Texas Sex Crime Laws: Charges, Penalties & Defenses

If you’re facing a criminal charge in Houston, TX, you’ll need legal representation. This is especially true if the offense is related to a Sex Crime such as Sexual Assault, Indecency with a Child, or Possession of Child Pornography. If you are being investigated or have been charged with a sex crime, get in touch with our office right away for an immediate case review.

Serious charges require a serious attorney, one who is well versed and experienced in that particular field. When it comes to sex crime cases, the risks are so high, you must have an expert on your side.

Jack B. Carroll, a Houston Sex Crimes Defense Expert — Jack B. Carroll: Experienced lawyer for sex crime defendants.

Many Defendants have the feeling of being pre-judged, regardless of the presumption of innocence, long before they see their date in court. With possible punishments ranging from long prison sentences to lifetime registration as a sex-offender, there is no room for error in cases involving sex crimes.

Houston based Criminal Attorney Jack B. Carroll has a wealth of experience fighting sex crime charges involving both adults and children. Even if you intend to plead guilty, a good lawyer may be the difference between a maximum punishment or significantly less severe penalties. On the other hand, if you say you are innocent, you will be treated as such by Jack.

If you were charged with a sex crime in Houston or accused of committing one or more of the following sex crimes, contact Houston criminal defense lawyer Jack B. Carroll as soon as possible by calling 713-228-4607.

Some of the Charges Our Firm Specializes In:

Possession of Child Pornography
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Online Solicitation of a Minor
Child Molestation
Sexual Assault
Prostitution or solicitation
Sexual Assault of a Child
Sexual Assault of a Handicapped Person
Stalking
Indecency With a Child
Prostitution
Prohibited Sexual Conduct
Indecent Exposure
Public Indecency
Lewdness

Potential Penalties For Sex Crimes in Houston

The potential punishment for sex crimes, in The State of Texas, is designed to be excessive to deter offenders. In the section below, we’ve outlined a few examples of the range of punishment a defendant can expect should the be found guilty of any of the aforementioned sex crimes in the court of law.

Child Molestation, Sexual Assault of a Child

(INDECENCY WITH A CHILD OFFENSES)

Believe it or not, there are a whole host of activities that could fall under these definitions of sex crimes.

There are more sexual assault criminal charges alleged for accidentally brushing up against a young girl’s breasts than we care to write about. But let me tell you, those cases (and cases like them) are the norm for the most part when it comes to sex-related criminal cases in Harris County, TX.

Depending on the details and the evidence in the case, a person found guilty of a sex crime involving a minor, in the State of Texas, is looking at up to 20 years in the penitentiary.

Sexual Assault (Rape)

Sexual Assault is terminology that is normally used to describe the crime of rape. Being accused of rape doesn’t necessarily imply sexual intercourse and can be prosecuted in the criminal courts based on simple sexual contact. Sexual Assault, or “Rape,” can occur in an existing relationship, or between complete strangers. The offense will be prosecuted in the same manner and the term also encompasses some sexual crimes involving children.

Punishment Range: 2nd Degree Felony – 2 to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice operated jail facility.

Aggravated Sexual Assault

Think of an Aggravated Sexual Assault as rape with violent implications;

a rape based on the threat of death or bodily harm,
or the rape of a defenseless victim (senior citizens, disabled citizens, and children),
or a case of sexual assault involving a weapon.

Punishment Range: 1st Degree Felony – 5 to 99 years in a Texas Department of Corrections facility.

Possession of Child Pornography

If you are found guilty of Possession of Child Pornography, you’ll be punished under 2^nd Degree Felony guidelines, which entails a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 20 years prison time and a fine up to $10,000.00.

Prostitution

The crime of Prostitution or the Promotion of Prostitution carries with it a potential prison sentence of up to 1 year, and in extreme cases, two years.

The offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor if the actor was previously convicted one or two times of an offense under this section;

a state jail felony if the actor was previously convicted three or more times of an offense under this section;

a felony of the third degree if the person solicited is 14 years of age or older and younger than 18 years of age; or

a felony of the second degree if the person solicited is younger than 14 years of age.

Source

State Sex Offenses

Federal Sex Offenses

Attorney Jack B. Carroll Board Certified® by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Attorney Jack B. Carroll
Board Certified® by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

“Sexting” Sexual Picture Texts & Nude Images

Engaging in the act of sending and receiving sexually-oriented text messages with picture attachments, or simply sending a picture, can be a sex crime. If the sexually-explicit images involve a child or a minor, the crime of Possession of Child Pornography is committed.

A great example of what can be considered possession or distribution of child porn is a case where an 18-year old boys’ 16-year-old girlfriend sent him a sexually explicit image, he could, in theory, be found guilty of the following crimes;

Possession of Child Pornography,
Distribution of Child Pornography,
Trafficking in Child Pornography,
And Solicitation of Child Pornography.

In addition to a criminal conviction and subsequent prison terms, the accused person will also be burdened with a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender. Some legal scholars have opined that these laws need a slight tweaking to account for the reality of teenage life, but nothing has happened in the Austin legislature.

Sex Offender Registration

Aside from prison sentencing, embarrassment, and being charged with a felony, the defendant will also be forced to contend with the stigma of being publicly listed and registered as a sex offender in their community.

Looking for a Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer in Houston?

Call on the Experience of Jack B. Carroll & Associates today!

Houston Sex Crimes Attorney Jack B. Carroll has an extensive history of fighting allegations of criminally sexual behavior and for the most part, a good percentage of these cases are frivolous. In cases where our client admitted his/her guilt, we’ve had sentences drastically reduced in most cases.

If you or someone you care about has been charged with a sex crime in Houston, or the Greater Houston area, and need expert legal advice up to and including criminal defense in the court of law, call Jack B. Carroll at 713-228-4607 to discuss your case.

Sex Crimes & Related Criminal Offenses

Houston Criminal Lawyer Jack B. Carroll 713-228-4607

A Few of Our Case Results

Sexual Assault-Child – 183rd – CZE# 1356785 – Not Guilty (Jury Trial)
Sexual Assault: Not Guilty – CZE# 08923930, 174th – Not Guilty
Indecency with a Child – Dismissed – 176th District Court – 152746301010
Sexual Assault-Rape: Grand Jury – No Billed – Ft Bend County, TX
Federal Child Pornography – 650,000 Images – Eastern District of Texas – 70 Months
Child Pornography: Case Dismissed: CZE# 15005830
Indecent Exposure: Case Dismissed – CZE# 93458870 CT 11
Indecency w/Child: Case Dismissed – Brazoria County, TX

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Texas Sex Crime Laws: Charges, Penalties & Defenses I'm Attorney Jack B. Carroll. Have you been arrested? Have you been charged with a crime? When it’s all on the line, you need elite defense on your side.