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.
