Crimes Against Children
Texas punishes sex offenses involving children more harshly than almost any other category of crime, of course. Continuous sexual abuse of a child carries a twenty-five-year minimum without parole eligibility. Aggravated sexual assault of a child carries five to ninety-nine years or life. Even indecency with a child by contact is a second-degree felony.
A conviction for any of these offenses requires lifetime sex-offender registration.
Offenses
Online solicitation of a minor. Using electronic communications to solicit a minor to meet for sexual contact, or sending sexually explicit material to a minor with the intent to get the minor to engage in sexual conduct. Most cases arise from undercover law enforcement operations, and do not involve a child—”minor” includes someone whom the defendant believes to be a child.
Indecency with a child. Sexual contact with a child under seventeen (second-degree felony) or exposure with intent to arouse or gratify (third-degree felony).
Child pornography. Possession or promotion of material depicting a child engaged in sexual conduct. See also federal child pornography charges.
Improper relationship between educator and student. A second-degree felony regardless of the student’s age if the student is enrolled in the school where the educator works.
Continuous sexual abuse of a child. Two or more acts of sexual abuse against a child under fourteen over a period of thirty or more days. First-degree felony with a twenty-five-year minimum.
Defense
These cases demand careful investigation. False accusations occur in custody disputes, divorce proceedings, and situations where a child has been coached or influenced by an adult. We examine forensic interview recordings, the child’s disclosure history, the circumstances of the outcry, and the motives of the adults involved.
Because of the stakes involved—they are all-or-nothing cases—these are also the most tried cases in the courthouse. We try them to juries.
Talk to us
If you have been convicted, we handle appeals.