SEX CRIMES DEFENSE ATTORNEY

If you or someone you love is accused of a sex offense the outcome of that accusation can affect the rest of their lives. Sexual accusations are complex, and defending them requires a great deal of experience and knowledge.

An accusation of sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, or statutory rape can impact your life far beyond the specific criminal penalties. Whether it’s an indecent assault charge, cyber sex crime, or a violation of public indecency, you need to have your rights aggressively defended.

I know your reputation and every aspect of your life are at stake. The penalties are severe. Don’t risk not contacting an experienced attorney to fight aggressively for you or your loved one.

WHAT ARE CONSIDERED SEX CRIMES IN WASHINGTON STATE?

There are a number of different sex crimes that are punishable by law in Washington. Some of the most common crimes include:

Rape
Statutory rape
Sexual misconduct with a minor
Charges are brought against the accused by the state, but in some cases, you may face federal charges for a sex crime. What are federal sex crimes? Some examples include sex crimes involving children, such as aggravated sexual abuse of a child or distribution of child pornography.

WHAT ARE FELONY SEX CRIMES?

Rape in the first degree is a class A felony. If convicted, you may face a life sentence behind bars in addition to sizeable fines. This crime occurs when you force someone to have sexual intercourse without consent and also:

Either use or just threaten to utilize a weapon
Kidnap the victim
Cause a serious injury
Unlawfully enter the home, workplace, vehicle, or other structure where the victim is at the time of the crime
Second-degree rape is classified as a class A felony in the state of Washington and carries the same possible consequences as rape in the first degree. If you are charged with rape in the second degree, it means you are being accused of forcing someone to have sexual intercourse and also:

The victim is unable to provide consent because of a physical or mental handicap
Third-degree rape in Washington is a class C felony, which means you could face up a sentence of five years and a fine of $10,000 if you are convicted. Third-degree rape occurs when you force sexual intercourse upon someone, and you also:

Do not pay attention to the lack of consent, which the victim can express either verbally or nonverbally.
Make a threat to harm the property of the victim

WHAT IS THE AGE OF CONSENT IN WASHINGTON STATE?

In Washington, the age of consent is sixteen. If a child is under the age of 16, the child is not legally old enough to consent to sexual activity. If you engage in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, you may face statutory rape charges.

It’s important to note that the age of consent is raised to 18 in certain situations. If the partner is a foster parent to the child, the age of consent is 18. If the older partner is at least 60 months older than the younger partner and abuses the relationship in order to have sexual intercourse, the age of consent is 18.

If the crime is considered to be rape of a child, the defendant may face anywhere between five years to life in prison as well as up to $50,000 in fines. The sentence that is handed down will depend on what degree the rape of a child charge has been filed as.

WHAT ARE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION LAWS?

If you are convicted of any sex crime, you will be forced to register on the Washington Sex Offender Registry. What is the sex offender registration? This means that for the rest of your life, the public, future employers and government agencies can access your prior convictions and personal information, which has now been made available to the public. The purpose of the sex offender registration is to alert the public of nearby sex offenders and provide law enforcement with the tools they need to monitor them on a consistent basis.

However, there has been a lot of debate over whether these laws are good or bad. Why is the sex offender registration controversial? For starters, many people have wondered “Are sex offender registration laws effective?” Some people believe sex offenders can still get away with committing crimes even if they are on a list, so it shouldn’t be required.

People who have been convicted of sex crimes believe their information should be kept private instead of being made available to the public. The constitutionality of sex offender registration laws has been discussed at great lengths in the U.S. However, the Supreme Court has upheld current laws each time they have reviewed a case related to sex offender registry.

HOW DOES SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION WORK?

Besides Washington, what states require sex offender registration? All of them, thanks to a legislation known as the Sex Offender Registration Act. What is the Sex Offender Registration Act? This is a federal law passed in 2016 that requires states to implement a tracking program for convicted sex offenders. Each state will decide what offenses require sex offender registration.

In Washington, sex crimes such as rape and sexual misconduct will land you on this list. If someone is found in violation of the registration, meaning they have not registered on time or failed to provide accurate information, they may face criminal charges and severe penalties.

Talk to an Experienced Defense Lawyer Today

Charged with a Sex Crime? There is hope. For the right defense against your charge, call us at (509) 735-6520. We can discuss your specific case in a free initial consultation. For legal help with another criminal defense charge call us today.