Gaithersburg, MD Sex Crimes Lawyer

Attorney Helping Clients Defend Against Sex Crime Convictions in Gaithersburg, Maryland

Criminal charges of all types can be serious, but allegations of sex crimes can be especially problematic. People in these situations may be treated harshly, and they may face long prison sentences and massive fines. When a person is convicted of a sex crime, their penalties will not end when their sentence has been served, since they will then be required to register as a convicted sex offender. Getting legal representation to assist with these charges can help a person ensure that they will be able to address the accusations they are facing correctly.

At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our attorney treats sex crime cases seriously while providing clients with compassionate support. He will sit down with you, listen carefully to your story, explain the charges and penalties you are facing, and guide you through the legal process while advocating for your rights at all times.

Sex Crime Charges in Maryland

There are multiple types of offenses that fall under the category of sex crimes. Some of the most common issues our lawyer helps clients address include:

• Rape and Sexual Offenses: Charges of sexual assault may be based on accusations that a person engaged in intercourse or sexual contact with someone without receiving consent. These charges may also apply in situations where an adult is accused of engaging in sexual activities with a minor. Our attorney can help clients determine how to address these charges, defend against accusations that they acted without consent, and work to prevent a conviction.
• Child Pornography: Offenses involving the creation, distribution, or possession of materials that depict minors engaging in sexual conduct are treated seriously by law enforcement officials and prosecutors. Each image or file that falls under the category of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) can be charged as a separate count of an offense. Our lawyer can address issues related to the use of the internet, shared devices, or accusations that a person intentionally accessed or distributed child pornography.
• Online Solicitation of a Minor: When a person has been accused of communicating with a minor using online chats, email, text messages, or other methods and attempting to engage in illegal sexual activities, serious felony charges may apply. Our attorney can help defend against these accusations and work to prevent a conviction for a child sex crime.
• Prostitution and Solicitation: Engaging in or soliciting sexual services in which one party agrees to pay compensation to the other party could lead to criminal charges for both parties.
• Human Trafficking (Sex Trafficking): Certain types of prostitution offenses could lead to accusations of sex trafficking in which a person allegedly engaged in the sexual exploitation of minors or used fraud, coercion, or force to cause someone to engage in sex work.
• Indecent Exposure: A person who has been accused of exposing their genitals to others and causing offense could face misdemeanor criminal charges. Our lawyer can help clients respond to these accusations and defend against convictions.

Sex Offender Registration

People who are convicted of sex crimes will usually be subject to mandatory registration requirements. Depending on the offense, a person may be classified as a Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III sex offender. The specific tier will determine how long a person will be required to register as a sex offender. Registration periods may last for between 15 years and life.

A person who is a registered sex offender will face limits on where they can live and work. They will be required to regularly check in with law enforcement. Their name and identifying information will be listed in a publicly accessible database. Sex offender registration requirements can place severe limitations on a person's life that will continue to affect them for long after they have served a criminal sentence.

Defense Strategies in Sex Crime Cases

Our lawyer can review the facts of a case, the available evidence, and the procedures followed by law enforcement to determine what steps can be taken to defend against a sex crime conviction. Some strategies that may be available include:

Challenging the Credibility of Accusations

Some allegations of sex crimes may be based on misunderstandings, or personal conflicts may lead people to make false accusations. In other cases, a person may have been arrested because of a mistaken identity. Our attorney will review statements made by witnesses to look for inconsistencies, find reasons why a person may have made false accusations, or challenge the reliability of the claims made against a client.

Consent

In sexual assault cases, the question of consent is one of the most important issues that will be addressed. Our lawyer may take steps to show that a client did not engage in sexual conduct without consent. He can review the full context of the alleged encounter, demonstrate that acts were consensual, and challenge claims made by the prosecution or witnesses.

Fourth Amendment Challenges

Law enforcement officials may use a variety of methods to gather evidence in a case. However, they must respect people's Fourth Amendment rights when doing so. If officers performed searches or seized evidence without obtaining search warrants, our attorney can take steps to suppress any evidence that was obtained through these constitutional violations.

Entrapment

Some sex crime charges may be based on undercover operations conducted by law enforcement. However, there are some situations where officers may encourage, induce, or coerce people into engaging in illegal activity. Our lawyer can review how operations were conducted to determine if entrapment occurred and show that a person would not have committed a crime without being pressured to do so by an officer.

Contact Our Gaithersburg Sex Crimes Attorney

The stakes in a sex crime case can be high, and legal representation from a skilled attorney will be needed to help ensure that a person can defend against a conviction. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, we can provide the legal help you need to defend against serious accusations and avoid severe, long-term penalties. Contact our Gaithersburg, MD sex crimes defense lawyer at 301-762-7500 to set up a free consultation.