Under state law, there is a variety of different acts that are punishable as sex crimes. In addition to unlawful sexual behavior like having intercourse without another party’s consent, this broad class of criminal offense can also describe actions such as inappropriately touching another or exposing oneself in public.
Regardless of the exact nature of an allegation, sex crimes are taken very seriously in Macon. Many of these actions are considered severe felonies with lifelong consequences if convicted. Even acts that are misdemeanors can still create criminal records that greatly affect your employment or housing options. Do not leave your future up to chance. A Macon sex crimes lawyer can help you handle your case and mitigate these heavy penalties. Contact our firm today to discuss your situation with a skilled defense attorney.
When most people imagine the concept of a sex crime, they often think about rape. According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-6-1, rape involves having sexual intercourse with a female without that female’s consent.
Lack of consent is a reoccurring theme in almost every example of a sex crime. In fact, other felony-level sex offenses such as child molestation, incest, and bigamy center around the idea that an alleged victim did not or could not consent to sexual activity.
Most felony-level sex crimes come with mandatory-minimum prison sentences upon conviction. For example, rape, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery convictions all require a sentence of no less than 25 years in prison with life on probation.
A Macon sex crimes attorney works to help clients avoid this outcome. This includes working to evaluate the idea of consent in a sexual encounter or questioning an alleged victim’s recollection of events.
Not every sex crime case involves allegations of extreme violence or taking advantage of children. Some sex crimes accusations are misdemeanors that allege less severe offenses but still come with harsh consequences.
A clear example of this is sexual battery. Under O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.1, sexual battery involves having intentional contact with the intimate areas of another without their permission. This differs from a rape charge because sexual intercourse never takes place. However, this also means that a sexual battery charge can result from seemingly simple behavior such as giving an unexpected kiss. Sexual battery in Macon is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. This means that a conviction can result in a jail sentence of up to one year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
A Macon attorney can help people fight back against sex crime allegations. They can help determine if the police work that led to an arrest respected an individual’s rights to privacy, and investigate if any evidence indicates that the sexual encounter was consensual between both parties.
In Macon, being accused of a sex crime can have serious, life-altering repercussions. Whether someone’s case is a misdemeanor or felony, a conviction can create a criminal record that damages their reputation in the community. They may even be required to serve a mandatory prison sentence and pay hefty fines.
It is vital that you give yourself every advantage moving forward. This includes hiring a Macon sex crimes lawyer to handle your case. A seasoned defense attorney can work from day one to explore the facts that led to an arrest, uncover helpful evidence, challenge the legality of police work, and present arguments that aim to create reasonable doubt in the jurors’ minds. Contact our firm today to schedule a confidential consultation.
J. Ryan Brown Law, LLC
J. Ryan Brown Law, LLC
