Clearwater Sex Crime Defense Attorney

Sex Crime Cases We Handle 

“Sex crimes” include a wide variety of criminal offenses, each of which comes with its own set of potential penalties and will require a different defense approach. 

Our firm can assist you if you have been charged with:

• Prostitution or solicitation
• Sexual battery
• Indecent exposure
• Lewd and lascivious acts 
• Child pornography charges
• Failure to register as a sex offender after a conviction

What to Do After Being Accused of Sexual Battery

Learning you have been accused of sexual assault or rape can be life-changing, especially if you know you took care to obtain consent before the encounter took place. You may be tempted to reach out to the accuser and set the record straight. While well-meaning, this is a mistake: You should avoid all contact with your accuser. Any contact is likely to be perceived as “unwanted,” and your words could be misconstrued.

Similarly, you should avoid making any public comments about the accusations, even if the accuser is spreading rumors or posting public statements themselves. It is understandable to want to defend yourself, but these crimes are heavily stigmatized. Anything you say could be used against you, so it is generally wiser to remain silent.

Preserve any written communications that took place between you and your accuser and document your version of events, including what happened before, during, and after the encounter. Make a list of any witnesses who were present in the events leading up to the encounter. Then, contact Haworth Legal. Our attorney is prepared to handle your case with the diligence and attention to detail it deserves.

Penalties for Sex Crimes in Florida

Many sex crimes will be charged as felonies, and some, like those related to child pornography, can be classified as federal offenses. If convicted, felons will be classified as sex offenders and need to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. Registered sex offenders will almost certainly have difficulty obtaining future work and housing opportunities. They will also need to make disclosures to neighbors and face other restrictions.

This is in addition to thousands of dollars in fines and potentially many years of incarceration. Penalties are generally even more severe if aggravating factors, such as the involvement of a minor or a weapon, are present. 

Defending Against Sex Crime Charges

We tailor our defense strategies to each client’s unique situation. The nature of your charges, the indisputable facts, and the available evidence will dictate how we approach your case. When you come to us for help, we will thoroughly review your account of what happened before determining how to shape our defense.

Many cases involving sexual battery or rape are “he said she said” scenarios. In these situations, we will often argue that consent was in fact given and that you are the subject of a false accusation. Witnesses and third-party experts can often provide valuable testimony to support our arguments. 

If you are accused of sexually assaulting someone you do not know, it is very possible that you may have been mistakenly identified. DNA testing and other science-based solutions can help establish your innocence in these cases. If you were deceived about a sexual partner’s age or ability to legally give consent, we can argue that you were deliberately misled and had no intention of committing an unlawful act.

Several defense strategies may be available to those accused of indecent exposure. Mothers are permitted to breastfeed their infants in public, and individuals can publicly urinate in unincorporated parts of the state so long as they attempt to conceal their genitals while doing so. Exceptions are also made for public nudity that is part of legitimate artistic performances or endeavors. 

Prostitution charges can be fought by establishing a lack of intent to commit the crime. If undercover law enforcement officers attempted to compel you to engage in prostitution, you are likely the victim of entrapment, and you can leverage this misconduct as part of your defense.