Gwinnett County Sex Crime Lawyer

Sex Crimes

Gwinnett County Sex Crime Attorney

If you have been accused or charged with unlawful sexual misconduct, be sure you consult with a Gwinnett County sex crime lawyer as soon as you’re able. Sex crime convictions pose severe threats to your future beyond the legal penalties, but also the potential for lifelong restrictions and social stigma.

Types of Sex Crime Accusations Our Criminal Defense Firm Handles

The state of Georgia takes sex crimes very seriously, specifying numerous different offenses that may seemingly overlap or be too broad. These are some sex crimes that a qualified defense attorney can help those accused with by providing experienced counsel and representation:

• Sexual assault: Any contact or activity that is sexual and non-consensual in nature, including the separate offense of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority and sexual assault by a practitioner of psychotherapy against a patient.
• Sexual battery: The intentional touching of another person’s intimate areas (e.g., genitalia, buttocks, breasts) without their consent and for the purpose of the sexual gratification or arousal of either party. An offense against a minor under 16 or the defendant’s second or subsequent sexual battery conviction will be charged as a felony.Aggravated sexual battery entails non-consensual and intentional penetration of a person’s sexual organ or anus with a foreign object (any article or instrument that isn’t a sex organ).
• Rape: The forcible penetration of a woman (or female child under ten years old) against her will. Statutory rape is the penetration of a minor girl under the age of 16, which negates the concept of consent since the statute of legal age was disregarded. “Forcible” implies the threat or use of physical violence or mental coercion, such as intimidation.
• Sodomy: Criminal sodomy is any non-consensual, public, or commercial behavior involving the oral or anal sexual activity between two people, regardless of gender. An aggravated sodomy offense involves a minor or using force against a person’s will.
• Child molestation: Child molestation entails any “immoral or indecent” act towards or in the presence of a child under 16, with the intent to arouse or sexually satisfy either party. It also includes the electronic transfer of images depicting such criminal acts. Aggravated child molestation includes inflicting physical harm upon a child or subjecting them to sodomy.
• Prostitution crimes: Prostitution is the offering, performing, or consenting to perform any sexual act in exchange for payment, such as money or other valuable items. Accepting payment or consummating the transaction isn’t required to be convicted of this crime.
• Pandering (pimping): Pandering involves any solicitation to perform an act of prostitution, including keeping a place of prostitution and giving massages in any location for the purpose of lewdness, prostitution, etc., separate offenses. A crime becomes a felony if a person under 18 or 16 is involved, with increased consequences depending on age.

Other sex crimes include public indecency, incest, failure to register as a sex offender, and harboring, concealing, or withholding information about an offender, among many more.

Penalties for a Sex Crime Conviction in Georgia

Felony convictions– especially those aggravated in nature or involving a minor –will likely be severely penalized, potentially facing fines, registration as a sex offender, and/or extended incarceration followed by lifelong probation, life in prison without parole, or even the death penalty. Misdemeanors can also be punished very seriously, particularly if the crime was of a “high and/or aggravated nature” and depending on the defendant’s prior criminal history.

Some crimes may be tried as misdemeanors if, at the time of unlawful activity, the offender was under 18 and the victim was aged 14-15 or 13-16, depending on the specific criminal charge. It’s wise to consult with an experienced defense attorney to understand the gravity of your specific circumstances. Even misdemeanor convictions may require a person to register as a sex offender, which subjects you to strict supervision and severe restrictions for the remainder of your future.

FAQs

Q: What Are the Sex Laws in Georgia?

A: The Georgia legislature specifies numerous types of sex offenses, with some charged as misdemeanors and others as felonies. Anyone convicted of a felony sex crime must register as a sexual offender, which can result in the person facing difficulty in finding employment or housing. Many sex violations in GA are also punishable by extended incarceration and large fines, along with other penalties.

Q: What Can Sex Offenders Not Do in Georgia?

A: Felony sex offenders cannot possess or create any sexually oriented materials or imagery of a child or have communication of any kind with the victim or any child under 18 without prior written approval from the Court or their community supervision officer.

They are also subject to evaluations, chemical tests for substances, treatment programs, and random searches of their person, residence, or vehicle. The offender also cannot drink or take any drugs without a doctor’s prescription nor drive alone.

Q: Is Georgia Harsh on Sex Offenders?

A: Yes, the state of Georgia takes sex crimes very seriously and punishes offenders severely, but accordingly. All felony sex offenses, along with some misdemeanors, require the perpetrator to register as a sex offender, which comes with diligent supervision and extensive restrictions. Moderate misdemeanor convictions may be penalized with a jail sentence, fine payment, or both. The most severe felonies entail a life prison sentence or extensive incarceration followed by probation for life.

Q: Can a Sex Offender Live with His Family in Georgia?

A: Sex offenders may live with family if no supervisory conditions are violated or the Court provides prior approval in writing. Otherwise, offenders cannot reside with any child under 18 (or who cannot consent due to cognitive limitations), including their own children, nor may they live near churches, schools, parks, and other locations where minors congregate.

Offenders also cannot have access to or possess any renderings of a minor, any sexually charged materials/media, alcohol, or substances that aren’t approved by their doctor.

Seek Experienced Criminal Defense for Your Case

Don’t hesitate to contact The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman if you’re facing a sex crime charge. A professional and adept criminal defense attorney is prepared to take on your case, regardless of the severity of your situation. Schedule a meeting today.