Carnot-Moon, Pennsylvania, is a small suburb of Pittsburgh known for relaxing outdoor activities such as the walking paths at Moon Park.
If you’ve been charged with a sex crime here in Carnot-Moon, you are probably feeling a lot of anxiety about the future. Sex crimes often carry severe penalties on conviction, including fines, prison time, and registration as a sex offender. What can you do to protect yourself from these charges and their consequences?
A sex crimes defense lawyer can investigate the facts of your case and raise every relevant defense to get you the best outcome possible. As frightening as it is to face criminal charges, it is often possible to win an acquittal against a sex crime allegation. An aggressive defense may make it possible for you to get your charges reduced and avoid a longer prison sentence in cases where a conviction occurs.
The first thing you need to do is to schedule a consultation with the experienced criminal defense lawyers at SMT Legal.
SMT Legal is a criminal defense firm serving Carnot-Moon and other Pittsburgh-area communities. If you’ve been charged with a crime in Carnot-Moon, we will provide you with criminal defense based on your many years of experience and successful cases. Contact SMT Legal immediately.
At SMT Legal, we have the experience and the knowledge of criminal defense to handle any kind of sex crime charges. Charges we have frequently defended include:
Distributing or displaying obscene materials to minors, a third-degree felony or first-degree misdemeanor.
Prostitution or solicitation, anything from a third-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
Unlawful contact with a minor, a third-degree felony.
Child pornography, a felony.
Indecent exposure, a first or second-degree misdemeanor.
Indecent assault, a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances.
Sexual assault, a second-degree felony.
Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, a first-degree felony.
Rape, a first-degree felony.
These charges range from relatively minor offenses like prostitution or indecent exposure up to extremely serious charges like rape, which can lead to 20 years or more in prison. Whatever sex crime charges you are facing, you need the help of a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer to present the most vigorous possible defense.
The potential penalties for conviction of a sex crime depend on the nature of the offense. For instance:
For a third-degree misdemeanor like some prostitution or solicitation charges, a court can sentence you to up to a year in prison, with a fine of up to $2,000.
For a second-degree misdemeanor like indecent exposure, a court can sentence you to up to two years in prison, with a fine of up to $5000.
For a first-degree misdemeanor like displaying obscene materials, a court can sentence you to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
For a third-degree felony like unlawful contact with a minor, a court can sentence you to up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
For a second-degree felony like sexual assault, a court can sentence you to up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
For a first-degree felony like rape, a court can sentence you to up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Some sexual offenses can produce even more severe sentences. For example, rape of a child with serious physical injury can be punished with life in prison. Whatever sex crime you’ve been charged with, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight the charge.
If you’re convicted of a sex crime, you will also need to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. After you register with Pennsylvania’s sex offender database, your neighbors and coworkers can look up details of your conviction and your location online. How long you will need to register depends on whether you are classified as a Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III sex offender. Tier I offenders must register for 15 years, while Tier II offenders must register for 25 years and Tier III offenders for the remainder of their lives.
What defense can you make when you are charged with a sexual offense? That depends on the specifics of your case. Common defense strategies in sex crime cases include:
Presenting an alibi showing that you were not there when the crime occurred.
Presenting evidence that you did have consent for any sexual contact.
Arguing that the victim is mistaking you for the person who really committed the crime.
Arguing that the alleged victim is making false allegations against you.
Showing that the police engaged in an illegal search and any evidence they found should be thrown out.
Proving that evidence was mishandled.
Presenting the jury with extenuating circumstances that may modify their view of the case.
Arguing that you did not intend to have sexual contact with a minor but were legitimately mistaken about their age. This defense is not allowed in most states, but Pennsylvania does allow it under some circumstances.
Whatever defense strategy your lawyer decides to use, the goal is always to win an acquittal or get the charges against you dismissed. In some cases, when an acquittal is not likely, a strong defense can still convince a prosecutor to reduce the charges against you or to reduce the possible penalties if you agree to plead guilty. It’s always your choice whether you want to accept a deal from the prosecutor, but your criminal defense attorney can help you decide if it’s a good idea in your case.
Your first reaction to being charged with a sex crime was probably a combination of shock and fear. Don’t let that sense of shock paralyze you into doing nothing. You need to defend yourself against these charges, and the first step in that process is to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer.
A lawyer familiar with Pennsylvania and federal sex crime laws can explain the charges you’re facing, the penalties you are likely to receive if you’re convicted, and your chances of beating the charges by winning a dismissal or an acquittal. Your criminal defense lawyer can investigate the details of your case, develop a strong defense strategy, and represent you in court or in negotiations with prosecutors.
SMT Legal is a criminal defense law firm serving Carnot-Moon, Pennsylvania. If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in Carnot-Moon, don’t delay. Contact SMT Legal today for your free consultation.
To find our offices located at 114 Smithfield St. in Pittsburgh, you can use the following directions:
Take I-279 S toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 2A for Fort Duquesne Blvd. Merge onto Fort Duquesne Blvd, then turn right onto Sixth Ave. Continue onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.
Take I-79 N and merge onto I-376 E toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 71A for Grant St. Merge onto Grant St, then turn left onto Sixth Ave. Turn right onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.
Take I-376 W toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 71A for Grant St. Merge onto Grant St, then turn left onto Sixth Ave. Turn right onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.
Take I-376 E toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 69C for Stanwix St. Merge onto Fort Pitt Blvd, then turn left onto Stanwix St. Turn right onto Fourth Ave, then turn left onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your left.
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