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Tarrant County sex crime defense covers a wide range of charges. I handle everything from indecent exposure and fondling to aggravated sexual assault and possession of child pornography. If you face a prostitution solicitation sting or any other sex crime accusation, you need an experienced advocate in your corner.
These are the most common cases I see in Tarrant County:
In addition, the DA’s office here in Tarrant County has recently started to step up its prosecution of prostitution cases. As a result, I’ve seen more cases in the last 6 months involving some sort of solicitation, allegedly involving the solicitation of the services of a prostitute. Even though the prosecution of those crimes should probably be on the downslope, it seems to be being enforced more regularly than it used to be in the Fort Worth area.
There is a reason for this uptick. Recently, prostitution charges were changed from misdemeanor charges to felony charges in the state of Texas and in Tarrant County. There has been more police funding dedicated to arresting people for solicitation of prostitution.
Ostensibly, the idea behind this increase in punishment of solicitation of prostitution and the uptick in prosecution of those crimes has to do with combatting sex trafficking. Indeed, sex trafficking is a big problem. However, I don’t think that the crimes they are prosecuting in the prostitution realm often have much to do with trafficking, so they are misguided to some degree.
Still, there is a good deal of federal funding that has gone into prosecuting prostitution solicitation. In Tarrant County, the Fort Worth Police Department have these newly resurrected task forces that are basically using the same sting operation techniques that have been used to bust people for solicitation for 50 years. These do not even involve allegedly underage people: it is simply for solicitation of adult prostitution. The people being caught in these stings are meeting who they believe to be consenting, adult sex workers. Still, because solicitation is now a felony, being caught in this sort of sting is a much more dangerous situation for clients. I deal with many more of those cases now than I did, say, a year ago.
However, in general, I think that allegations of sexual assault involving children is the most common form of sex crime I deal with.
The moment you sense any investigation—whether a police detective calls you Child Protective Services reaches out or a family member hints someone may file a complaint you should call me right away. As your lawyer I can contact the detective or prosecutor to clarify the situation and address any misunderstanding before a warrant is even issued.
Waiting until after an arrest puts you at a serious disadvantage. You do not want a sex crime arrest on your record if you can avoid it. By involving a lawyer early you give yourself the best chance to resolve concerns before charges ever reach a judge.
Any time you hear rumors of an inquiry and you have information to share you need to share it with your attorney first. It may make all the difference in avoiding an arrest or building a strong defense from day one.
An investigation does not always lead to an immediate arrest. Many sex crime allegations rest solely on someone’s word and lack physical evidence. Sometimes they relate to events years old. While you may not be taken into custody right away you still face the risk of a surprise warrant if you do nothing.
How soon you are arrested often comes down to timing. Bringing in an attorney quickly lets me explain why the case may not be as strong as it appears and can persuade law enforcement to hold off on an arrest or even drop the matter.
Once you are arrested it becomes much harder to clear your name or remove the record. For these charges you always want legal help as early as possible.
Sex crime punishments in Texas are among the harshest. Aggravated child sexual abuse can carry a sentence of twenty five years to life with no credit for good behavior before parole eligibility. Even third degree felony charges such as indecency or fondling carry two to ten years in prison.
Repeat offenses can trigger mandatory life sentences. These are not the kinds of cases to handle on your own. An experienced lawyer can often keep you out of court or negotiate probation instead of prison time. When physical evidence is weak skilled cross examination of witnesses and law enforcement can lead to an acquittal.
Because the stakes are so high you need a Texas sex crime defense attorney in your corner from day one. Do not wait until after a conviction to seek help.
Chapter 21 of the Texas Penal Code covers all sex offenses in this state. Read it in full on the Texas Legislature’s site: Texas Penal Code §21 – Sexual Offenses.
For more information on sex crime defense in Texas call (817) 877-0401 today. An initial consultation will help you understand your options and start building your defense.
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