Sex Crimes
Being convicted of a sex crime offense is just about as serious as it gets. The stigma of a sex crime conviction can destroy your life and your future. Imprisonment, fines, sex offender registration, as well as the permanent damage to your reputation, all follow from a sex crime conviction.
While there are obviously more serious crimes, there are few crimes in Colorado that carry the humiliating side effects of the sex offense charges themselves. That’s why, of all the possible criminal cases, with sex crimes your defense attorney must be dedicated and experienced handling sex offenses.
Just the mere accusation of a sex crime is serious and carries negative consequences. A criminal charge of rape, sexual assault, child pornography, or other sex crime must be taken even more seriously:
- Rape
- Statutory rape
- Date rape and use of a date rape drug (GHB)
- Sexual assault on a child
- Possession of child pornography
- Distribution of child pornography
- Sexual battery
- Child molestation
- Lewd or lascivious behavior
- Indecent exposure
Sex Offender Registration: A Life Sentence
Under Colorado law, when convicted of a sex crime or where the underlying factual basis of the convicted crime is a sex offense, a Defendant must register as a sex offender.
Sex offender registration means that you may be limited in where you can live and where you can work. Your employer, neighbors, friends and family, as well as the general public, will know your status as a registered sex offender.
Because of the serious effects of mandatory sex offender registration if you are convicted of a sex crime in Colorado, you need to talk with a criminal defense lawyer who has significant experience with sex crime defense.
What to do if accused of a sex crime:
- Do not talk with the police, police investigators, District Attorney investigators, or any other investigative agent.
- Do not attempt to defend yourself to the officers. You can’t talk your way out of jail, only in.
- Do not admit or deny any accusation. Anything you say can and will be used against you.
- Do not discuss the case with any family members or friends. They may be called as potential witnesses if you confide in them.
- Do not make any telephone calls, cell phone calls, or e-mails to friends, or family concerning the matter. These means of communication may be monitored.
- Find the best criminal defense lawyer you can. It may be your only hope for getting justice.
