Sexual Assault Lawyer Denton

Texas Sexual Assault Laws & Penalties

The criminal justice system is very tough when it comes to sex offenses, especially in Texas. Society expects everyone involved with the justice system to be aggressive and ruthless towards those who are convicted of, or even accused of, sex crimes. It is for this reason that anyone who is found guilty of such a crime usually faces harsh punishments both in and out of prison and is required to register as a sex offender. Even if the accused person is found not guilty, they have likely lost friends or even family over simply being suspected of a sexual offense. And this is why it is exceedingly important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to minimize the damage to the individual and ensure the accused does not face any overly-harsh punishments by the justice system.

If you have been accused of sexual assault, call our Denton County lawyers: (940) 386-6848 and schedule a free consultation to protect your future.

Sexual Assault Penalties in Texas

If convicted of a sexual offense in Texas will change your entire course of life, since you will now have to cope with:

• potential prison time
• fines
• sex offender registration
• stress
• loss of friends, family, job, and reputation
• loss of future opportunities and freedom

Though some sexual offenses are not violent or result in serious damage to others, almost all such offenses are viewed by the public as equal, which defines the difference between a sex crime and other criminal offenses. For example, society does not differentiate between someone who was convicted of public lewdness and someone who was convicted of rape – both are classed as sex offenders. However, society distinguishes between a person is convicted of theft versus someone convicted of aggravated assault. This is what makes an accusation of a sex crime so dangerous – society lumps all sex offenders into the same “level”, and pressures the justice system to do the same.

Registering as a Sex Offender in Texas

If convicted of a sex crime in Texas, a person is generally required to register in the Texas Sex Offender Registration Program.

Registering as a sex offender informs local law enforcement of the following information about the individual:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Race
• Home Address
• A recent color photograph
• A complete set of fingerprints
• Type of offense
• Age of victim
• Sentence
• Employment information
• All (if any) online aliases used

Many adults who have registered as a sex offender will remain registered for the rest of their lives, leading to difficulty finding a place to live, a job to get, and forming and maintaining relationships with other people.

Expungement for Sexual Assault in TX

It is possible in Texas to allow for an offender’s record to be sealed, provided the offender meets the requirements, though the process is dependent on the state.

Factors for expungement include:

• If the sex crime was a minor offense that did not involve violence and occurred many years ago.
• If the victim was at least 15 years old and the offender was no more than 4 years older at the time of the crime.
• If the offense was consensual.
• If the defendant passes an individual risk assessment and requests the court for early termination.