Helping Clients with Their Legal Challenges for over 30 Years
More than 10,000 People Helped
185 Jury Trials Handled- The Experience of a Former Prosecutor
Highly Recommended by Peers & Past Clients
Free Initial Consultations
Helping Clients with Their Legal Challenges for over 30 Years
More than 10,000 People Helped
185 Jury Trials Handled
The Experience of a Former Prosecutor
Highly Recommended by Peers & Past Clients
Free Initial Consultations
Get Help from a Sex Crimes Defense Attorney
Depend on our Knowledge and Experience.
In the state of Florida, sexual offenses are some of the most extreme and harshly prosecuted crimes.
State law provides for strict and life-altering penalties for anyone convicted of this type of crime. If you are charged with a sex crime, you not only face legal penalties but stigma, too.
Sexual offense convictions may limit your housing and employment opportunities now and in the future and may hurt your reputation in the community, as well. Because of the impact these charges can have on your life, if you are facing a sex-based charge, you need to contact our experienced sex crimes defense attorney at Taracks & Associates.
When you hire our sex crimes defense lawyer, you can feel confident that we will defend you in and out of court. Our goal is to help protect your legal rights throughout the legal process while working tirelessly to defend your reputation. The first step is to contact our Tampa sex crimes attorney to schedule an initial consultation by calling (813) 990-0599.
The Sexual Offender Registry in Florida
If you are convicted of a sexual offense, you may face consequences that last a lifetime, even after you serve time in prison or complete other penalties. One of the most serious and challenging consequences of being convicted of a sexual offense in Florida is the requirement that you must register on the state’s sex offender list.
It’s worth noting that not all people who are convicted of a sexual offense will be on this registry. While this is true, since Florida works to aggressively prosecute sexual crimes, if you are convicted, part of your punishment may be the mandatory requirement to register as a sexual offender. This is especially common if you don’t hire a lawyer to help with your sex crimes defense.
Because of this, we recommend getting in touch with our Tampa sex crimes lawyer right away after you are accused of this. They can help with each step of the process, from the investigation and arrest charge to your defense, and help you achieve lower penalties or consequences. The best way to deal with these charges is by hiring an experienced attorney. We will help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case, regardless of whether you are dealing with a sexual battery charge, lewd and lascivious conduct, or something else.
Hiring our attorneys means that you have someone on your side who will help you avoid a conviction and the serious penalties that go with it. If possible, we will also help to get the charges dismissed or lowered.
Potential Penalties for Sex Crimes in Florida
The severity of the crime you are accused of determines the potential penalties that you will face. For some sex crimes, it is mandatory that you register on the sexual offender list for the state. Some of the other potential penalties in these cases include:
- Time in prison
- Significant fines
- Probation
- Payment of court fees and costs
- Involuntary commitment to a treatment program.
Each of these penalties can have lasting negative consequences. In some cases, if you are convicted of a Florida sex crime, you will face several penalties that impact your life now and in the coming years.
The best way you can avoid being convicted of a sex crime and these severe penalties is to get in touch with our sex crime attorneys at Taracks & Associates.
While it’s not possible to guarantee that we will help you get a “not guilty” verdict, you can count on our legal team to fight aggressively to help you avoid a conviction that results in your having to register for the Florida sex offender list.
Types of Offenses Our Legal Team Can Defend Against
Florida state laws define an array of sexual offenses that range from misdemeanors to felonies.
Regardless of the charge you are facing; you can count on our attorneys to defend you against any sex crime charge. Some of the cases we commonly handle include:
- Sexual battery (FSS § 794.011)
- Child pornography (FSS § 775.0847)
- Sex crimes against children (FSS § 794.011 and 794.05)
- Failure to register as a sex offender (FSS § 943.0435(2))
- Rape (FSS § 794.005-794.09)
- Lewd or lascivious offenses (FSS § 800.04)
- Internet sex crimes (FSS § 847.0135(3)(a) and (3)(b))
No matter what type of charge you are facing, you can count on our Florida sex crime attorneys to help you build a strong defense. The law provides rights to everyone, no matter what crime they are charged with. The rights will limit how the police can investigate the crime and the way that prosecutors can present evidence against you.
Potential Legal Defenses for a Florida Sex Crime Charge
Each case is unique. The way our legal team pursues your case depends on unique factors and circumstances. We will work with you to figure out the best course of action for the situation. The goal is to help prove your innocence after you enter a not-guilty plea; negotiate a plea deal arrangement if you plead no contest or guilty to achieve a reduced sentence; or plead no contest, where you aren’t admitting guilt, but you also aren’t fighting the charges. Every plea carries unique consequences, and we will ensure that you fully understand what these are before your case goes to court.
Entering a Not-Guilty Plea
If you choose to plead not guilty, our team will work to show that you are innocent of the crime you were accused of in several ways. Sometimes, this includes putting holes in the victim’s story, showing issues for a false accusation, showcasing your alibi, building a case for mistaken identity, showing there was consent, proving you were acting under diminished capacity when the situation occurred, or finding procedural mistakes made by the prosecution or police in the investigation and arrest.
Working to Negotiate a Plea Deal
In some situations, it’s smart to arrange with the prosecuting attorney to create a plea deal. Usually, this will include your pleading no contest or guilty to the accusations against you to receive a reduced sentence. This can help to reduce the impact of a trial for everyone who is involved, which includes your family. There are some situations where our clients find this an effective option to avoid the requirement to register as a Florida sex offender, too.
Entering a No-Contest Plea
If you enter a plea of no-contest, it can be helpful if you are willing to just accept the facts of your case and situation but don’t want to admit that you are guilty. If you decide to plead no contest, you can avoid going to trial if the judge is willing to accept the plea and the ruling can’t be used or held against you during future proceedings.
FAQs
When it comes to sex crimes in Florida, it’s not unusual to have questions. Our legal team is here to answer all questions you have about these crimes and how they may impact your life. Here we have answered some of the most common questions our legal team is asked.
A person is considered a sex offender and required to register for Florida’s sex offender list if they meet one of the established criteria. If you are unsure if the charges you are facing will require you to file as a sex offender, it’s smart to speak to an attorney. They can provide more information on your charge and the potential penalties you face.
For someone to be classified as a sexual predator in the state of Florida, they must be convicted for some type of offense that is sexually violent. The court must have imposed this designation.
Additionally, a sexual predator is someone who meets the standards of the Florida Sexually Violent Predator Act. The individual must also have a court order that designates the person as a sexual predator.
There are several offenses that are sex crimes in Florida. This includes child pornography, child molestation, sexual battery, and internet sex crimes.
Very possibly, without quality legal assistance. Many people who have been accused of a sex crime are good people. They have jobs and pay their taxes. They often don’t have any prior criminal activity, either. Unfortunately, it takes just one mistake or one misunderstanding to result in a serious and life-changing criminal charge. You can count on our legal team to do everything possible to help reduce the consequences that you face because of a criminal charge.
If you are charged with a sex crime, it will come with an extensive list of consequences that go beyond just time in jail. When you are registered as a sex offender, this can limit where you can live, who will hire you, and whether you can qualify for some loans.
Most sex crime cases that occur in the state of Florida will be tried in state courts. However, in some more serious situations, where there are several states involved, sex crimes may fall under federal jurisdiction. For example, if you cross the state line and have the intent to engage in some type of sexual activity with a minor child, then it would be charged as a federal sex crime. You can find a listing of all the types of sex crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction in Title 18 of the Federal Code.
Why Choose Us
When you contact our legal team at Taracks & Associates for help with your sex crime case, you can feel confident that you will be treated with respect and dignity. Every professional courtesy will be extended to each client we represent, and our office offers a professional and comfortable atmosphere. Whether you need legal services for yourself or for a loved one who has been accused of a sex crime, our attorneys at Taracks & Associates are ready to help.
As a top criminal defense law firm in the Tampa area, you can count on us to review the details of the charges against you. Our goal is to create an effective defense strategy to help you with your case. If the case the prosecution has built against you is weak, we will work to have the charges reduced or even dropped. If the case against you is more persuasive and a conviction is likely, you can count on us to work hard to have the charge or the penalties reduced. We can also request alternative sentencing for your situation.
Let Our Tampa Sex Crime Attorneys Help You with Your Case
If you are facing Tampa sex crime charges, our attorneys at Taracks & Associates are ready to help. We have years of experience handling cases just like yours. Our goal is to help each of our clients achieve the best possible outcome for their cases.
There’s no question that a sex crime conviction can impact your life in many ways. We are here to help minimize this impact while ensuring you get the quality legal representation you need and deserve.
TThe best way to get started is by giving our legal team a call at (813) 990-0599. We offer all clients a free initial consultation and are ready to get started building a defense for your case.