Virginia Sex Crimes Lawyer
If you have been charged with a sex-related crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia, then you are going to need a Virginia sex crimes lawyer on your side during the upcoming legal proceedings. A sex crimes attorney in Virginia will be there to help you mount an effective defense and move past your charges as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Virginia Sex Crimes Charges
- Virginia Rape Lawyer
- Sexual Battery Charges
- Investigations
- Building a Defense
- Arrest Process
Benefits of Working with a Sex Crimes Lawyer
A competent, compassionate criminal defense attorney understands the stressful situation you are in, and can help alleviate your stress by guiding you confidently through every aspect of the legal process. A NoVa sex crimes lawyer can offer you the following:
- A scheduled consultation where he or she sits down with you and goes over the ins and outs of your case
- An advisor who will be on your side from start to finish and an advocate who will speak out to have the charges against you dropped or even dismissed in court
- The insider’s knowledge of an experienced criminal defense attorney practicing in the state of Virginia
The law can be complex and difficult to understand. In the state of Virginia, sex-related crimes are no different. A Virginia sex crimes lawyer can explain your charges to you in full detail, but the following is a basic framework for understanding sex-related charges.
The Elements of a Sex Crime
- Under the Virginia Code, the following are some of the elements which determine the type and severity of sex-related crimes:
- Whether or not the act was sexual in nature
- Whether or not the sexual act was committed without the consent of another, or with someone who cannot legally consent, such as a juvenile or someone who is mentally handicapped
- Whether or not the sexual act was also violent in nature
Actual physical contact is often, but not always, necessary, and most sexual offenses are punishable by mandatory registration on the public Sex Offender Registry.
Common Sex Crimes
The following are examples of several common sex-related crimes in Virginia:
- Rape
- Sexual acts with minors
- Forced sodomy
Under Section 18.2-61, rape is committed in Northern Virginia when a sexual act occurs without someone’s consent or when the alleged victim, even if consenting, is under the age of 13. Crimes involving an alleged victim who is under the age of 13 carry a mandatory minimum punishment of 25 in prison years where the accused is 3 years, or more, older than the victim, and a mandatory minimum life sentence where the accused is at least 18 years old.
Under Section 18.2-63, sexual acts with minors range from a Class 4 misdemeanor (involving consenting minors who are both at least 13 but neither of whom is three years or more older than the other) to a Class 6 felony (involving a consenting minor victim who is at least 13, but not yet 15, and an accused who is LESS than three years older than such consenting minor ) to a Class 4 felony (involving a consenting minor victim who is at least 13, but not yet 15, and an accused who is MORE than three years older than such consenting minor). However, a child under the age of 13 is not considered a consenting minor.
Under Section 18.2-67.1, forcible sodomy is committed when fellatio, cunniligus, anilingus, or anal sex is engaged in without the consent of another or involves a victim under the age of 13, whether consented to or not, and is a felony punishable by 5 years to life in prison.
Work with a Virginia Sex Crimes Lawyer Today
If you have been charged with of one of these serious crimes, or even if you think you are being just being investigated, get the help you need by reaching out and contacting one of our experienced Virginia sex crime attorneys today.