Charges relating to sex crimes often arise from claims made by relatives, former dating partners, or their children. These charges are extremely serious. In many cases there is no physical evidence. It is a true “he said” “she said” situation.
Every detail matters when fighting serious charges, and top-rated attorney John Schleiffarth will fight to protect your rights each step of the way. We understand that when everything is on the line, you want a St. Louis sex crime attorney who is someone knowledgeable and experienced fighting in your corner.
Strong defense for all kinds of sex crimes
A St. Louis sex crime attorney with JCS Law defends anyone who has been charged with:
- Possession or distribution of child pornography
- Internet sex crimes
- Child molestation
- Rape or sexual assault
- Prostitution-related charges
- Sexual misconduct
- Sexual misconduct with a child
- Sexual contact with a student
- Sexual contact with a prisoner or offender
- Enticement of a child
- Sexual trafficking
- Failure to register as a sex offender
What are penalties you can face when charged with a sex crime?
Sex crime penalty levels
| Unclassified Felonies | Class A felony | Class B felony | Class C felony | Class D felony | Class E felony | Class A misdemeanor | Class B misdemeanor |
| 1st degree rape and sodomy | 1st degree child molestation | 2nd degree child molestation | 2nd degree rape or sodomy | 2nd degree rape and sodomy | 4th degree child molestation | 2nd conviction of 1st degree sexual misconduct | 1st degree sexual misconduct |
| 1st degree statutory rape and statutory sodomy | 3rd degree child molestation by the use of forcible compulsion | Statutory rape or sodomy in the 2nd degree | 2nd degree statutory rape and statutory sodomy | Sexual misconduct involving a child | 2nd degree sexual abuse | ||
| 3rd degree child molestation | 2nd conviction of sexual misconduct involving a child | Sexual Contact with a Student | |||||
| 1st degree sexual abuse | 2nd degree sexual abuse of aggravated sexual offense | ||||||
| Incest |
Penalties
| Unclassified felonies | Class A felony | Class B felony | Class C felony | Class D felony | Class E felony | Class A misdemeanor | Class B misdemeanor |
| -5 to life without the possibility of probation or parole
-The minimum can be increased from 5 to 15 years depending on certain facts of the alleged crime -The maximum may be less than life without parole depending up on certain |
-10-30 years, or life, in prison | -5-15 years in prison | -3-10 years or less in prison | -Up to 7 years in prison | -Up to 4 years in prison | -Up to 1 year in jail | -Up to 6 months in jail |
| -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Up to $10,000 fine | -Up to $10,000 fine | -Up to $10,000 fine | -Up to $2,000 fine | -Up to $1,000 fine | ||
| -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry | -Placed on the national sex offender registry |
| -Lifetime supervision by the Department of Probation and Parole | -Lifetime supervision by the Department of Probation and Parole | -Lifetime supervision by the Department of Probation and Parole |
There are nuances to various sex crimes and this guide is only representative of some charges. Many serious sex crimes are “unclassified felonies” and can result in a penalty of up to one’s natural life in prison without the possibility of parole. The above table is intended as a general guide only. Consulting with a skilled sex crimes attorney will allow you to understand the seriousness of charges in a particular case.
What are possible defenses for a sex crime?
Working with a skilled St. Louis sex crime attorney is crucial when defending your freedom, finances, and reputation. A St. Louis sex crime attorney can investigate the case and develop strategies to prove your innocence.
Some common defense strategies for sex crimes are listed below:
- Consent: Your sex crime lawyer in St. Louis will present the court with evidence that the sex act was a consensual one and, therefore, not a criminal act.
- Mistaken identity: The crime was not committed by the defendant. The victim has mistaken who committed the crime and has erroneously accused the wrong person.
- Absence of evidence: If there is not enough evidence to prove there was a crime committed, your St. Louis sex crime attorney may be able to have the case dismissed.
- Alibi: If the defendant has a sound alibi, their attorney can prove that they could not have committed the crime because they were elsewhere when it took place.
- Entrapment: If law enforcement manipulated the defendant into committing the crime or into the intention of committing a crime, this is a case of entrapment.
- Diminished mental capacity: If drugs and alcohol are involved, a sex crimes lawyer from St. Louis may argue that the defendant could not understand their actions when the crime was committed.
- When children or juveniles are involved, a juvenile sex crime attorney in St. Louis might be able to prove that the child is lying, exaggerating, or has been coached by an adult.
Defending your future and reputation
If you have been charged with a St. Louis sex crime, your reputation, future career, where you can live, and the life you want to have are all on the line. You need to hire a skilled St. Louis sex crime lawyer who understands how to build a solid defense for you and protect your freedom.
What is consent in St. Louis sex crimes?
Consent, when those involved in the alleged sex crime are of the age of consent, can mean the difference between a crime and a mutual act. It is critical that you both are enthusiastically consenting adults and are in a position to offer consent.
If one party is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and is not able to offer informed consent, the other participant in the sex act may have committed a sex crime. Your sex crime attorney in St. Louis will investigate your case and do their best to prove that there was consent.
How can a St. Louis sex crime attorney can help?
A compelling case to prove that you were wrongly charged and innocent of the charges is a must when constructing a robust criminal defense.
Our skilled St. Louis sex crime attorney can protect you by being present when you are interrogated so you will not unintentionally say something that would incriminate you. They will protect your rights through every step of the case.
Effective preliminary hearings and depositions can reveal false claims of abuse and lead to early dismissals short of trial.
A criminal defense attorney who understands the complexities of sex crimes is experienced in the investigation and analysis of your case so that they can find weaknesses that can be used against the prosecution. It is possible that a skilled sex crimes attorney in St. Louis will be able to negotiate a plea deal to take the criminal sexual conduct charge off the table.
If negotiations fail, your St. Louis sex crime attorney will represent you at trial. They will build a case with evidence, witness testimony, and effective cross-examinations to prove you are not guilty.
Persuade the prosecutor to dismiss charges.
By finding holes in the case of the prosecution, your attorney may be able to convince the prosecutor to drop the charges against you. If this happens, all charges will be dropped, and you will not have to go before a jury.
JCS Law has years of experience defending others who have been in similar circumstances and will understand how to formulate a strategy to prove your innocence.
Negotiate a favorable plea bargain.
While the best case scenario is having the charges dismissed, the next best thing could be negotiating a favorable plea bargain. This might mean that you must plead guilty to a lesser charge. This could allow you to retain your reputation and avoid some of the more negative consequences that will follow you throughout your lifetime if you are convicted of a sex offense.
Charged with a sex crime? Your future may be at stake – call today
If you or a loved one is facing a sex crime charge, it may feel as though your back is against the wall. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys understand the weight of sex crime charges and their potential legal penalties, and we’re here to provide aggressive defense on your behalf.
Come into our office and speak directly with an St. Louis sex crime attorney about your case. We offer free consultations on sex crime cases, so call (314) 561-9690 today.
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