Aspen Hill, Maryland Sex Crimes Attorney

Lawyer for Charges of Rape, Prostitution, Online Solicitation, or Other Sex Crimes in Aspen Hill

There are few matters addressed in criminal courts that are as serious as sex crimes. A person convicted of a sex crime may be sentenced to years or decades in prison, and after their release, the requirement to register as a sex offender can place serious limitations on their life. An accusation of a sex crime can cause damage to a person's life, career, relationships, and reputation well before any conviction. Addressing these charges correctly is crucial, and representation from an experienced attorney can help ensure that a person will be able to defend against a conviction.

At Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer can provide the legal help needed to address sex crime charges. He understands the ways these accusations can affect a person's life, and he is dedicated to providing the compassionate representation needed to resolve these matters successfully. He will make sure a person is fully informed about the charges they are facing, the procedures that will be followed during a case, and the options for defense. By answering questions, addressing concerns, guiding a client through the legal process, and making sure they will be prepared to appear in court, he will do everything possible to ease the stress of the criminal process while providing a strong defense.

Sex Crime Charges in Maryland

There are multiple types of offenses that fall under the category of sex crimes, and they will often involve accusations that a person engaged in sexual conduct without receiving consent or was involved in sexual activities related to minors. Our attorney can help clients address charges related to:

Sexual Assault and Rape

A person may be charged with rape if they allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse without receiving consent from the other party. First-degree rape involving the use of force or other aggravating factors can result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Second-degree rape charges may involve allegations of sexual intercourse with a person who could not give consent because they were intoxicated or impaired, and a person who is convicted could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Other forms of sexual conduct that allegedly occurred without consent are known as sexual offenses. Sexual offense charges in the third and fourth degrees may involve sexual contact without consent, as well as certain situations where adults are accused of engaging in sexual conduct with minors. Third-degree sexual offenses are classified as felonies with a maximum sentence of 10 years, while fourth-degree sexual offenses are misdemeanors with a potential sentence of up to one year.

Defense strategies in sexual assault cases may focus on showing that consent was given, questioning whether a suspect had been identified correctly, or challenging the reliability of other evidence. Our lawyer can look at how a sexual assault investigation was conducted, whether evidence was collected and preserved correctly, and whether witness statements are consistent and credible.

Child Pornography

Charges related to child pornography, which is also referred to as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), can be serious, resulting in prosecution at both the state and federal levels. Accusations of possession of CSAM, including photos or videos of minors engaging in sexual conduct or computer-generated materials that appear to depict actual children, may result in misdemeanor charges that carry up to five years in prison for each count of an offense. The charges for producing or distributing CSAM are more serious, and a person may be charged with a felony with a potential sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of an offense.

Child pornography cases will often involve technical evidence. Law enforcement agencies may seize computers or other devices and review a person's online activity. Our attorney can look at the methods used by law enforcement to gather evidence and challenge any searches that violated a person's constitutional rights. He may also take steps to show that a person was unaware of child pornography on their device.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

A person who is accused of communicating with a minor online and attempting to engage in illegal sexual activity may be charged with online solicitation. Undercover law enforcement operations in which officers pose as minors in online chat rooms or messaging platforms may lead to arrests and charges of online solicitation. Our lawyer may be able to defend against these charges by arguing that officers engaged in entrapment or showing that there was no intent to engage in illegal sexual conduct.

Indecent Exposure

A person who is accused of intentionally exposing their genitals or private parts in a public place could face charges of indecent exposure. These charges may be based on actions that caused others to be offended or alarmed, and more serious penalties may apply if minors were present. Defense strategies in these cases may include challenging whether exposure occurred intentionally.

Prostitution and Solicitation

A person who has allegedly engaged in prostitution or a person who is accused of soliciting prostitution may face criminal charges. In many cases, undercover sting operations in which law enforcement officials pose as sex workers or clients will result in arrests and prostitution charges. Our attorney can look at how investigations were conducted, whether entrapment occurred, and whether there is evidence that supports charges of prostitution.

Sex Trafficking

Due to increasing concerns about human trafficking, some people who are arrested for prostitution offenses may face charges of sex trafficking. These allegations may address a wide range of conduct, including the use of force or coercion to cause a person to become involved in the sex trade, transportation or harboring of sex workers, or profiting from involvement in trafficking networks. Our lawyer will take steps to understand the allegations in these cases and challenge the claims made by prosecutors, helping a person avoid the serious penalties of a sex trafficking conviction.

Contact Our Aspen Hill, MD Sex Crimes Lawyer

The stakes in a sex crime case are high. A conviction can result in prison time lasting for years or decades, high fines, and mandatory sex offender registration. Allegations of sex crimes can affect a person's life in many ways, potentially resulting in the loss of a job, the loss of custody of children, and other serious consequences. With legal help from a skilled lawyer, a person can respond to these accusations and build a defense against a conviction for a serious sex crime.

At Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer will provide straightforward advice on how to defend against sex crime charges. He will make sure clients understand the steps followed during the legal process and the best strategies for avoiding a conviction. Contact our Aspen Hill sex crimes defense attorney at 301-762-7500 for a free consultation.