Virginia Sex Crime Lawyer

Let us fight your criminal charges in court. As a Virginia sex crime lawyer, I can fight your charges in court and defend your legal rights.

read important information related to the Virginia sex crime lawyer listed below:

Charges

According to the Virginia code, the law has listed different kinds of sexual offenses from section 18.2-61 through section 18.2-67.10. Sex Crimes are charged as either misdemeanor or felony offenses. 

Misdemeanors are the lesser offenses, and felonies are more severe with more severe fines and penalties. 

Misdemeanor sex crimes include sexual battery, public masturbation or simulated masturbation, and indecent exposure. 

Sexual battery is the touching of another in a sexually intimate location without consent; repeat sexual battery can cause someone to be registered on the sex offender registry. 

Misdemeanors are typically punishable by up to 12 months in prison, a $2,500 fine, or a combination of the two. 

Felony sex crimes are far more seriously punished in Virginia.  Felony sex crimes include aggravated sexual battery.  Aggravated sexual battery is essentially sexual battery directed towards a child of 13 years or younger. 

Aggravated sexual battery can also be established if a weapon was involved or if there was a family relation between the victim and the perpetrator. 

Aggravated sexual battery is a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison and up to a $200,000 fine.

Rape

Rape is the prototypical sex crime.  Rape is forcing someone to have sexual intercourse without the consent of the victim. 

Statutory rape is sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 13; this is any sexual intercourse at all.  Rape in Virginia is punished with a prison sentence of 5 years to life.

Prostitution

In Virginia, prostitution is the performance or solicitation of sexual acts for money or some stand-in for money.  This stand-in is usually a drug or some service in exchange. 

The crime of performing prostitution is a class 1 misdemeanor.  Like other class 1 misdemeanors, prostitution is punishable with up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. The greater crime is soliciting prostitution. 

Soliciting prostitution normally is also a class 1 misdemeanor.  However, soliciting prostitution of a minor 16 or older is a class 6 felony. 

Class 5 felonies are punishable with 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. 

Soliciting prostitution of a minor under the age of 16 is a class 5 felony.  This greater offense is punishable with a maximum of 10 years in prison or 1 year and a $2,500 fine.

When prostitution crosses state lines, it becomes a federal crime.

Child Pornography 

Child pornography is sexually explicit visual material where the subject is a child under the age of 18. 

Virginia courts have defined visual material broadly to include movies, pictures, sculptures, and more. 

Sexually explicit includes such things as nudity, sexual conduct, and other sexually driven themes imagery.

Child pornography is a federal crime as well.  If someone is made aware that they are under federal investigation for child pornography, it is more than likely that they have been under federal investigation for quite some time already. 

Federal investigative agencies can gain access to Internet Service Providers (ISP) and through them can gain a person’s IP address. 

Once probable cause has been established, federal agents can obtain a warrant to search a person’s home, papers, and effects.

Federal child pornography sentences have a great range.  Possession of Child Pornography can result in 10 to 20 years of jail time. 

Receiving or distributing child pornography through any system of interstate commerce is punishable with 5 to 20 years of jail time. 

First offenses for the production of child pornography are punishable with 15 to 30 years in prison. 

Repeated offenses 25 to 50 years in prison or a minimum of 35 years to life for a third offense.

Why You Should Get a Virginia Sex Crime Lawyer?

Virginia takes sex crimes incredibly seriously.  Even being charged with a sex crime can ruin your employment potential, public reputation, and how your own family looks at you. 

Being convicted can cost you rights and privileges. 

In addition to huge fines and potentially years of jail time, sex crime convictions can lead to mandatory registration as a sex offender. 

If you are facing sex crime charges in Virginia, you need a skilled Virginia Sex Crime Lawyer to plead your best case to avoid these life-changing and daunting penalties.