SEXUAL ASSAULT ATTORNEYS IN DALLAS, TEXAS

Sexual assault charges can have lifelong consequences and are frequently legally and factually complex. It is very important to have a lawyer on your side who understands the laws, has a working relationship and open lines of communication with the district attorney's office and judges, and truly recognizes the long-term impact such an allegation can have on an individual and his or her family. There’s a lot on the line when you’re facing sexual assault charges. Penalties like registering as a sex offender may continue to follow you for years after your conviction or deferred adjudication, so finding the right lawyer to help you as soon as possible is helpful.

What You Need to Know About Texas Sexual Assault Charges

It is not uncommon for these cases to go to trial due to the sensitive and emotional nature of the charges, so it is vital to have an experienced trial attorney forming an aggressive defense on your behalf.

Sexual assault-type charges may involve an adult victim or a child victim. Possible charges include:

• Sexual assault

• Aggravated sexual assault

• Super-aggravated sexual assault

• Indecency with a child under age 17

• Continuous sexual abuse of a child or young children

• Improper relationship between and educator and student

Sexual Assault Related Offenses

A related offense, failure to register as a sex offender, may arise after an individual was convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for a sexual offense. These are highly technical charges and you are best served by an attorney.

Penalties for Sexual Assault in Texas

Sexual assault, a second-degree felony, carries a punishment range up to 20 years in prison. A sexual assault case becomes "aggravated" (a first-degree felony) when there is a deadly weapon involved, there is serious bodily injury to the alleged victim or the alleged victim is a child under age 14.

Aggravated sexual assault is punishable up to 99 years or life in prison. If the alleged victim is a child under age 6, the offense becomes "super-aggravated," and carries a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison without any eligibility for parole.

Indecency with a child is a second-degree felony punishable up to 20 years in prison. Whether an individual is charged with sexual assault of a child or indecency with a child (or both) depends on the facts of the case.

Continuous sexual abuse of a child or young children requires that the state prove that the assaultive conduct happened either multiple times in a given time period, or to multiple child victims. If proven in court, these cases carry a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison without parole.

It is essential to have a good legal team looking into charges of a sexual nature. There may be issues with scientific evidence, witness identification, or alibi, among others, that must be thoroughly investigated in order to properly defend against such serious allegations. Our attorneys have the experience necessary to spot such issues and know how important it is to bring in an investigator to dig further into the case.