Atlanta Sex Crime Lawyer

Sex Crime Attorney in Atlanta, GA

Facing any criminal charges can be daunting and overwhelming, but it is especially so when the charges are related to sex crimes. A sex crime conviction will alter your life in immeasurable ways.

Not only will your reputation in your community be severely damaged, but you will likely be required to register as a sex offender, and a lengthy prison sentence could also result. The attitude of the public may vilify you before the trial even starts, but the law states that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

The best way to guarantee a fair trial is to ensure you hire an experienced Atlanta Sex Crime Lawyer that is dedicated to preserving your rights. For over 20 years, the Law Office of Delisa Williams PC has worked on behalf of Georgia clients who have been accused of various crimes, including sex crimes. We will examine the evidence collected against you and build an aggressive defense with the intent of proving innocence or searching for mitigating factors that can help reduce the charges.

Sex Crimes in Georgia

Georgia has many laws related to sex crimes and severe penalties for each. Some of the sex crimes in Georgia include:

• Aggravated Child Molestation – This crime occurs when someone commits the offense of child molestation, and the child is hurt during the crime, or it involves the act of sodomy. Child molestation charges require the child to be under 16 years of age.
• Aggravated Sexual Battery – In Georgia, aggravated sexual battery occurs when a person uses a foreign object to intentionally penetrates the anus or sexual organ of another person without their consent. The penalties include serious prison terms with probation for life after being released.
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender – It is mandatory to register as a sex offender after being convicted of a sex-related crime. The convicted person has 72 hours after release from prison or after moving to inform their county of residence. Failure to complete this registration can result in a lengthy prison term.
• Incest – This crime occurs when a person engages in sexual acts with a relative. What most may not realize is this law applies to relations of blood, as well as marriage.
• Internet Sex Crimes – Though crimes involving the internet and sex crimes are newer, their punishments are no less harsh. This class of crimes can include sexual exploitation of a minor, obscene internet contact with a minor, and child pornography.
• Keeping a Place of Prostitution – This charge requires that the accused has control over a location, maintains it specifically for prostitution and that prostitution occurs on the premises. Without all three factors, the charges will be dismissed.
• Pandering – Though there are many ways that pandering can occur, it is ultimately the act of soliciting an act of prostitution.
• Public Indecency -A person can engage in public indecency in four different ways, and they are all misdemeanors. However, a third or subsequent conviction will cause a felony conviction.
• Publication of the Name of a Rape Victim – Georgia laws provide protection for rape victims and make it illegal, with few exceptions, for a person to make public the name of a rape victim through various media sources.
• Rape – According to Georgia law, rape occurs when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman forcibly against her will or a girl under the age of 10. Rape does not apply if a woman assaults another woman or a man assaults another man.
• Sexual Battery – This crime occurs when a person intentionally makes physical contact with the sexual parts of the body of another person without their consent. Depending on the circumstances of the case, this charge can be a high/ aggravated misdemeanor or felony.
• Statutory Rape – When a person engages in sexual intercourse, even without an element of force, with a person under the age of 16, the applicable charge is statutory rape. This crime is classified as strict liability, meaning the ages of the accused and the alleged victim are the only things that matter.

This is not a complete list of sex crimes that can be charged in Georgia, as it is a broad area of the law. However, a conviction of any of these crimes will carry heavy penalties that will affect the accused for the rest of their life. It is vital that you contact an attorney experienced with sex crimes to get the best possible outcome according to our laws.

Penalties For Sex Crimes in Georgia

Georgia heavily punishes those convicted of sex crimes, but a knowledgeable attorney can have significant effects on the trajectory of your life after an arrest and/ or conviction. Those individuals that are convicted of a felony sexual offense are required to join the sex offender registry.

Being on this registry can make it difficult to secure employment or obtain housing. It will also make the conviction easily accessible to the public, affecting public perception of you wherever you live. Large fines and hefty prison sentences can also apply. The fines can be thousands of dollars, and the sentences can be as high as 50 years to life, with lifetime parole.

Potential Defenses For Sex Crimes in Atlanta, GA

The investigation that your attorney will conduct is a key factor for your defense. Most sex offense cases involve a combination of physical evidence, scientific evidence, statements from witnesses, and investigations by one or more police officers.

Frequently, there is also the “he said, she said” element to these situations, so finding an attorney with experience collecting and vetting evidence is especially important. Thorough investigative methods, potentially with the support of a private investigator, can make or break your sex crimes defense. Potential routes your defense lawyers can take include:

• Lack of evidence, especially DNA evidence
• Failure to withdraw consent after the encounter began
• Impotency, though, can be discarded if any penetration occurred
• Dishonest witness
• Mistaken identity by witnesses or victim

Georgia Sex Crimes Statute of Limitations

Charges can be brought against you years after the event occurred. The statute of limitations for most sex crimes is seven years. These crimes include:

• Statutory rape
• Child molestation
• Aggravated sexual battery
• Sexual battery is the victim is under 16 years of age
• Enticing a child for indecent purposes
• Trafficking for sexual servitude or labor if the victim is under 18 years of age

Some cases of sex crimes have a four-year statute of limitations, including:

• Sexual assault
• Trafficking for sexual servitude or labor
• Incest

Other cases of sex crimes have a statute of limitations of only two years, including:

• Sexual battery where the victim is over 16 years of age
• Child molestation occurs if the offender is 18 years old or younger and the victim is between 14-16 years old
• Statutory rape is where the offender is 18 years old or younger, and the victim is between 14-16 years old

Though these statutes apply in most cases, there are some notable exceptions. For example, there is no statute of limitations on aggravated sexual battery, rape, and child molestation cases where the identity of the accused is established with DNA evidence.

Do I Need an Attorney If I am Charged With a Sex Crime in Atlanta, GA?

Technically, you are not required to have an attorney if you are charged with a sex crime. You have the right to defend yourself in a court of law; however, defending yourself is highly unrecommended. The legal system is not intended for the average citizen to handle alone—it can be overwhelming and complicated for someone unfamiliar with the many intricacies.

An attorney with experience in the court where you have been charged will have valuable information on punishments handed down by a particular judge, as well as potential chances of success.

As mentioned above, the penalties for sex crimes can be severe and life-altering. Years in prison and large fines will be disastrous for your life plan. Public opinion will carry unbearable weight, as will any difficulties with finding a job and home after any prison time.

A tenacious and experienced attorney can be the difference between serving prison time for a false allegation and getting the charges dismissed. They can also help get charges reduced, so the penalties are less severe.

Fighting Sex Crime Charges

The Law Office of Delisa Williams PC has over 20 years of experience defending Georgia clients in various criminal cases. We have worked tirelessly to ensure our client’s rights are defended because innocence is presumed until guilt is proven.

Everyone deserves to have a skilled attorney in their corner, ensuring our legal system works effectively without railroading any defendants. It takes time and effort to build an effective defense from the ground up, so the team you hire should not be left to chance. Stick with the experts at The Law Office of Delisa Williams PC so we can help you through this trying time.

Being charged with a sex crime can be a terrifying experience, especially when you consider the potential ramifications. Reach out to our office today, so we can schedule a consultation and work towards a positive resolution for your case. Our law office stands ready to represent you through your sex crime charge.