Sex Crimes?

Sexual assault or battery amounts to attempted rape and rape in Florida. The difference between threatening to hurt or hurting someone and rape crimes is a sexual component. This refers to when the harm threatened or completed involves sexual acts, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Rape crimes are felonies.

Lewd and lascivious conduct includes indecent exposure and is usually a misdemeanor for a first arrest. This occurs when a person intentionally exposes their sexual organs to others, and no touching is involved.

Prostitution is more than just offering to perform a sex act in exchange for money or something of value. A person who accepts a prostitute’s offer, solicits a prostitute, or is the proprietor of a brothel can also be arrested under Florida’s prostitution statute.

Florida is especially hard on sex crimes involving minors. This area of the law has proliferated with the advance of the internet. Often, those seeking a young victim pose as another young person to gain the target’s confidence and then persuade them into an assignation. This can be a federal crime if the perpetrator crosses state lines to commit the crime. Additionally, the internet has bolstered the dissemination of child pornography, which is also a sex crime.

Under its Romeo and Juliet law, the state does offer some protection to teens and young adults with minimal age differences who engage in consensual sex. The younger party, usually the female, must be between 14 and 17, and the other party cannot be more than 1,460 days, or four years, older.

Although the circumstances could dissuade the prosecutor from filing charges, the law does not decriminalize the act. The accused may be able to avoid registering as a sex offender, and the judge may reduce sentences and fines. An experienced St. Augustine sex crimes attorney knows what to do in these cases.

What To Expect if You Are Charged With a Sex Crime

The legal process for bringing and prosecuting criminal charges includes several steps. These are:

• Investigation, which involves gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses
• Arrest and arraignment, where a judge reads the charges against you and you then plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest
• Pre-trial hearings in which your attorney files motions and participates in discovery, where documents are shared
• Trial if the prosecutor will not negotiate
• Sentencing by a jury

Your St. Augustine lawyer presents defenses to the sex crime you are charged with, which can include mistaken identity, no intention to distribute pornography or expose yourself, and consent to a sexual act, as well as procedural errors by law enforcement.

Contact a St. Augustine Attorney About Sex Crime Charges

You are entitled to a competent defense if you have been charged with a crime. The Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., has some of the most experienced defense attorneys in the area, so call today for a free consultation to discuss your case with a St. Augustine sex crimes lawyer. Problems? Pick Porter!™