Mistaken Age in Texas Sex Crimes

Mistaken Age in Texas

Meeting people organically has become more challenging in the age of technology. Today there are a plethora of dating apps, social media sites, and online forums that cater to people looking for companionship. The problem with many of these mediums is the accuracy of the information. Online it is easy to pass yourself off as something you’re not. Someone could imagine themselves as a writer, musician, doctor, or adult, even a minor. The same can be true in real-life interactions.

The majority of people have probably faked their age at some point. Unfortunately, when someone misrepresents their age and sex is involved, it can spell disaster. Have you engaged in sexual activity with someone you thought was older than they really were? If so, you may be facing serious sex crime charges that will jeopardize your future. 

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we know how damaging a rape charge can be. Your reputation, your entire future, could be on the line. If you are facing a charge of statutory rape of a minor, you need to get in contact with an experienced criminal defense attorney now. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we will work with you to craft a defense strategy that offers you the best chance at a favorable outcome for your situation.

Sex Crimes Involving Minors

The age of consent in Texas is 17. That means that anyone 16 and under cannot legally consent to sexual contact, even when the minor agrees or initiates the act. When an adult engages in sexual activity with someone underage, there can be significant penalties. The penalties will generally depend on how the crime itself is categorized. Sex crimes are broken down into multiple categories, such as: 

  • Sexual assault of a minor – Sexual assault is considered penetration between a minor and an individual at least three years older than the victim. This offense is generally a second-degree felony and can carry penalties including fines up to $10,000 and two to 20 years in prison. 
  • Aggravated sexual assault – Aggravated sexual assault is when an adult penetrates a minor younger than 14. It may also apply to situations where coercion or force is used to have sex with a victim under the age of 14. Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony. A conviction can result in fines up to $10,000 and five to 99 years in prison. 
  • Indecency with a child – Indecency with a minor includes sexual contact over or under clothing that is meant to gratify a sexual desire. This contact can be touching or fondling, anything other than penetration. Again, the victim must be a minor younger than 17, and the accused must be at least three years older than the victim. An indecency charge is a second-degree felony. A conviction can result in fines up to $10,000 and two to 20 years prison time.

Being convicted of a sex crime involving a minor can also result in other penalties. For example, an individual may be required to register as a sex offender. Texas runs a sex offender registry program designed to protect the public from convicted sex offenders. Those convicted of certain crimes must register with local law enforcement by providing detailed information about themselves. This information can be made available to the public.

Is Mistaken Age a Viable Defense?

You may have been duped into thinking you were engaging in sexual conduct with someone closer to your age, but is that a viable defense in Texas? Young people tend to want to seem older and more grown-up than they are. Many go so far as to lie about their true age. However, in Texas, mistaken age is rarely a viable defense. Texas takes a tough stance on sexual crimes committed against minors. Generally, making a mistake about the age of a minor cannot be relied upon to avoid a conviction. Even in cases where minors lie about their age and the sexual contact are consensual, adults can still find themselves in legal hot water. 

mistaken age sex with minor crime

There is a legal precedent in the state where an adult was held accountable for their actions, even while claiming that they did not know the real age of their sexual partner. If you have been accused of committing a sex crime against a minor, exercise your right to remain silent and contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. You may think that telling the police you didn’t know how old the person was will get you out of trouble. In most cases, it won’t. Keep silent until you can consult with an experienced sex crimes attorney.

In some circumstances, reasonably believing that a minor is over the age of consent may help mitigate your situation, but it can’t always be relied upon as a defense tactic. Let a skilled attorney review your case and determine the best path forward. Other defense strategies may prove most useful, like the Romeo and Juliet Exemption or that you did not intend to commit a sex crime.

Get in Touch with a Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Immediately

Do not be fooled into thinking that hiring an attorney will make you look guilty. Prosecutors are already busy mounting a case that will attempt to do that. You need to worry about your future and how being convicted of a sex crime could jeopardize everything you’ve worked for in your life. If accusations start flying or you have been charged with a sex crime against a minor, contact a skilled criminal defense attorney today. You don’t have time to waste.

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we take an aggressive stance on your behalf. We will immediately begin protecting your rights and craft a defense strategy that offers you the best chance at a favorable outcome for your situation. Don’t attempt to talk your way out of a bad situation. Most of the time, you will only talk yourself into more trouble. Let the sex crimes defense team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter talk for you. Call us today at (214) 845-7007.

Top Rated Lawyer - Rating 10.0
Top 10 Dallas (BEST D)
Dallas Bar Association
Texas Criminal Lawyers Association
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Super-Lawyers Logo
American Association for Justice
The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers
TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.
More Reviews
Free Case Evaluation