Port Charlotte Sex Crime Lawyer

Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in Port Charlotte, FL

According to statistics from the Florida Uniform Crime Report, there were 543,138 total arrests statewide, including 1,777 for rape incidents and 2,600 for other sex offenses. In Florida, an individual may be arrested for committing any sex-related offense, such as sexual battery, statutory rape, prostitution, or child pornography. Unfortunately, accusations of sex-related crimes are often devastating, and a conviction can jeopardize your career, reputation, and future.

If you’re under investigation for a sex-related crime, retaining an aggressive and highly-skilled Port Charlotte, FL criminal defense attorney is imperative for detailed guidance. Ruhl & Lux, P.A. is dedicated to offering comprehensive guidance and skilled representation to clients in their sex crime cases. The firm’s reliable attorneys can investigate every detail of your case thoroughly and strategize an effective legal defense to help fight your charges.

Ruhl & Lux, P.A. is proud to serve clients across Port Charlotte, Florida, and the surrounding communities of Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Types of Sex-Related Crimes in Florida

Sex crimes comprise different criminal offenses related to a sexual nature, non-consensual sexual acts, or unlawful sexual contact that the state court can prosecute. Here are some common sex-related offenses in the state of Florida:

Sexual Battery

Under Florida law, sexual battery can be described as any form of oral, anal, or female genital penetration that is done forcefully or without the victim’s lawful consent.

Indecent Exposure

In Florida, a person may be facing indecent exposure charges if he or she exhibits or exposes his or her sexual organs publicly or on someone else’s private premises for other people to see them in an indecent or vulgar manner.

Statutory Rape

According to Florida law, an adult may be charged with statutory rape if he or she engages in any sexual act with a minor (a person under 18 years), even when the sexual activity was consensual.

Prostitution

Under Florida law, a person who offers sexual services or engages in sexual activity in exchange for a fee may be arrested and charged with prostitution.

Child Pornography

Furthermore, Florida law describes child pornography as a crime that is committed when someone possesses, produces, or distributes a picture or video depicting a minor engaging in sexual activity.

Lewd and Lascivious Battery

According to Florida statute, a person commits lewd and lascivious battery if they:

• Engage in sexual activity with a minor between 12 and 16 years; and,
• Forces, entices, or encourages a minor below 16 years to partake in sexual bestiality, prostitution, sadomasochistic abuse, or any other illegal sexual act.

However, this is not a detailed list, and there are other sex-related offenses that the firm handles. If you or someone close to you has recently been arrested and charged with a sex crime, you should get in touch with a reliable criminal defense lawyer straightaway. The skilled attorneys at the firm will strategize a solid defense to help fight your charges in pursuit of the most favorable outcome.

Defining Consent

Additionally, Florida state law defines consent as knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily agreeing to take part in sexual acts with someone else. However, the age of consent in Florida is 18 years. Therefore, anyone who engages in a sexual act with a minor (a person under 18 years) may be facing sex crimes charges, regardless of whether the sexual act was consensual.

Registering as a Sex Offender in Florida

Also, Florida laws require persons convicted of—or who have pleaded guilty to—a qualifying sex-related offense to register as a sex offender once they’ve been released from custody. Some sex offenses that require registering as a sex offender in Florida include:

• Sexual battery
• Selling or buying of minors
• Sexual misconduct
• Human trafficking
• Unlawful sexual activity with minors
• Video voyeurism of a minor
• Lewd and lascivious battery
• Luring or enticing a child
• Computer pornography
• Child pornography
• Kidnapping a minor under 13 years
• False imprisonment of a minor below 13 years

Unfortunately, registering as a sex offender in Florida can make it extremely difficult for you to secure employment, accommodation, financial loans, scholarship, and other opportunities.

Possible Sex Crimes Penalties in Florida

However, sex-related crimes are aggressively prosecuted and punished in Florida. A person convicted of a sex crime conviction could potentially result in any of these penalties and ramifications:

• Lengthy prison sentence (ranging from months, years, or decades)
• Substantial fines and court fees
• Registration as a sex offender
• Probation
• A criminal record/history
• Loss of personal freedom and social prospects
• Loss of your rights to possess, carry a firearm or gun
• Deterioration of personal and professional relationships
• Increased difficulty in getting new employment, accommodation, and educational opportunities
• Increased difficulty in securing public benefits or government assistance
• Increased difficulty in securing certain financial loans
• Possible deportation or inadmissibility to the United States

A highly-skilled Florida criminal defense attorney can determine the nature of your charges and identify the best defenses to help you avoid the devastating consequences of a conviction.

Work With a Reliable Port Charlotte Sex Crime Lawyer

Trying to defend your sex crime accusations without aggressive representation and legal guidance is never advisable. If you’re convicted, you might face huge fines, lengthy imprisonment, mandatory sex offender registration, a criminal record, and other life-changing ramifications. Therefore, when facing sex crime charges, hiring a reliable criminal defense attorney is paramount for proper guidance and to help strategize your defense.

For over 15 years, Ruhl & Lux, P.A. has been offering outstanding legal services and protecting individuals charged with sex crimes from the worst-case scenario. Using their extensive knowledge, the attorneys at the firm can help you navigate the Florida criminal justice system. They will fight vigorously on your side, refute the accusations against you with factual evidence, and attempt to keep your record as clean as possible.

Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys in Port Charlotte, Florida

Allegations of sex-related crimes can be scary. Don’t face them alone. Contact Ruhl & Lux, P.A. today to schedule a simple case assessment. The firm can offer you the aggressive representation and reliable legal counsel you need to fight your charges. If you are in Port Charlotte, Sarasota, and Fort Myers, Florida, reach out today.