Delaware County Sex Crimes Lawyer

Sex crimes can carry some of the most serious penalties of any offenses. As soon as you have been accused of a crime, you should think about calling a Delaware County sex crimes lawyer to start looking out for your interests. Your criminal attorney in Delaware County can help protect you from unconstitutional searches, can advise you on what questions to answer, and can assist you in responding to accusations you are facing. Accusations are often treated harshly, however, a conviction can ruin lives.

How a Delaware County Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help You

After an accusation is made that a sex crime has occurred, you could be questioned by police. Your lawyer can advise you on what questions not to answer to avoid incrimination. Your attorney can also make sure police follow all the rules and respect your rights during an investigation. Additionally, your lawyer can be present with you to insure police act in a constitutional manner.

When you have been charged, your lawyer will help you to evaluate the evidence and decide how to plead. If you decide to plead guilty, your Delaware County sex crimes lawyer can help try to negotiate a plea deal that keeps you off the sex offender registry or that limits your penalties.  If you decide to plead not guilty, your attorney can help to introduce reasonable doubt or can assist with raising defenses including:

• Consent

• Mistaken identity

• Planted memories

• False accusations

The defenses will vary based on the type of charges and the prosecutor’s case. While consent is a defense to many sex offenses, it is not a defense for someone who has been charged with a crime involving a minor.  With the help of your lawyer, you can identify the strongest arguments to make as you fight for your freedom.

Sex Crimes in Delaware County

There are many different kinds of sex crimes in Delaware County.  A defendant could be charged with child pornography offenses, rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure, or unlawful sharing of sexual images.

Under Pennsylvania Code Sections 3122.1 and 3123, a defendant may be charged with statutory sexual assault or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse for consensual sex or sex acts with someone under sixteen, if the defendant is four or more years older.  For sexual acts with someone 12 or under, a defendant may be strictly liable for the offense of rape.

Penalties are very serious for virtually all sex crimes, especially as conviction usually leads to required registration on the sex offender registry.  The Pennsylvania State Police have a list of all of the different sex crimes that require registration.  The length of the time a defendant is required to register depends upon whether he has been charged with a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 sex offense.

Getting Help from a Delaware County Sex Crimes Lawyer

When your future is at stake, you need to be represented by a Delaware County sex crimes lawyer who knows how to handle these complicated cases. Sex crimes are difficult for prosecutors because there are often no witnesses except the involved parties and because the case often comes down to a question over whose version of events is true. Since prosecutors have the burden of proving the case, it may be possible for you to avoid conviction if you make a strong case.  So protect yourself and let an attorney help.