Prince William County Sex Crimes Lawyer
Virginia law establishes various sex crimes, including those that involve violence or force, and those that involve minors and other individuals who legally cannot consent to the sexual acts. Violation of many of these criminal offenses can result in severe penalties, including incarceration, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.
You should take any accusations of sex offenses seriously and strongly consider enlisting the assistance of a Prince William sex crimes lawyer.
The type of sexual activity involved, the age of the participants, the presence of force and violence, and the relationship of the parties all affect the level of the criminal offenses charged and the potential penalties for a conviction. Some sex crimes are misdemeanors, but many are felonies that can result in collateral consequence for you in the event of a conviction.
A seasoned defense attorney may be able to evaluate the charges against you and help you navigate through the resulting criminal proceedings.
Forcible Sex Offenses in Prince William County
Some sex offenses carry the potential for heightened penalties because individuals carry them out using threats or acts of force or violence. These offenses also may result in harsher penalties depending upon the age of the victim. Since individuals may face extremely harsh penalties if convicted for forcible or violent sex offenses, contacting a sex crimes lawyer in Prince William County may be wise.
Rape
Under Va. Code § 18.2-61, rape occurs when individuals use force, intimidation, or threats to carry out a sexual act without consent from the other party, use the mental incapacity or physical helplessness of the other party to effectuate the act or engage in sex with a child who is under the age of 13. Penalties for rape charges generally involve a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years, but it can be as much as life in prison depending on the aggravating factors in the case.
Sexual Battery
Va. Code § 18.2-67.4 defines sexual battery as the sexual abuse of others against their will and by using force or threats or carry out the abuse. Sexual battery also occurs when the parties to the abuse are in certain relationships such as jail inmates and guards. Sexual battery generally is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a maximum one-year jail sentence and $2,500 fine.
Non-Forcible Sex Offenses
Some sex offenses do not involve any use of force or threats and, in many cases, it constitutes a consensual act. However, the respective ages of the parties or the relationship between the parties can turn the sexual act into a criminal offense. As a result, consulting a sex crimes attorney in Prince William County for advice may be advisable.
Carnal Knowledge of Minors
According to Va. Code § 18.2-63, carnal knowledge of a child, without the use of force, who is between the ages of 13 and 15 is a Class 4 felony. Nonetheless, the charge decreases to a Class 6 felony if the child consents and is three or more years younger than the other party, and to a Class 4 misdemeanor if the child consents and is three or fewer years younger than the other party. For more information, consult with a dedicated criminal lawyer.
Carnal Knowledge of Various Offenders
Under Va. Code § 18.2-64.2, it is a Class 6 felony for certain employees of institutions such as jails, prisons, and probation agencies to have carnal knowledge of individuals over whom they are in a position of authority. These individuals include probationers, parolees, and inmates, among others. However, if the carnal knowledge occurs between an employee of a bail bond agency and a pretrial defendant or posttrial offender, the offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Work with a Prince William County Sex Crimes Attorney Today
Allegations of sex crimes can place a certain stigma on you that is often not present with other criminal offenses. When combined with the criminal penalties that can result from a conviction for a sex crime, the impact can be devastating on your life. A Prince William County sex crimes lawyer may be able to identify any defenses applicable to your case and work with you to create a strong argument against the charges.
You may have a variety of options for resolving your case with minimum adverse effects. Having legal counsel at your side throughout the proceedings may help you achieve a more favorable result in your case.
