Sexual Assault Defense Attorney in Collin County

If you’ve been charged with sexual assault, you need the help of an experienced attorney to defend you. No matter the circumstances that lead to the charge, you deserve a rigorous defense to protect your rights.

Sexual assault is a serious crime that Texas laws can punish harshly. The penalties are steep and could result in significant prison time. If found guilty, you may have to register as a sex offender, which becomes public record. Don’t try to represent yourself when so much is at stake.

At Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our Collin County sexual assault defense attorney knows how the legal process works and the state laws regarding sexual assault. When you hire us, our sex crime defense team will use our experience, resources, and knowledge to come up with the best tactics for defending you. We’ll fight hard to protect your reputation and get the charges dropped or reduced.

Call us at (214) 845-7007 for a free consultation. You deserve a fair chance at securing your freedom so you can move forward with your life.

The Legal Definition of Sexual Assault

According to Texas Penal Code § 22.011, sexual assault is an offense that occurs when the perpetrator knowingly or intentionally engages in a sexual act with another person without consent. It could include the following behaviors:

Forcing sexual acts with threats, physical force, or violence
Sexual acts with a victim who is unconscious or unable to resist physically
Sexual acts with a person who is mentally or physically disabled and can’t defend themselves
Sexual acts with someone who didn’t give consent because they didn’t know an assault was happening
Providing substances that impair a victim’s physical and mental abilities without their knowledge to commit sexual acts
Sexual acts with a minor

There are different categories of sexual assault, including:

Sexual assault
Aggravated sexual assault
Rape
Sexual abuse
Sexual misconduct
Incest
Indecency with a child by contact
Sexual harassment

Penalties for Sexual Assault Charges

If you’re convicted of sexual assault, you could suffer serious consequences. You may face a second-degree felony that comes with a sentence of two to twenty years in prison and a maximum of $10,000 in fines.

Different factors raise convictions to aggravated sexual assault, such as:

The victim suffered bodily injury, or the defendant attempted to cause the victim’s death.
The defendant brandished or used a deadly weapon during the assault.
The defendant administered a drug, such as Rohypnol or ketamine, to the victim to make the crime easier to commit.
The defendant instilled the victim with fear of severe physical harm, death, or kidnapping of them or someone else.
The victim was under 14 years old.
The defendant committed the offense with another person.
The victim was disabled or an elderly adult.

Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony with a penalty of five to 99 years or life in prison and a $10,000 fine. The minimum sentence increases to twenty-five years under the following circumstances:

The victim was under six years old at the time of the offense; or
The victim was under 14 years old, and the defendant used a deadly weapon, the child suffered serious injuries, the defendant attempted to cause the child’s death, or the defendant used drugs to commit the crime.

Sexual Assault of a Child

Sexual assault: Engaging in a sexual act with a child between 14 and 16 years of age.
Aggravated sexual assault: Engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 14.
Indecency with a child: Engaging in sexual contact with an individual under 17 years of age, exposing themselves to the child, or forcing the victim to expose themselves.
Continuous sexual abuse: The offender is at least 17 years of age and commits at least two acts of sexual abuse against a child under 14 years old over a period of at least 30 days.

Sexual assault of a child is a second-degree felony and includes the following penalties:

A minimum of two years and a maximum of 20 years in prison
Up to $10,000 in fines

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony and includes the following penalties:

A minimum of five years and a maximum of 99 years in prison
Up to $10,000 in fines

Texas Public Sex Offender Registry

Texans convicted of sexual assault must register as sex offenders. The length of time will depend entirely on the type of sexual assault and the circumstances surrounding the offense. Some offenses require lifetime registration.

Sex offender registrations are public information and list personal information, including:

Name
Photo
Location of residence
Offense

Registered sex offenders no longer have anonymity. The public can access the register, which can affect the offenders’ job and educational prospects. Offenders convicted of sexual assault against a child face restrictions on where they can live or work.

These serious consequences are not a foregone conclusion if you’ve been charged with sexual defense. A qualified attorney will defend you from unfair accusations and trumped-up charges. They may be able to secure a dismissal or lower charge for you.

Possible Defenses to a Sexual Assault Charge

Depending on the circumstances of the sexual assault charges against you, there are multiple defenses your Collin County sexual assault defense attorney from Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter could use.

Common defenses include:

You have an alibi and were nowhere near the sexual assault scene at the time it occurred;
The victim mistakenly identified you as the offender;
The victim gave consent to the sexual act;
You lacked the knowledge of or intention to commit the sexual assault; or
You had a mental illness that prevented you from understanding your actions.

Hire an Experienced Collin County Sexual Assault Defense Attorney

If you face a sexual assault charge and don’t know the steps to take next, contact Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter immediately. We understand the legal process and have the resources and experience to handle each step on your behalf.

You won’t have to go through this ordeal alone. We’ll be by your side every step of the way and protect your rights. You can count on us to fight hard for you and advocate for your freedom.

We’re familiar with Texas state laws and will use our knowledge to develop the right defense strategy. We’ll argue against the prosecution in court and use aggressive tactics to contradict their arguments. We care about our clients and want to ensure the charges against you get reduced or dropped.

To schedule a free consultation with our Collin County sexual assault defense attorney, call us at (214) 845-7007 or fill out our online form.

TESTIMONIALS

“He handled an unjust ticket for me and was very thorough and on time with notices, etc. His communication was short and to the point without false fluffy words or promises.”

Pat-

When my son received a DWI, I wanted to get him THE BEST lawyer I could find. I researched for two days, and then I found Mark Lassiter. I looked no further. As soon as I read about him, I knew that I found THE BEST. From the moment I met him, I had COMPLETE confidence in him. At the end of my son's trial, Mr. Lassiter came through with a defense case so impressive that the case was dismissed before the prosecutors finished their argument. I will always be grateful to him.

Susan-

Mark is a very intelligent professional defense Attorney on my DWI offense that Mark convinced the jury that i wasn't guilty i highy recommend Mark to my family and friends once again thanks Mark

Carlos-

I had my first DWI charge and I was unclear of next steps. I was getting propositioned left and right by less ethical lawyers and one even "claimed" my case and I missed my court date. However, Mark Lassiter and his amazing paralegal took care of everything. They were very prompt and clear with their communication on every step of the process. Also if anything came up I got a call right away and they let me know what I needed to do next. Honestly made this stressful situation manageable. I already recommend them to anyone who is going through the same situation as me. That said he does come at a premium cost but is worth every penny, and his team is willing to work with you on payment plans.

Anon-

I recently was referred to contact Mark Lassiter by a colleague and called him for a consultation related to a recent arrest for public intoxication in Dallas. He was terrific; I had never been arrested before and was unsure of what the appropriate next steps would be. He was detailed in his step-by-step approach and provided me sound legal advice on how he would handle this case.I elected to hire him as my attorney and it was the best decision. He handled my case and was able to get the charges dismissed. As a professional it was imperative to be able to get this charge removed from my record.If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, I would highly recommend Mark's services.

PS-

I am a very satisfied and a relived client. After meeting with various lawyers Mark was the one who won me over. Walking into his office you will be impressed of all his credentials. He is professional and aggressive which is what everyone looks for in a attorney. Every other lawyer I interviewed mentioned to "plea deal", I knew that meant settling. A DWI on my record was the LAST thing I wanted. I was very hopeless and scared (considering it was my first offense) but Mark always reassured me that I had a very good case. Ultimately, Mark did a phenomenal job in the court room (he had the prosecutors speechless), which resulted in a dismissal. I recommend this man to everyone I know. Thank you Mark, I owe you my life.

NG-