Sex Crimes and Offenses

Statutory Rape: Texas law defines statutory rape as illegal sexual activity with a child under the age of 17. In addition, there are laws that specify age restrictions for sexual relations between a minor and a person of authority (teacher, coach, tutor, pastor, police officer, etc.). If the child is under the age of 14, the crime is much more serious. These laws can vary and are generally case-specific; statutory rape charges can be raised by the state, but are most often raised by the parents of the victim.

Date Rape: Date rape is defined as forcible sexual intercourse during a voluntary social engagement in which a person resists the sexual advances of the other party and does not intend to submit.

Prostitution, Solicitation, and Pandering: Prostitution can be considered a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the specific offense. It is defined as the sale of sexual services (oral sex, sexual intercourse, etc.) for money. It is also considered a crime to hire someone to perform sexual acts for monetary compensation (solicitation).

Lewd Acts, Lascivious Conduct, and Indecent Exposure: These crimes are generally charged as misdemeanors; they involve pornography, exposure of the genitals in public areas, and engaging in sexual acts in public areas.

Child Pornography: This is defined as any visual image depicting minors (under the age of legal consent) in explicit sexual activity. In some states, advocacy of child pornography is itself a form of child pornography. Any possession of child pornography is illegal.

Child Enticement: An attempt to entice, tempt, lure, or persuade a child to enter, leave, or stay in a confined space (building, vehicle, or place) if done by force or with the intent to commit rape, battery, lascivious acts, indecent exposure, lewd acts, or any other sexual offense.

Child Exploitation: This encompasses a wide variety of offenses, including the employment, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of a child to perform in indecent shows or obscene exhibitions, whether live or on film, or to pose in obscene or pornographic materials. This also encompasses the selling or distribution of such materials.

Child Abuse: Any harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or mistreatment by a parent, legal guardian, authority figure, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare.

Sexual Abuse: Any illegal sexual act performed by an adult against a minor. This term is usually applied to physical contact not amounting to rape and is generally separated into degrees according to the nature and specific circumstances of the contact.

Spousal Abuse: Any sexual, psychological, or physical abuse perpetuated by one spouse upon another.

Sexual Assault: Any unwanted sexual contact or attention achieved by force, threats, bribes, manipulation, pressure, or violence. It may be physical or non-physical and includes rape, attempted rape, incest, child molestation, and sexual harassment.

Molestation: The act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity, or the act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks, criticism, persecution, or harassment.

Child Molestation: Any sexual or indecent activity involving a child and an adult, including incest and extra-familial sexual contact.

Sexual Harassment: Any repeated, unwanted behavior of a sexual nature perpetrated upon an employee by an employer, co-worker, or group of co-workers. Sexual harassment can be verbal, visual, written, or physical. Sexual harassment may take the form of demanding sexual favors as a requirement for employment or subjecting an employee to unjust pressure, intimidation, ridicule, mockery, or insult because of his or her sex, whether or not the harassing conduct is sexual in nature.

Failure to Register: Failure to register as a convicted sex offender with the appropriate authorities.

If you have been charged with any of these offenses, you need to retain a skilled criminal defense lawyer immediately.The attorneys at Marshall Law PC have an extensive track record of successful outcomes in sexual offense cases. We are committed to protecting our clients' rights and achieving the best possible results. Contact our office today for a free evaluation of your case.