Sex crimes include rape, child molesting, and sexual misconduct with a minor. Sex crimes carry serious penalties and obtaining legal representation early in the case can make a substantial difference in the outcome. A charge of child molesting carries a penalty of up to 50 years in prison. Charges of rape and sexual misconduct with a minor carry a penalty range up to 20 years in prison. Plea Agreements in sex crimes almost always involve substantial time in prison and require being registered as a sex offender. In any sex crime, it is important to retain a criminal attorney with significant jury trial experience. An experienced criminal attorney can challenge the evidence in a sex crime, including taking the deposition of the State’s witnesses to challenge their allegations.

Evidence and Polygraph Examinations

Sex crimes may involve forensic evidence, such as DNA or a rape kit; or, the evidence may merely consist of the alleged victim’s statement. Police investigations into sex crimes almost always begin with an attempt to get the accused to submit to a polygraph examination. Although polygraph examinations are generally not admissible in court and are highly unreliable, police will try to persuade an accused person that the polygraph is a way to prove their innocence. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you are accused or charged with a sex crime, you should never submit to a polygraph examination. It is almost never in the best interest of a person accused of a sex crime to give a statement at any time prior to a trial.