Being accused of a sex crime is a serious issue that requires comprehensive legal assistance. In Florida, where such crimes are aggressively prosecuted, fast and targeted defense action is mandatory.
If you were charged with sexual misconduct, you must do everything possible to protect your rights. An experienced Palm Beach Gardens sexual misconduct Lawyer from Leifert & Leifert can help ensure the best possible outcome for your case. Our student defense attorneys can work to ensure this charge does not affect your academic future.
What Is Sexual Misconduct?
According to Florida Law, sexual misconduct refers to touching the genital area, groin, inner thighs, buttocks, or breasts of a person; oral, anal, or vaginal penetration involving another’s sexual organ; or anal or vaginal penetration of another person using any object without consent.
Such misconduct between two people, one of which is in a position of power, is a criminal offense. Some examples of these relationships could be:
- Employer and employee
- Doctor and patient
- Teacher and adult student
Even if it seems to you that such a sexual relationship is consensual, you may still be charged with sexual misconduct if the other party presses charges. Trying to convince that party to drop charges will likely lead to more legal issues. The key to receiving fair treatment is working with a skilled Palm Beach Gardens sexual misconduct Attorney. Legal guidance can help you avoid mistakes that could lead to severe penalties.
Penalties for Sexual Misconduct
A sex crime conviction carries significant penalties. Depending on the circumstances of the crime, sexual misconduct could be a second or third-degree felony.
If you are charged with a third-degree felony, you could face up to 5 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. A second-degree felony comes with up to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Besides long-term incarceration and sizable fines, a person who is convicted of sexual conduct is obligated to register with the Florida sex offender registry. The time your name will remain on that registry depends on the severity of the charges.
This information in the Florida sex offender registry is available to the public. This could affect your ability to rent an apartment, take out a loan, or get a job. A Lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens can help you understand sexual misconduct charges and penalties.
Defenses in Sexual Misconduct Cases
While a severe penalty in a sexual misconduct conduct case may seem unavoidable, an experienced Attorney in Palm Beach Gardens can build a strong defense to reduce or drop charges. Such defenses can include:
- Consent: Arguing that the act was consensual between the parties involved
- False accusations: Claiming the allegations are fabricated
- Mistaken identity: Asserting that the accused was wrongly identified as the perpetrator
- Insufficient evidence: Challenging the prosecution’s lack of strong or credible evidence.
- Lack of intent: Arguing that there was no intent to commit sexual misconduct.
- Alibi: Providing proof that the accused was elsewhere during the alleged incident.
Attorneys from Leifert & Leifert investigate each sexual misconduct case separately, collect relevant evidence, and design the most effective argument.
Consult a Competent Palm Beach Gardens Sexual Misconduct Attorney Today
If you were charged with sexual misconduct, you need to take a serious approach to your defense. Without legal assistance, you could be facing more than a decade in prison.
At Leifert & Leifert, we have a team of defense Attorneys who have already helped hundreds of people protect their rights. Contact us for a consultation with a Palm Beach Gardens sexual misconduct Lawyer.
