Phoenix Child Molestation Defense Attorney

Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1410(A), a person commits Molestation of a Child by intentionally or knowingly engaging in or causing a person to engage in sexual contact, except for sexual contact with the female breast, with a child who is under 15 years of age. This is a serious crime in Arizona with strict penalties that could change your life forever. If you’ve been accused, contact our Phoenix child molestation defense attorneys immediately.

Why Choose Us?

• We are a team of highly experienced child sex crime defense attorneys in Arizona.
• Our attorneys take an aggressive approach to criminal defense law for optimal results.
• We have a proven track record of successfully defending a variety of criminal cases.
• Your lawyer will personalize your defense strategy based on your situation, needs and goals.
• We offer free initial case consultations and answer phone calls 24/7.

How a Child Molestation Defense Attorney Can Help

 Facing criminal charges for an offense as serious as child molestation can be extremely stressful and frustrating. We understand what you’re going through at AZ Defenders and are here to provide high-quality defense services. Hiring a child molestation defense attorney in Phoenix can come with many benefits and advantages for you as a client, including:

• Personalized attention from a knowledgeable attorney, as well as a customized legal strategy for your specific criminal background and case elements.
• Critical protection of your rights and best interests during interrogations from law enforcement officers or investigators to avoid coerced confessions or self-incrimination.
• Access to important resources, such as experts, forensic investigators and other professionals to strengthen your case and offer counter-testimony against the prosecutor’s expert witnesses.
• A full review of the facts of your case to search for issues such as improper lab processes, procedural violations and errors in the chain of custody of evidence.
• Smart and aggressive negotiations with the prosecution to reduce the charges and penalties against you and representation during a criminal trial in Maricopa County.

 Contact a criminal defense lawyer near you as soon as possible after being arrested for molestation of a child. It is important to act immediately, even before your arraignment hearing, for optimal legal protection. Your attorney can provide counsel, advice and guidance from the very beginning to craft a stronger defense overall.

What is Child Molestation?

Sexual molestation and child molestation crimes carry significant, life altering charges if convicted. In the state of Arizona, these crimes are taken very seriously. According to Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1410, the crime of child molestation is defined as knowingly or intentionally engaging in sexual contact with a child under the age of 15. This can refer to many different acts, including fondling, touching, exhibitionism, voyeurism, penetration, rape and statutory rape.

“Sexual contact” is defined by Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1401(A)(3) as any direct or indirect touching, fondling, or manipulating of any part of the genitals, anus, or female beast by any part of the body or by an object or causing a person to engage in such contact. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1404, it is considered child abuse (not molestation of a child) to engage in sexual contact with a person under 15 years of age if the contact involves only the female breast.

Arizona also has a crime known as sexual exploitation of a child under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3553. This law makes it a crime to knowingly record, film, photograph, develop or duplicate any visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexual conduct or exploitative exhibition. It is also against the law to distribute, sell, purchase, possess or electronically transmit this material. This crime is a Class 2 Felony if the minor is under the age of 15.

What Are the Penalties for Molestation of a Child in Arizona?

Molestation of a Child is a class two felony that is punishable pursuant to the Dangerous Crimes Against Children statute, Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1410, and if you are convicted you face between 10 and 24 calendar years in prison.  A calendar year is “flat time,” meaning that you are not eligible for release before you serve every day of the sentence.  Probation is not possible if you are convicted of Molestation of a Child

If you are convicted of Molestation of a Child then you will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. This means your name will be added to the Arizona Sex Offender Registry, where it will remain visible to the public. Once you are on this list, you will have special requirements and restrictions, including rules about where you can live. You will also be disqualified from jobs involving children.

Potential Defenses to Child Molestation Charges

When you are potentially facing a huge prison sentence and registration as a sex offender, you should be represented by attorneys with the knowledge and experience to defend your Molestation of a Child case.  The Phoenix criminal defense attorneys at AZ Defenders will aggressively and effectively find any weakness in the government’s case against you and utilize the best defenses to ensure the best possible outcome for you.  Every criminal case is different, especially so when a sex crime is charged, but some defenses that AZ Defenders have successfully used to defend our clients include:

• Challenging the alleged victim’s account of what happened through cross examination
• Using experts to counter the government’s own child sexual abuse expert
• Mitigation using psychosexual risk assessments and polygraphs
• Suppression of statements due to violations of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution (involuntary or coerced confessions; right to counsel violations; Miranda violations)
• Suppression of physical evidence illegally seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Challenging whether an area touched constitutes “genitals” under the statute, as it is not defined in Arizona law
• Raising the lack of sexual interest defense

You shouldn’t face spending a large amount of time in prison and registration as a sex offender without speaking with the Phoenix child molestation defense attorneys at AZ Defenders to figure out how to best defend your Molestation of a Child case.

Contact Us Today for a Free Criminal Defense Case Review in Phoenix

If you or a loved one has recently been accused of child molestation, child sexual abuse, exploitation of a child, child pornography or other sex crimes involving minors, contact AZ Defenders without delay. Our child molestation defense attorneys in Phoenix can help you understand your rights and protect them during this difficult time. With so much at stake, trust your case in the hands of experienced trial lawyers who will have your best interests in mind from the start. Request a free case evaluation today by calling (480) 680-7217 or contacting us online 24/7.