Glendale sex crimes lawyer Craig Orent has decades of experience defending clients against charges of sex crimes and other offenses. He has served in both state and federal courts as a prosecutor and a public defender and has nearly 33 years of experience handling criminal cases of all types.
Social values determine what any jurisdiction treats as a sex crime. As social values change, so do the laws criminalizing those activities. Currently, three types of sexual activity are criminalized:
Since social values determine what is considered a sex crime, it’s not surprising that society holds anyone accused of a sex crime in great contempt. Simply being accused triggers a form of punishment consisting of public disapproval and exclusion.
Because sexual conduct can occur in so many ways, involving so many different circumstances and types of victims, Arizona has many, many specific sex crimes on the books. Typical of these crimes are:
Some crimes target specific positions of authority by, for example, making it a crime for police and probation officers to engage in sex with those under their authority or control.
Note that prostitution and related activities are crimes in Arizona, but are not included in the chapter of the criminal laws titled Sexual Offenses. Instead, they occupy a separate chapter devoted just to prostitution.
Penalties for sex crimes vary considerably, based on many factors like the age of the victim, the accused’s prior criminal record, and the extent of injury to the victim. Indecent exposure, for example, can vary from a class 1 misdemeanor all the way up to a class 3 felony. To see which class the indecent exposure crime will be categorized as, consult with a misdemeanor lawyer. Sexual assault is at least a class 2 felony with a maximum sentence of 14 years, but multiple prior convictions raise the maximum to 28 years.
Arizona requires registration as a sex offender for those convicted of any one of a multitude of sex crimes. Even non-residents are required to register if they work or are students in the state. At the time of registration, the sheriff is required to obtain a blood sample sufficient for DNA testing, which remains in the possession of the state.
Registrants are assessed for the level of risk they pose to the community and assigned level 1 (low risk), 2 (moderate risk), or 3 (high risk). The levels affect how long registration is required and the restrictions on activity.
Registration may be terminated or suspended by a court order after a hearing. The requirement of registration ends at age 25 for people who were juveniles when convicted.
Defenses to sexual offense charges depend largely on the crime charged. For example, a common defense to any charge based on lack of consent is to show that there actually was consent.
There are several general defenses that apply to many different kinds of charges, like:
If you have been formally accused of a sex crime or have reason to think you will be, your life is about to change forever. The time to get experienced legal help is right now. In experienced hands, the consequences of a sex crime charge can be minimized by:
Craig understands that sex crime charges require a defense lawyer versed in the technicalities of the law, the practicalities of gathering and presenting the increasingly scientific evidence that determines guilt or innocence, and the need to take public opinion in its various forms into account.
If you have been accused of a sex-related offense, or think you are about to be, call the defense attorneys at Orent Law Offices immediately. The sooner you have a top-notch lawyer to defend you and protect your rights, the brighter the outlook for your future.