No one likes to think about sexual offenses, especially when a minor is accused. But, it does happen. And if you find your child accused of a sexually motivated crime, you need to contact a juvenile defense attorney right away. The prosecution of sexual offenses is different from other crimes. Without the right lawyer, someone charged with a sexual offense may face an unintended consequence for the rest of his or her life,
Juvenile sex crimes can include:
The most commonly charged sex offenses for youth include sexting (dissemination of matter harmful to minors), date rape (rape), and statutory rape (unlawful sexual conduct with a minor). Punishment for juvenile sexually oriented crimes can include sex offender treatment (outpatient or inpatient, and possibly at an out-of-state facility), restrictions on computer/internet use, school restrictions, incarceration to a juvenile detention facility until age 21, or being bound over to stand trial as an adult to face a potential prison term.
Under Ohio law, juveniles convicted of sex crimes are also potentially subject to sexual registration requirements. The court will conduct a hearing to determine whether the juvenile should be classified as a Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III juvenile sex offender. Penalties range from being required to register as a sex offender once a year for 10 years to every 90 days for 25 years or more.
If your son or daughter is facing allegations of a sexually oriented crime, you need a lawyer experienced in not just juvenile cases, but sex crime defense too. Michael E. Bryant has that experience. Michael E. Bryant will try to help your child avoid harsh punishments and severe repercussions for allegedly committing juvenile sexual offenses. He can protect your child’s rights and provide him or her with the competent legal representation they need.