Orlando Sex Crimes Lawyer

PANELLA LAW FIRM ACCEPTS CASES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA

Offering Legal Help for Clients Facing Sex Crime Charges

Being accused of committing sex offenses in Florida is extremely serious. If convicted of your criminal charges, you could face years in prison, sex offender registration requirements, and damage to your reputation. This is why you need immediate legal assistance from trusted Orlando sex crime lawyers.

When you contact Panella Law Firm for legal advice, our skilled criminal defense attorneys will ensure you know what your sex crime charges mean and how we plan to fight them on your behalf. Don’t let your felony charges make you feel hopeless or alone, because you’ll have an entire team on your side when you hire us to handle your case. Call our Florida firm to schedule an initial consultation with an Orlando sex crime lawyer.

What Are Sex Offenses in Florida?

Our legal team has handled numerous sex crime cases, so rest assured we’ve seen just about every type of sex offense charge. No matter what you’ve been accused of, our lawyers are here to provide the legal defense you need. Some of the sex crime allegations we’ve defended clients against include:

Sexual battery, also known as sexual assault or rape
Possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography
Failure to register as a sex offender
Human trafficking
Indecent exposure
Statutory rape
Prostitution
Sexual harassment
Internet sex crimes
Lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 16

Whether your charges involve sexual battery against an adult or possession of child pornography, our team will work on creating a strong defense for your case. Our goal is to get a favorable outcome that lets you avoid the severe consequences of a sex crime conviction in Florida. Call our Orlando law firm for a free initial consultation.

What Are the Penalties for Sex Crimes?

The criminal penalties for sex crimes are severe, as most Orlando sex crimes are considered felony charges. This is why you should hire an experienced sex crimes lawyer as soon as you’re accused of a sexual offense, as the consequences of ignoring your charges or simply admitting guilt without legal assistance can be life changing.

The penalties vary depending on the severity of the charge, the age of the victim, your criminal history, and other factors. However, it’s helpful to get an idea of the consequences for a range of sex offenses in Florida.

Misdemeanor Sex Crimes

If you’re convicted of a misdemeanor sex crime, such as indecent exposure, you could be imprisoned for up to one year and be charged a fine of up to $1,000. Similarly, for a conviction of prostitution or sexual harassment, you could be sentenced to jail for 60 days and a fine of up to $500.

These are the penalties for first offenses. They’ll increase in severity if there are aggravating factors or if you’re accused of the same sex crime again in the future. So, even if your punishment doesn’t involve a lengthy prison sentence, you should contact Orlando sex crime lawyers to fight the accusations.

Felony Sex Crimes

Felony sex crimes in Florida have much more severe consequences. For instance, if you’re accused of sexual battery, the penalties will be severe. This is because this crime accuses you of committing forced anal, oral, or vaginal penetration on someone else using a sexual organ or object.

If the victim was 18 or over, you could be punished with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The penalties are more severe if the victim was a minor, since sexual battery against anyone under 12 can be punished with life in prison or even the death penalty in Florida.

Another sex-related crime that could result in you spending several years in prison is statutory rape. This offense accuses you of sexual intercourse or other sexual contact with a minor who is much younger than you. The penalties you face depend on your age and the victim’s age.

If you’re under 18 and have sexual contact with someone who is 12 to 16 years old, you could get five years in prison for statutory rape. If you’re 18 or older and are convicted of sexual activity with someone between 12 and 15 years old, you face 15 years in prison. If you’re 18 or older and the victim was under age 12, you could get life in prison.

If you’ve had a sex crime conviction in the past and failed to join the sex offender registry, you could be punished by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. You might face the same punishment for possession of child pornography. Contact skilled Orlando criminal defense attorneys for a chance to avoid these and other consequences.

What Should You Know About the Florida Sex Offender Registry?

One of the main concerns defendants have about sex crime allegations is the long-term label of sex offender. More specifically, many people are worried about the requirement to join the Florida sex offender registry when convicted of a sex offense. This is an online database where anyone can see your name, picture, age, and certain details about the crime you were convicted of. When you’re on this list, you’ll be restricted as to where you can live, visit, or work.

Note that Florida makes a distinction between sex offenders and predators, depending on the type of crime and prior offenses. Sex offenders are typically people who committed certain sex crimes against minors, such as possessing child pornography, convincing a minor to become involved in prostitution, or engaging in lewd and lascivious acts.

However, a sexual predator is a more serious label, since predators were convicted of the most severe sex offenses, such as those involving violence. They’re also usually repeat offenders and could be considered a high risk to the community. Being convicted of sexual battery against a minor or kidnapping a minor and committing sexual assault could result in a sexual predator label. If you’re worried about being labeled this way or having to register for the sex offender registry in Florida, contact our firm to learn your legal rights and fight your criminal charges.

What Can an Orlando Sex Crimes Attorney Do for You?

The right lawyer for your case can develop a legal defense angle to prove you’re not guilty or reduce your charges so you face less severe penalties. This can reduce your time in prison or even avoid the requirement to sign up for the sex offender registry. This is why it’s important to hire Orlando sex crime lawyers who have successfully handled numerous cases, as they know what criminal defense strategies tend to work best to create reasonable doubt in court.

For example, your lawyer could argue that the accuser has falsely identified you as the suspect when you had nothing to do with the crime. If there is evidence to show you could not have been at the scene at the time of an accused rape, or if there is proof someone hacked your computer to commit internet sex crimes, your lawyer can argue this so you have a chance of being found not guilty.

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a false accusation of rape when you were sure it was consensual sex, your attorney will look for ways to prove this. They can also identify any wrongdoing by law enforcement, proving that your legal rights were violated. For instance, if law enforcement illegally searched for or seized the evidence the prosecutors are using against you, your lawyer can find proof of this to get the evidence declared inadmissible in court.

If you’re found guilty of sex crimes despite a strategic defense against the charges, an experienced attorney will work on negotiating to reduce your sentence. Depending on the crime, this could significantly reduce or even avoid time in prison. If you want this outcome as you face serious charges, you need a defense team with proven experience handling cases like yours. At Panella Law Firm, we keep your best interests in mind and will do what it takes to defend you from sex crime charges. If you’re ready to discuss your legal options, call our Orlando law offices at 407-602-6559 for a confidential consultation.