Sex Offenses

Under Pennsylvania law, sex offenses are treated as very serious crimes and often you face felony charges as a result of being accused of a sex offense. Not only does Pennsylvania law take sex crimes seriously, but the federal government also has a variety of laws related to illegal sexual acts. This means you could potentially face either state or federal charges when you have been accused of a sex offense.

With the potential for long jail sentences, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and immense public embarrassment and damage to your reputation, it is extremely important that you get qualified legal help whenever you are accused of sex offenses.

At the Pennsylvania criminal defense firm of Lawrence R. Dworkin, we have successfully represented many accused sex offenders, helping them to avoid conviction or to lessen the severity of the potential penalties that they face. To learn more about how we can help you if you are accused of a sex offense, contact us today.

Pennsylvania Laws on Sex Offenses

There are many different Pennsylvania and federal laws related to sex offenses. These laws prevent behaviors such as rape and unwanted or forced sexual touching. They also prevent engaging in any type of sexual relations with minors who are too young to give consent. Even the possession of certain types of pornography can give rise to federal and/or state charges. For instance, some examples of the types of behavior that may be considered sex offenses include:

• Internet child pornography. Possessing, making, distributing, trading or otherwise being involved in any way with child pornography is illegal under both federal law and state law.
• Child molestation. Unwanted sexual touching of a child is illegal, as is forcing a child to touch your genitals or sexual organs. Child molestation can be considered a criminal offense even when the unwanted touching occurs over clothing, and consent is never a defense to child molestation.
• Rape. Rape refers to forcing unwanted sexual penetration using the sexual organs or with any other object for non-medical purposes. There are different types of rape with different consequences. For instance, statutory rape (engaging in sex with someone underage) is not considered to be as serious an offense as using a weapon to force sexual intercourse on an unwilling party).
• Indecent assault. Indecent assault is a special type of assault charge outlined in 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. section 3126, which defines the offense as engaging in “indecent contact” without consent or by using force or threats.

These are just some examples of the types of crimes defined as sex offenses under Pennsylvania and/or federal law. If you are accused of these offenses or any related crimes, it is in your best interests to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer right away. Your lawyer will do everything possible within the bounds of the law to help you avoid conviction. For example, your lawyer may help you to raise defenses including consent, lack of intentional wrongdoing, false accusations or false memory.

To learn more about possible defenses when you are charged with sex crimes, or for assistance either defending yourself or negotiating a plea bargain, contact the Pennsylvania criminal defense law firm of Lawrence R. Dworkin online or at 610-357-3506 as soon as possible after you have been accused of a sex offense.