Key Largo Child Sex Crimes Attorney

Dedicated Child Sex Crime Attorneys Defending Against Serious Allegations in Key Largo, FL

Accusations of sexual misconduct can have a huge impact on a person's life, including their overall reputation and their ability to maintain their job. However, many of the most serious penalties of these accusations will involve criminal charges. Child sex crimes can lead to severe penalties, and prosecutors, judges, and juries may pay close attention to the circumstances of an offense and the harm that a person's actions have allegedly caused to a child. To protect their rights, a person charged with a sex crime involving a minor will need to secure legal representation from an attorney who has experience handling these matters.

The lawyers at Keys Criminal Defense, PLLC know how serious child sex crime charges can be, and we can help clients respond to accusations of sexual misconduct and defend against criminal convictions. We can help address claims related to abusive or harmful behavior, and we can take steps to defend against criminal charges. We provide discreet representation focused on protecting our clients' rights and making sure they will be able to achieve the best possible outcomes in these cases.

Sexual Battery Against a Minor

While charges of sexual battery can be serious in any situation, a person accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child is likely to face more serious penalties. Children are generally considered to be unable to provide legal consent to sexual activities, so a person may be charged with sexual assault even if an encounter was consensual.

Sexual battery in which the alleged victim was under the age of 12 and the alleged perpetrator was over the age of 18 is classified as a capital felony. This classification makes an offense one of the most serious criminal charges a person can face. A person who is convicted may be sentenced to life in prison, or they could face the death penalty.

Other types of sexual battery charges involving minors over the age of 12 may be classified as life felonies or first-degree felonies depending on whether an incident allegedly involved the use of a deadly weapon, physical force that was likely to result in a serious injury, threats of violence or retaliation, or intoxication or physical incapacitation of the alleged victim. Because of the involvement of children, people who are convicted will be more likely to receive long sentences and other harsh penalties.

Lewd or Lascivious Offenses

Sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 16 may result in felony charges. These charges may include:

• Lewd or Lascivious Battery: Sexual intercourse or other acts involving sexual activity with a person between the ages of 12 and 16 can result in second-degree felony charges.
• Lewd or Lascivious Molestation: An offense involving touching a child's genitals can lead to life felony charges in cases where an alleged victim was under the age of 12 or second-degree felony charges in cases where an alleged victim was between the ages of 12 and 16.
• Lewd or Lascivious Conduct: Other offenses in which a person is accused of touching a child in a sexual manner can lead to second-degree felony charges.
• Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition: A person who is accused of exposing their private parts to a child or other sexual acts that do not involve contact with a child may be charged with a second-degree felony.

Online Solicitation and Traveling to Meet a Minor

A person who is accused of using a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device and connecting to an internet service where they communicated with a minor and attempted to cause the minor to engage in sexual conduct could face criminal charges. The conduct in question may involve encouraging a child to make a sexually explicit video, communicate in a sexual manner, or engage in any other form of sexual activity. This is often known as online solicitation of a minor, and it is typically charged as a third-degree felony.

When a person takes steps to meet a minor in person for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, they may be charged with traveling to meet a minor. This offense is typically classified as a second-degree felony.

Charges related to online solicitation may apply if a person was communicating with an actual minor or if they believed that the person they were communicating with or attempted to meet was an actual minor. In many cases, people may be charged with these offenses based on their interactions with law enforcement officers who were involved in undercover online operations. The charges will be based on whether a person thought they were communicating with a child, even if they were actually communicating with an adult.

Child Pornography Offenses

When a person has allegedly possessed photographs, videos, or other depictions of minors engaging in sexual conduct, they can face serious criminal charges. These materials may be referred to as child pornography or child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The possession of child pornography is a second-degree felony, and each individual image or other type of depiction may be treated as a separate offense. The penalties will become more serious if a person is accused of selling or distributing child pornography to others. The most serious offenses will involve the creation of child pornography, since a person may directly engage in the sexual abuse of a child when doing so.

Why Child Sex Crime Offenses Are Taken So Seriously

Law enforcement officials and courts in Florida will often focus on the protection of children, and they may take steps to impose harsh sentences on those who are convicted of offenses involving child abuse or other activities that could harm minors. Many child sex crimes carry mandatory minimum prison sentences, and a person could be sentenced to years or decades behind bars.

In addition to a potential prison sentence, a person who has been accused of a sexual crime involving a minor may also face the requirement to register as a sex offender for life after a conviction. This will lead to ongoing reporting requirements, residency restrictions, and other issues that can have an impact on a person's daily life. Because of these penalties, a person will need to make sure they have a legal advocate on their side who can build a strong defense strategy, protect their rights, and help them resolve their case successfully.

Contact Our Key Largo, FL Child Sex Crimes Lawyers

Anyone who is facing charges involving sexual misconduct against a minor will need to understand what steps they can take to defend against these serious accusations and avoid the penalties that may come with a criminal conviction. At Keys Criminal Defense, PLLC, we know how to address these charges, and we can provide the help needed throughout the legal process. Contact our Key Largo, Florida child sex crimes defense attorneys at 305-324-7888 to arrange a free consultation.