Luttrell Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

Few accusations can change a person's life as quickly as allegations of a sex crime. Long before a criminal trial takes place, someone who has been accused of a sex crime may be suspended from work, cut off from family members, or judged by neighbors who have only heard one version of events. Sex offenses are often punished harshly, and convictions will often result in lengthy prison terms, lifetime monitoring, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Taking the right steps to defend against these accusations can help a person minimize the ways they may be affected.

At The Baker Law Firm, we believe that every person who has been accused of a sex crime or any other type of criminal offense is entitled to a strong defense and fair treatment in court. Our attorney handles these sensitive cases with discretion. Our team will investigate the facts surrounding accusations and determine when evidence or statements by witnesses may be challenged. From the earliest stages of an investigation through a trial, our lawyer will focus on protecting clients' rights and helping them achieve the best possible outcomes to criminal cases.

How Sexual Assault Accusations Are Prosecuted

The outcome of a sexual assault case may depend on how questions about consent, the credibility of witnesses, and the facts surrounding a case are addressed. Prosecutors may build a case around the claims made by an alleged victim, and evidence may include text messages, social media activity, and statements that the accused person made to investigators. Our lawyer will examine each piece of evidence to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and possible motives for false accusations. He can address charges of:

Rape and Aggravated Rape

The offense of rape generally involves sexual penetration that occurred when a person used force or otherwise acted without the consent of the other party. Rape is a Class B felony in most cases. However, if an offense allegedly involved the use of a weapon, serious injuries to the alleged victim, or certain other factors, the charges may be increased to aggravated rape. This offense is a Class A felony.

Sexual battery charges may apply in cases involving allegations of sexual contact other than penetration. Depending on the evidence in a case, our attorney may argue that charges should be reduced from rape to sexual battery, or he may work to have charges dismissed due to a lack of credible evidence.

Statutory Rape

Some rape charges may involve accusations that an adult engaged in sexual activities with a minor. In a statutory rape case, consent is not an issue, and charges may apply regardless of whether the younger person agreed to engage in sexual conduct. Depending on the ages of the parties involved, statutory rape charges may range from Class E felonies to Class D felonies. Cases involving accusations of child rape may be more serious, and in some cases, a person may be charged with a Class A felony.

Sexual Assault Accusations Involving Intoxication or Incapacity

Rape charges may apply in situations where an alleged victim was "physically helpless," such as when they were unconscious or mentally incapacitated because of a substance that was given to them without their consent. These cases may involve parties or other situations where both people had been drinking. Issues that may be addressed include how impaired an alleged victim actually was, whether their impairment was obvious, and what each person said and did at the time. Witness statements, phone records, and video evidence can help show what happened.

Charges for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

The possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which is commonly known as child pornography, is a serious offense. A person could face Class D, Class C, or Class B felony charges based on the number of images or videos that they allegedly possessed.

These cases will often begin with a tip from an internet service provider. A company may identify CSAM that has been downloaded or transmitted through a network, and it may inform the authorities. Officers may then investigate a person, monitor their online activity, and search their home and seize their computer or other devices. In these cases, our lawyer can raise questions about who controlled a device, whether files were downloaded knowingly, and whether searches were performed lawfully.

Child Pornography Production and Distribution Charges

People who are accused of producing or sharing CSAM are likely to face far more serious charges than those who are accused of possessing child pornography. Charges of sexual exploitation of a minor may apply when a person has been accused of creating child pornography by photographing or filming minors in sexual situations, distributing or selling child pornography to others, promoting child pornography online or in other places, or profiting from child pornography in any way.

Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions

A conviction for a sex offense may lead to a prison sentence lasting for multiple years or decades. The fines can be high in these cases, and a person may be required to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. A conviction may also lead to long-term restrictions that will continue after a sentence ends. These may include:

• Sex Offender Registration: Many people convicted of sex crimes will be required to register for life, which will include regular in-person reporting with law enforcement.
• Community Supervision for Life: When a person is under supervision by law enforcement after a sex crime conviction, information about them, the offense that allegedly occurred, and where they live may be available in public databases.
• Residence and Work Limits: Registered sex offenders will face restrictions on living or working near schools, child care centers, and parks. This can make it difficult to find housing and maintain employment.
• Family Law Effects: A conviction for a sex crime can affect child custody, visitation, and parental rights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sex Crime Accusations