Richmond Sex Crimes Lawyer

Sex crimes are extremely serious. They can result in significant terms of incarceration as well as a requirement to register as a sex offender. These crimes are treated this way because most are violent in nature and many often have minors as victims.

With these things in mind, the benefit of having an attorney is immeasurable. A Richmond sex crimes lawyer can review your case carefully and advise you of the law you are accused of violating, prepare a vigorous defense on your behalf, and also negotiate with prosecutors in an attempt to resolve your matter with the best possible result. To learn more about what a Richmond criminal attorney can do for you call today.

Importance of Hiring of A Richmond Sex Crimes Attorney

Sex Crime Attorney in Richmond Virginia Hiring a Richmond sex crimes attorney is important because an attorney can disseminate the evidence and investigate the facts of the case and witnesses.

An experienced attorney will speak with the Commonwealth attorney, investigators, witnesses, and anyone else who has information regarding the case. Additionally, a sex crimes lawyer in Richmond can review the evidence at hand that the state is planning on using against you at trial. With these types of cases this can include everything from witness statements to forensic and DNA evidence.

If you are currently facing a sex crime charge in Virginia and would like to consult with an experienced lawyer, please contact us today to conduct your free initial consultation.

Sex Crimes in Virginia

In Virginia, a sex crime is considered to have been committed when a person performs a sexual act with someone who has not given or cannot give their consent. An example of someone who cannot give consent would be a person who lacks the mental capacity to do so (due to disability, injury, or intoxication, for example) or a child under the age of 16 years old.

While most people correctly associate a sex crime with some type of physical contact, Virginia also considers certain acts that lack physical touching to fall under the sex crime category.

Sex crimes charged in Virginia include:

Although accompanying penalties and other details pertaining to these charges are discussed below, you’ll want to speak with a Richmond sex crimes attorney to get a full understanding of your legal options.

Sexting

Sexting can also be a crime in a number of ways. The Virginia law against possession and distribution of child pornography includes the creating, sending and possessing and/or resending of sexually explicit images of juveniles and people under the age of 18 via text message. Whether it’s an adult sending the message or a minor sending a message with the picture in it, the law does not make a distinction between adults and juveniles who make, send or receive such messages or receive such images.

Penalties for Richmond Sex Crimes

The penalties on a sex crime conviction can vary widely. They can vary from a simple class 1 misdemeanor, which carries up to a 12 months in jail and a $2500 fine, up to felony convictions and ranging from a class 5 felony conviction, which can come up to five years in jail and convictions that can result in life in prison.

In addition to that, a sex crime conviction comes with the requirement to register as a sex offender.

Because the severity of the penalties depends upon the details of your case, it is important to have an experienced sex crimes lawyer in Richmond to help navigate the case’s intricacies in order to put you in the best possible situation.

What Must Be Proven in a Sex Crimes Case?

The facts needed in Virginia to prove that a sex crime occurred depend on the specific type of sex crime you may be facing.

For sex crimes like rape, forcible sodomy, or object sexual penetration, Virginia Code sections 18.2-61, 18.2-67.1, and 18.2-67.2 differ in the specific physical act that must be proven for each crime, but the secondary requirements are the same in that the act must have been against the victim’s will by way of force or intimidation, or with a person who does not have the capability to consent to the act.

In contrast, a crime of carnal knowledge requires a detailed look at the crime itself. For example, Sections 18.2-64.1 and 18.2-64.2 state that carnal knowledge includes sexual acts, involving intercourse or oral sex, with a minor between the ages of 13 and 15 years of age. However, the severities of the crime depend on both the age of the accused and the age of the victim.

For specifics on your case and what punishments you may be facing contact a hardworking sex offense lawyer in Richmond as soon as possible.

Contacting a Richmond Sex Crimes Attorney

If you have been charged with a sex crime in Virginia, you need a Richmond sex crimes lawyer to review to your case that understands how to challenge the Prosecution’s case, the State’s evidence, challenge witnesses against you, and know exactly what the state will attempt to prove. In addition to that, when preparing a defense, your sex crimes attorney should examine the evidence the state has collected and determine the best course of action, whether that be to fight the case and/or attempt to negotiate. Call today to learn more.