SEX OFFENSES ATTORNEY IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

There are numerous sex offenses in Pennsylvania, and all of them are aggressively prosecuted. Most of these crimes are felonies, and all of them carry heavy penalties that can include:

• lengthy jail sentences

• high fines

• registration with the Commonwealth as a Sex Offender, sometimes for the rest of your life.

WHAT KIND OF CRIMES ARE CONSIDERED A SEX OFFENSE?

Rape

Pennsylvania defines rape as a first-degree felony that involves forcible sexual intercourse between parties. It also includes situations in which a person is unable to give consent because they’ve been rendered unconscious through force or drugs, as well as a mental illness that could prevent them from consenting.

Statutory Sexual Assault

Statutory sexual assault often involves sexual intercourse or activity with a victim who is under the age of 16. In some cases, the victim may have been a willing participant, but because of their age, they are unable to legally consent.

Indecent Exposure

This crime involves a person who exposes their genitals in a public place, usually in a way which is meant to offend or alarm.

Indecent Assault

Indecent assault involves an alleged victim who has come into contact with your bodily fluids without their consent, for the purpose of your own sexual gratification. In cases where a minor is involved, this could be considered a second-degree misdemeanor. If the victim is unable to give consent and you utilized force or threatened force, this crime is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse

Any penetration of the genitals, anus, or mouth with an object is considered involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and results in the same penalties as rape.

Possession of Child Pornography

Possession of child pornography is a particularly serious crime that falls under a blanket statute against the sexual abuse of children. Child pornography is defined as any photograph, video, or a computer-assisted depiction of children below the age of 18 engaging in sexual acts or the simulation of sex acts. Charges are considered second-degree felonies with the exception of first offenses of viewing, possessing, or controlling child pornography; in these cases, it is a third-degree felony.

Online Solicitation of a Minor for Sex

If you knowingly solicit sex from a minor online, you can be charged with a crime.

If you are facing any sex crime, you absolutely need an attorney who will zealously defend your interests. Many of these cases involve complex issues that often arise in these cases, such as psychological evaluations and forensic analyses. For over ten years, I’ve helped defend my clients against these criminal accusations.