If you have recently been arrested or charged with any type of sexual involvement with a minor, it is imperative that you turn to a seasoned Avondale sex crimes lawyer with Suzuki Law Group. If you are under investigation for a “dangerous crime against children,” the consequences of a guilty verdict could be catastrophic. Do yourself a favor and exercise your right to remain silent while you retain the services of a regarded Avondale child molestation defense lawyer.
We need to carefully review the evidence against you to determine which criminal defense strategy is most likely to result in a positive outcome for you and your family. In some cases, it may be in your best interest to accept a plea agreement by working with the state’s prosecutor. In any case, when you contact our criminal defense lawyer in Avondale to discuss your legal options, you can learn more about what the future of your case may bring.
Child Molestation Charges in Avondale Are Serious
Arizona has strict penalties for sex crime convictions, but they are particularly harsh for individuals convicted of sex crimes involving children. The child molestation statute, which can be found under Arizona Revised Statute §13-1410, states that child molestation occurs anytime an adult intentionally or knowingly engages in any type of sexual contact with a child who is under the age of 15. This includes oral sex, sexual intercourse, and any type of touching, contact, or fondling involving the genitals.
You Could Also Be Facing Related Sex Crime Charges
When you are charged with child molestation, there are also likely similar and related offenses you could also be facing. If there is oral sex or sexual intercourse between an adult and a minor under the age of 18, child molestation charges can be elevated to sexual conduct with a minor charges under ARS §13-1405. However, these charges will only apply if sexual intercourse or oral sex occurs.
You could also be charged with luring a minor under ARS §13-3554. You could be charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation, which is considered a Class 3 felony if the minor is under the age of 15. You may be charged with aggravated luring a minor, which is considered a Class 2 felony.
Sexual exploitation of a minor, also known as the child pornography statute, can be found under ARS §13-3553. Any level of child pornography charges is generally considered a felony offense in Arizona. These types of sex crimes involving children are typically considered a dangerous crime against children, which carries more severe penalties than standard sex crime convictions.
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Get StartedThe Penalties of a Child Molestation Conviction Could Destroy Your Future
Working with a child molestation defense attorney in Avondale with Suzuki Law Group may be your best option when you are under investigation or accused of committing a crime against a child. These types of charges often carry mandatory minimum sentences, which are not left up to the discretion of the judge or jury. For this reason, it is imperative that you get legal advice from a knowledgeable child molestation defense law firm that can analyze the evidence against you and your specific circumstances to build the strongest defense strategy possible.
Criminal Penalties
Child molestation is usually charged as a Class 2 felony. If you are found guilty, you could spend the rest of your life in prison, depending on the specific details of your case. If the alleged victim was under the age of 12, you will be sentenced to 35 years in prison under the state’s mandatory child molestation penalties.
Sex Offender Registration
Convicted sex offenders are also typically required to register with the Arizona Sex Offender Registry. Many criminal penalties require mandatory sex offender registration as well. You will be classified a risk level based on your likelihood of recidivism and the specific charges you were convicted of.
Convicted sex offenders often face housing restrictions, have their photos and addresses posted online, and often face backlash from community members despite having completed the terms of their sentence. These are just a couple of examples of the collateral consequences that could continue to haunt you if you are found guilty. Your child molestation defense lawyer in Avondale will need to carefully consider whether we can work with the state to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced to a less serious offense to protect your reputation and future.
Lawyer Near Me 602-682-5270How to Clear Your Name and Safeguard Your Reputation
In sex crime cases involving children, prosecuting attorneys are rarely willing to allow victims to plead to a lesser offense or dismiss cases altogether. For this reason, it is crucial that you be prepared to defend your name at trial. Potential strategies your criminal defense lawyer may recommend include:
- Arguing that you were falsely accused
- Establishing that there was no sexual contact between you and the minor
- Proving that the alleged victim was 15 years of age or older at the time of the incident
If the prosecutor has not proved any of the elements of the defense, the charges against you should not apply. This means if the minor child was 15 years or older or there was no sexual contact between you and the alleged victim, the child molestation charges against you should be dismissed. That does not mean other charges will not be filed, so make sure you have a skilled Avondale child molestation defense attorney working for you to clear your name of these heinous charges.
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Connect with Avondale’s Leading Child Molestation Defense Law Firm Today
Sex crime charges are enough to destroy your reputation whether you are convicted or acquitted. However, when these allegations involve children, it has never been more important to clear your name of the charges against you. With penalties this severe, presenting a compelling defense strategy or securing a plea agreement may be the only way to maintain some semblance of a future.
Turn to a highly experienced Avondale child molestation defense lawyer with Suzuki Law Group to explore potential defense options further. Our firm has over 20 years of experience defending the accused and protecting their rights. Have us put our legal knowledge and skills to work for you when you complete our secured contact form or call our office to schedule your confidential consultation today.
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