mintzerlaw

Child Sexual Abuse

Consequences of a Child Sexual Abuse Conviction

The penal code of Texas makes it a third-degree felony to engage in sexual abuse of a child.
The penalties upon conviction include incarceration in a state prison and fines of up to
$10,000. Two or more sexual contact acts between an offender who is over 17 years
of age and a child younger than 14 years of age is a first-degree felony that is
punishable by imprisonment for up to 99 years and fines up to $10,000.

The Family Code of Texas makes failure to report acts of sexual abuse of
a child a misdemeanor crime that is punishable with up to a year in jail.
The statute also allows a judge to impose fines of up to $4,000.

The long-term consequences of a sex crime conviction include mandatory
registration as a sex offender. Once convicted, the accused must register with
Texas law enforcement agencies. The agencies submit the offender’s name, current
address, and conviction information to a state-maintained database that the public can
access on the internet.

Child Sexual Abuse Defense

A criminal defense attorney will review the facts of a particular case involving child
sexual abuse or child molestation to prepare a strategy that might, depending upon
the facts, include defenses that are based upon mistaken identity or the existence of
an alibi. Because the prosecution frequently relies upon witnesses, a Houston
child sexual abuse attorney will review the evidence to determine how
to attack their credibility and challenge their accounts of the events.