➠ Houston Criminal Defense Attorney » Arrested for a Sex Offense? Discover How to Beat It.

Hire the Leading Houston Lawyer!

If you have been accused of sexual assault, obtain the counsel of an attorney immediately. By far the most serious types of sexual assault are those committed against young children or those that involve the use of physical violence. Many states have undertaken a revision of their rape and sexual assault laws, creating a broad set of sexually related crimes. These crimes are often known collectively as sexual assault, criminal sexual conduct or sexual abuse. The current trend is to make the laws and regulations against sexual assault gender neutral so that they apply to acts by and against both men and women.

The chief characteristic of these laws is that they prohibit doing any type of sexual act with another person against that person's will. Generally, it is not required to show physical resistance on the part of the victim, only that the victim did not consent to the act.

Is Sexual Assault the Same as Rape?

The majority of sexual assault allegations are made by somebody who knows the accused. If a sexual act is done with a minor who evidently consented, criminal charges may arise because minors are not considered capable of giving consent.

The conventional meaning of rape requires an act of sexual intercourse or sexual penetration by force or against the victim's will. Sexual assault includes contact such as sexual touching. These definitions, however, differ by jurisdiction.

The penalties for sexual assault are severe and include prison or jail, monetary fines, psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and restitution payments to the victim. A person found guilty of sexual assault may be made to register as a sex offender for the rest of his or her life and have his or her name appear on the public registry of sex offenders.

The best Houston Criminal Defense Attorney will have years of expertise protecting the charged in the courts throughout Texas. The seriousness of the sexual assault charge, as well as the punishment that is imposed, may depend upon the amount and type of force utilized by the defendant and the injuries suffered by the victim. The victim's physical resistance is not a major factor in deciding the severity of the charge. Sexual assault charges tend to be felony charges, however some types of sexual assaults may be misdemeanors.

Prosecution and Defense of Sexual Assault Cases

An adequate defense against a sexual assault charge requires sufficient information and rigorous advocacy. Generally, the sole witnesseses to an alleged sexual assault are the victim and the person accused. Many cases thus become "he said/she said" types of cases, where one person's word is pitted against another's. False accusations have been made by both adults and children.

Contact the Most Respected Houston Criminal Defense Attorney

Being convicted of sexual assault may lead to lengthy prison time and social isolation once you are released. Sexual assault includes various types of sexual acts done without the consent of the victim. These cases frequently do not involve eyewitnesses and, as a result, are challenging. If you are facing sexual assault charges, speak with the Leading Houston Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible to protect your freedom...and your life.