Houston Child Sex Crime Defense Attorney

Child Sex Offense Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX, Defends the Freedom and Reputation of Clients Facing Charges of Sex Crimes Against Minors in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Texas

Were you accused of committing a sex crime against a child? Facing child sex crime charges can have a devastating impact on your reputation and future, even if you are ultimately acquitted. You deserve aggressive legal representation who will fight for your rights and interest. Let a Houston child sex crime defense attorney from Chernoff Law help.

I am attorney Ed Chernoff. I have been practicing criminal law for more than 35 years. During that time, I worked on both sides of the criminal courtroom. I spent five years as one of the top-performing prosecutors in the Harris County DA’s office. In 1991, I left the prosecutor’s office to use the knowledge and insights I gained to represent people accused of crimes. Over the years, I’ve advocated on behalf of thousands of clients and taken over 150 cases to trial in Houston and across the country. 

Reach out to my criminal defense firm for a free case evaluation to go over your legal options with a child sex offense lawyer in the City of Houston, TX. Let me help you fight your charges and pursue a favorable resolution to your case. 

What Are Child Sex Crimes?

Under Title 5, Chapter 21 of the Texas Penal Code, child sex crimes include:

• Continuous sexual abuse of a young child – Committing two or more acts of sexual abuse over a period of 30 days or more, where the perpetrator is 17 years old or older and the victim(s) is under the age of 14. 
• Indecency with a child – Engaging in sexual contact with a child or causing a child to engage in sexual contact, exposing a person’s anus or genitals to a child, or exposing a child’s anus or genitals with the intent to gratify the sexual desire of any person.
• Improper relationship between educator and student – An employee of a public or private primary or secondary school who engages in sexual contact, or sexual intercourse, or deviates from sexual intercourse with a person enrolled at the school. 

Chapter 22 also outlaws sexual assault of a child, defined as penetrating the anus or sexual organ of a child, penetrating the mouth of a child with the perpetrator’s sexual organ, or causing a child’s anus or mouth to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person. Sexual assault is graded as an aggravated offense if the crime:

• Causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause a child’s death or the death of another person
• Places a child victim in fear of death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping
• Involves the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon
• Involves two people acting in concert with one another
• Involves administering a substance intended to impair the child’s ability to understand or resist a sexual act
• The child victim is younger than 14 years old

Other child sex crimes can include producing, possessing, and/or distributing child pornography.

Penalties for a Child Sex Crime Conviction

Child sex crimes are typically graded as felony offenses. Penalties for a conviction for a sex offense against a child can include:

• Third-degree felony: Imprisonment for two to 10 years, and a potential fine of up to $10,000
• Second-degree felony: Imprisonment for two to 20 years, and a potential fine of up to $10,000
• First-degree felony: Imprisonment for life, or a term of 5 to 99 years, and a potential fine of up to $10,000; in many circumstances, first-degree felony sex crimes against children have mandatory minimum sentences of 25 years of imprisonment

In addition to prison time and fines, a child sex crime conviction will usually carry the requirement to register as a sex offender. Registration requirements include verifying registration information at least once a year, as well as when moving or visiting somewhere for an extended period. Committing sex crimes against children may also result in an offender being designated a sexual predator, which carries a lifetime registration requirement and other restrictions. 

What Can a Houston Child Sex Crime Defense Attorney Do to Help You Pursue a Favorable Resolution to Your Charges

Being accused of committing sex crimes against a child is a serious situation. Your freedom, reputation, and future are at stake. Get the experienced legal representation you need from a child sex offense lawyer in the City of Houston, TX. When you hire me to represent you in your criminal case, you can expect that I will:

• Provide dedicated, compassionate support through the process, answering questions you have and keeping you updated on the progress of your case
• Thoroughly investigate your charges to obtain evidence that I can use to build an effective defense strategy on your behalf
• Advocate for your rights by filing motions to exclude evidence or statements that were unlawfully obtained from you by the police
• Test the prosecution’s case by moving to reduce or dismiss your charges for insufficient evidence
• Fight for the best possible resolution to your charges, whether that means negotiating a favorable plea agreement to avoid the harshest consequences of conviction, or using my decades of courtroom experience to present a strong, persuasive case in your defense

Contact Chernoff Law to Learn More About Your Rights and Options from a Knowledgeable Child Sex Offense Lawyer in the City of Houston, TX

Don’t leave the outcome of your criminal case to chance. Get experienced legal counsel that can make a difference. Contact me today for a confidential consultation to learn more about what a Houston child sex crime defense attorney can do to help you contest your charges and defend your rights and freedom. 

Houston Child Sex Crime Defense Attorney Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Child Sex Crimes in Houston, TX