Houston Sexual Assault Of A Child Attorney

Sexual Assault Of A Child Lawyers Serving Houston, TX

Child sexual assault attorneys HoustonIf you are under investigation for a sex crime against a child or if you have been charged with committing a sex crime against a child, you need to contact a Houston sexual assault of a child attorney immediately. A police investigation starts when a law enforcement officer contacts you and either want to meet with you or question you regarding allegations of a sex crime. Often, at the investigation stage law enforcement, officers will be overly nice to you and state that they just want to meet with you to “get your side of the story.” Do not believe for one minute that the officer has your best interest in mind. Do not believe for one minute that the officer will not file criminal charges against you and arrest you. Do not believe for one minute that without hiring an experienced attorney you can just speak to the law enforcement officer and talk your way out of the charges and being arrested. Being investigated and charged with committing a sex crime against a child is one of the most serious crimes in Texas, with punishments ranging from to 2 years to life in prison. Being charged with a sex crime will ruin your life. Contact the Law Office of James Alston immediately.

The Reality Of Being Charged With Sexual Assault Of A Child

The crime of Sexual assault of a child is defined under Penal Code 22.011 (a)(2). Under this statute, a person may be charged with sexual assault if they intentionally or knowingly:

  • Cause the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of a child by any means;
  • Cause the penetration of the mouth of a child by the sexual organ of the actor;
  • Cause the sexual organ of a child to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;
  • Cause the anus of a child to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or
  • Cause the mouth of a child to contact the anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor.

A person may be charged with sexual assault under this section regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense. A “child” under Texas law is a person younger than 17 years of age. Sex crimes involving children are heavily punished in Texas. If you are accused of committing a sex crime against a child, you need to hire our Houston sexual assault of a child attorney immediately.

Attorney James Alston is an experienced Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer who has extensive knowledge in defending against any sex crimes charge. As a former prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorneys Office, Mr. Alston was assigned to the Sex Crimes Against Children Division where he handled hundreds of cases involving sex crimes against children.

Penalties for Child Sexual Assault Convictions in Texas

If you are convicted of sexual assault against a child, you can face very severe penalties and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. Under Texas law, if the child victim is younger than 14 years of age the crime is considered Aggravated Sexual Assualt of a Child, which is a first-degree felony and is punishable from 5 years to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. If the child victim is younger than 6 years of age, or younger than 14 years of age and certain aggravating circumstances exist, then the punishment range is from 25 years to life in prison.

The impact of being convicted of a sex crime against a child can, and often will, last a lifetime. Conviction for a sex crime often mandates that you register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. In Texas, sex offenders are required to register with the local law enforcement agency where they live and their name, photograph, address, and crime of conviction are listed on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Registration website. Conviction of a sex crime and registration as a sex offender result in restrictions being placed on where you can live. For example, sex offenders often can not live within 1,000 feet of anywhere that children congregate, such as a school, park, public swimming pool, or daycare. Additionally, convicted sex offenders often have extreme difficulty finding employment or maintaining a professional license.

Call Our Houston Sexual Assault Of A Child Attorney

Just the accusation of being charged with a sex crime against a child can impact every aspect of your life and being convicted of a sex crime against a child will ruin your life. The best defense is to not speak with any law enforcement officer until you have hired Attorney James Alston. The moment you are first contacted by law enforcement or learn of charges being filed against you, immediately contact Defense Attorney James Alston. He knows how important it is to provide you with the strongest defense and James Alston will fight hard to protect your rights and your freedom. Call James Alston Law today.