Atlanta Sex Crimes Attorney

Getting convicted of a sex crime can ruin your life. Not only are you facing a lengthy prison sentence and possible fines, you might also have to register as a sex offender.  Being labeled a sex offender can also affect where you work and live. If you or a family member have been charged with a sex crime, you will need a skilled and experienced Atlanta sex crimes lawyer to stand a chance at avoiding the harsh consequences of a conviction.

When people think of sex crimes, they mostly think of rape. But in Georgia, you could get charged with a sex crime for a wide range of conduct, such as exposing yourself near a school, inappropriately touching a coworker, or texting nude pictures to a minor. If law enforcement contacts you about your alleged sexual misconduct, you should exercise your right to remain silent and call a lawyer immediately.

Common sex crimes in Georgia

• Child Molestation:

  • Does any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with any child under the age of 16 years old with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person; or
  • Uses an electronic device to send images of a person engaging in any immoral or indecent act to a child under the age of 16 years old with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person.
  • Penalties: 5 to 20 years (first offense); 10 to 30 years or life (second offense)
  • Exception:  If the victim is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of child molestation is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, then it’s a misdemeanor

•  Aggravated Child Molestation:

  • an act of child molestation that physically injures the child or involves an act of sodomy.
  • Penalties: 25 to life

• Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes:

  • solicits, entices, or takes any child under the age of 16 years to any place whatsoever for the purpose of child molestation or indecent acts.
  • Penalties: 10 to 30 years
  • Exception:  If the victim is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of child molestation is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, then it’s a misdemeanor

•  Pandering:

  • solicits a person to perform an act of prostitution on his or her own behalf or on behalf of a third person

•  Rape:

  • commits sexual act against a female’s will or the female is less than 2 years old; marriage is not a defense
  • Penalties: death, life in prison with or without parole, or 25 to life

•  Statutory Rape:

  • sex with a person under the age of 16 years old and the alleged victim is not the accused’s spouse; must be corroborated
  • Penalties: 1 to 20 years but if the accused is 21 years or older then 1o to 20 years
  •   Exception:  If the victim is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of child molestation is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, then it’s a misdemeanor

• Aggravated Sexual Battery:

  • intentionally penetrates with a foreign object the sexual organ or anus of another person without the person’s consent
  • Penalties: life or 25 to life

• Sexual Battery:

  • A person commits the offense of sexual battery when he or she intentionally makes physical contact with the “intimate parts” (genital area, anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks of a male or female and the breasts of a female) of the body of another person without their consent
  •   Penalties: if the victim is under the age of 16 or it’s a second conviction, then it’s 1 to 5 years
  • Penalties: 10 to 30 years
  • Exception:  If the victim is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of child molestation is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, then it’s a misdemeanor
  • Pandering: solicits a person to perform an act of prostitution on his or her own behalf or on behalf of a third person

•  Rape:

  • commits sexual act against a female’s will or the female is less than 2 years old; marriage is not a defense
  • Penalties: death, life in prison with or without parole, or 25 to life

• Statutory Rape:

  • sex with a person under the age of 16 years old and the alleged victim is not the accused’s spouse; must be corroborated
  •   Penalties: 1 to 20 years but if the accused is 21 years or older then 1o to 20 years
  • Exception:  If the victim is at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of child molestation is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, then it’s a misdemeanor

•  Aggravated Sexual Battery:

  • intentionally penetrates with a foreign object the sexual organ or anus of another person without the person’s consent
  • Penalties: life or 25 to life

• Sexual Battery:

  • A person commits the offense of sexual battery when he or she intentionally makes physical contact with the “intimate parts” (genital area, anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks of a male or female and the breasts of a female) of the body of another person without their consent
  • Penalties: if the victim is under the age of 16 or it’s a second conviction, then it’s 1 to 5 years