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If you or a loved one is facing any kind of sexual offense charge, contact a skilled Phoenix sex crimes lawyer at AZ Defenders. We are available 24/7 to take your call and will take the action needed to defend your freedom.
Whether you are facing charges related to sexual offenses, allegations involving a minor, or any other serious criminal accusation, our legal team is prepared to help. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and registration requirements that can profoundly affect your future. Protect your rights with experienced legal counsel and a strong defense strategy.
Give our Phoenix law firm a call at (480) 456-6400 or contact us online to learn more about your legal rights after being charged with a sex crime.
AZ Defenders are established members of the Arizona legal community, with excellent reputations for dedicated service to our clients. Our Phoenix criminal defense attorneys bring focused, strategic representation to every case. With more than 100 years of combined experience in Arizona’s criminal justice system, we are committed to thoroughly investigating every allegation and pursuing the strongest possible defense on your behalf.
A conviction for a sexual offense in Arizona carries serious legal consequences, including mandatory registration requirements and potential limitations on employment and housing. Because the stakes are high, it is essential to work with a defense attorney who understands these cases and can ensure that only the facts are considered in your case.
If you are facing criminal charges in Maricopa County, you need aggressive Phoenix sex crimes lawyers with knowledge of how to develop a compelling defense case.
Arizona prosecutors are aggressive in seeking criminal convictions. The sex crimes attorneys at AZ Defenders have been working in the criminal justice system for years and have successfully defended many difficult Arizona sex crime cases. We are trial lawyers and criminal defense attorneys who are passionate and dedicated, and take on sex crime charges with top-level legal skills and experience.
There are several different charges classified as sexual offenses crimes in Arizona. Depending on the act and the age of the alleged victim, a conviction for a sexual offense charge could result in significant fines, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and a long prison term. If you are facing sex crime charges, from child pornography to sexual misconduct, contact a Phoenix sex crimes attorney at the law firm of AZ Defenders for a free consultation on your case. We are available 24/7 to take your call.
Arizona identifies the following offenses as sex crimes:
Under Arizona law, indecent exposure involves the intentional display of certain parts of the body in a public setting under circumstances likely to cause alarm or offense. This offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances, including the age of any witnesses.
Arizona law prohibits the creation, distribution, or possession of exploitative material involving anyone under the age of 18. This is a Class 2 felony carrying severe mandatory prison sentences.
This offense involves engaging in certain sexual acts in the presence of others who would reasonably find the conduct offensive. Penalties vary based on the specific circumstances and the ages of any individuals involved.
It is an offense to knowingly engage in prostitution. Prostitution means to agree to, engage in, or offer to engage in sexual activity with any person for money or other valuable considerations. Solicitation for prostitution is also a crime in Arizona.
This is a serious felony involving sexual contact with a child under the age of 15. Convictions carry mandatory prison time and lifetime registration requirements.
Arizona’s sexual abuse law defines this crime as the intentional or knowing sexual engagement with someone without that person’s consent.
This is the crime of engaging in oral sexual contact or sexual intercourse knowingly with someone under the age of 18.
Sexual assault is the crime of knowingly or intentionally engaging in oral sexual contact or sexual intercourse with any person without that person’s consent.
Knowingly invading someone’s privacy without that person’s knowledge or consent for the intent of sexual stimulation. This can include recording or photographing someone without that person’s permission.
This is not a full list of the sex crime cases we handle at the law firm of AZ Defenders. Our Phoenix sex crimes attorneys have decades of experience defending clients against all types of sex crimes. We know how these cases work, which laws apply, and what defendants need in terms of defense strategies.
No matter what allegations someone has brought against you, please contact us for a free—and 100% confidential—initial consultation about your specific case. We can talk you through the statutes that might apply to your criminal case. We may also offer to represent you as your criminal defense attorneys during a trial in Arizona.
Arizona law defines and delineates sex-related crimes. These laws were intentionally drafted broadly to cover many types of conduct. The penalties for individuals convicted of these crimes vary depending on the accused person’s criminal history and the age of the victim.
If the victim is under the age of 15, then the penalties are far more severe, including a prison sentence of several years, up to life imprisonment. Under Arizona law, when the victim is under 15, the crime is deemed a Dangerous Crime Against Children offense, triggering some of the harshest sentencing consequences across the country. Arizona is known for having the toughest sex offense laws when compared to other states.
The penalties for the sexual offense of rape, for example, can include up to 14 years in prison. Sexual assault is classified as a Class 2 felony under ARS § 13-1406 and can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Penalties increase with prior convictions — up to 21 years for one prior offense and up to 28 years for two or more. Aggravating factors, such as the use of incapacitating substances or infliction of serious physical harm, can result in significantly longer sentences, including 25 years to life.
A sexual assault conviction such as for rape will also come with mandatory sex offender registration. This is one example of how the circumstances of the crime and case can increase the penalties a defendant will face upon conviction.
Exacerbating factors such as the victim being a minor, a past record of other sexual assault convictions, or bodily injuries to the victim can lead to much worse criminal consequences than the basic crime alone. Most other sexual offenses in Arizona also come with penalties such as jail time or prison time, fines, sex offender registration, and probation.
To learn more about the penalties for sex crimes in Arizona, speak with a knowledgeable sex crime lawyer in Phoenix.
A sex crime conviction of any kind is a serious matter that could result in severe penalties and deeply affect your life. A conviction can have lasting effects on your career, housing options, personal relationships, and public record. Understanding the potential consequences is an important reason to seek experienced legal representation early in the process.
The Phoenix sex crimes lawyers at AZ Defenders can work hard to achieve an acquittal or minimize the penalties you face during a sex crime case in Arizona. We can do this by tailoring a strong defense strategy specifically to your case.
One of the most serious consequences of a sex crime conviction is the sex offender registration requirement. Arizona makes it mandatory to add your name to the list of registered sexual offenders as someone who receives a certain type of sex crime conviction. This is a list that will be accessible to different parties at will, meaning they can search and find your name on a list of registered sex offenders.
Being on this list has several severe consequences. First, registration can be ordered for life. Second, you would be disallowed from having contact with minors under 18. Third, some offenders cannot use either the internet or visit family members with minors in the house without prior approval. Overall, registration alters a person’s life in many ways.
Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 13-3821 contains a list of sex crimes that will lead to mandatory sex offender registration in the state:
Upon your release from jail or prison, the state will assess your risk level on a scale of one to three. One is the lowest level of risk and three is the highest. Your risk level will determine who will receive notifications of your registration on the sex offender list when you return to the general population.
As someone convicted of one of the above-listed sex crimes in Arizona (except for cases involving the insanity defense), you must register your name on the state’s Sex Offender Registry within 10 days after the conviction or within 10 days after entering the State of Arizona.
You may register by contacting the police of your county. If you move or change your name, you must notify the police of the change within 72 hours, excluding public holidays. Violating Arizona’s sex offender registration requirement is a Class 4 felony, punishable with hefty fines and/or a jail sentence.
To protect your rights and seek the best outcome for the charges against you, a skilled defense attorney at the law firm of AZ Defenders will fully investigate and challenge the sex crime allegations in the state’s case. Our work on your behalf could make all the difference to the outcome of your Phoenix sex crime case, as well as to your future.
We will use proven defense tactics to reduce the charges against you, receive a case dismissal, achieve an acquittal, or lighten the penalties you might face. Your unique strategy will depend on the circumstances. Some of the defense strategies that could achieve a positive case outcome include:
The goals of most sex crime defenses in Arizona are to demonstrate the lack of credibility of the prosecution’s evidence, undermine the prosecution’s witnesses, or prove the defendant’s innocence.
The right sex crime lawyer in Phoenix can explore all plausible defense options in your case, from illegal search to insufficient evidence to find the strongest choice. Then, your lawyer can take aggressive and proactive steps toward proving your stance, including filing motions, subpoenaing witnesses and evidence, moving for a case dismissal, working out a plea deal, and/or discrediting the false allegations against you.
Regardless of the type of sexual offense that you have been charged with, we will pursue the most favorable outcome possible and ensure that you are fully apprised of every development in your case.
Don’t settle for a public defender, call the Phoenix sex crimes defense lawyers at AZ Defenders today for a free initial consultation on your case. Our legal team is available to take your call 24/7 at (480) 456-6400. Or, if you prefer, you can contact us online to make an inquiry or to set up a free consultation.
“Craig and his team are the very best!!! I very much recommend him. He is very knowledgeable in the arena that he works in. He achieves a very high level of respect from his peers and does get great results.”
– Tom H.
Individual results may vary. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.