Mesa Sex Crimes Lawyer
Any criminal charge could negatively impact on your life, but sex crimes carry a certain stigma that often result in irreparable personal and professional damage. If you face charges for a sex crime, it is crucial to take immediate action in order to defend your rights and protect your future. Penalties for sex crime convictions can be steep in Arizona, and building a solid legal defense is imperative. At Grand Canyon Law Group, we understand how to defend our clients from sex crime accusations. Our Mesa sex crimes lawyers have handled thousands of cases, and we are confident in our ability to provide outstanding legal defense.
Arizona State Laws
In the state of Arizona, sex crimes can fall under a number of different categories. The charges depend on the age of the alleged victim, the type of incident that occurred, and the relationship between the defended and the alleged victim, among other factors.
Arizona sex crimes include:
- Child molestation: Charges for child molestation involve knowingly and intentionally touching a child under the age of 15 inappropriately and sexually. Classified as a Class 2 felony, conviction could result in up to 27 years in prison.
- Statutory rape: Also referred to as sexual conduct with a minor, statutory rape is any sexual contact with a person under the age of 15, even if they were willing. Persons under the age of 15 are considered too young to legally provide consent. Statutory rape is classified as a Class 6 felony but could be classified as a Class 2 if the defendant was a parent or legal guardian of the minor in question, a teacher, or a clergyman.
- Indecent exposure: If a person reveals private body parts to another person in an offensive way, it could be considered indecent exposure. This could be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, or a Class 6 if the offended person was a child.
- Sexual exploitation of a minor: A few different crimes could be classified as sexual exploitation of children, including commercial exploitation in a sexual way, such as filming a child or using digital communication to solicit sexual conduct with a minor.
- Sexual abuse: A person commits an act of sexual abuse by knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a person over the age of 15 who has not given consent. Sexual abuse also includes intentional contact with the female breast with a person under the age of 15. If the victim is an adult, the crime is classified as a Class 5 felony or Class 3 for children.
- Prostitution: In Arizona, prostitution crimes extend to include any active involvement with prostitution, like procuring individuals for prostitution, receiving prostitution earnings, and other such activities. Depending on the type of involvement, the crime can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony.
- Sexual assault: Also referred to as rape, sexual assault is defined as engaging in sexual intercourse or oral contact with a person without their consent. Sexual assault is a Class 2 felony and could result in serious penalties, especially if the victim was physically harmed or date-rape drugs were involved.
Defend Your Rights with the Help of a Mesa Sex Crimes Attorney
The penalties for sexual crimes can be severe, sometimes resulting in lifetime imprisonment and thousands of dollars in fines. We conveniently have two office locations to better serve clients in the Gilbert and Mesa areas. To protect your reputation and your future, contact a Mesa sex crimes lawyer for legal guidance today.