Sex Crimes Against Children

Arizona Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

All lewd or lascivious touching of a child is prohibited in Arizona. In fact, it can be punishable by life in prison, depending on a number of factors, including the defendant’s age, the child’s age, and the nature of the touching. The child’s lack of chastity, the child’s “consent,” and ignorance of the child’s age are not valid sex crime defenses.

You should also be aware that children who are over 15 years old but under 18 years old are also unable to consent to sexual conduct unless the defendant is less than 19 years old, or still attending high school and no more than 2 years older than the victim.

There are many different types of lewd or lascivious (sexual) crimes against children in Arizona.

Molestation of a Child in Arizona

This is defined in the state of Arizona as sexual contact, except sexual contact with the female breast, with someone less than 15 years of age. This includes direct or indirect touching over a child's clothes. Also, molestation has occurred if the child is forced to touch the adult over the adult's clothing in a private area. A first-time offender can be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of 24 years in prison. There is no option for early release or probation, and you will have to register as a sex offender in Arizona and throughout the United States.

Sexual Conduct with a Minor in Arizona

This is defined as some penetration, or manual masturbatory conduct. This is one of the most severe crimes you can be charged with in Arizona. The minimum prison sentence is 13 years. The aggravated prison term is 27 years. There is no option for early release or probation, and you will have to register as a sex offender is Arizona and throughout the United States.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in Arizona

This is the possession or distribution of child pornography. It includes the recording, filming, photographing, developing or duplicating any visual depiction in which a minor is engaged in exploitive exhibition or other sexual conduct and also distributing, transporting, exhibiting, receiving, selling, purchasing, electronically transmitting, possessing or exchanging any visual depiction in which a minor is engaged in exploitive exhibition or other sexual conduct. Any visual depiction of the sexual exploitation of a minor that is admitted into evidence will be sealed by the court at the conclusion of any grand jury proceeding, hearing, or trial.

If the children are 14 years or younger, then the first offense can carry a 10 year minimum prison sentence with a maximum of 24 years. If the children were between 15 and 17 years old, a first offense can result in probation up to 12 and a half years in prison. You will also have to register as a sex offender in Arizona and throughout the United States.

Age and Arizona Sex Crimes

You should also know that both the age of the person who allegedly committed the crime and the victim’s age play an important role in the severity of the Arizona sex crime. Also, it is not a defense to internet sex crimes that an undercover law enforcement officer was the targeted victim and involved in the detection and investigation of the crime.

Registering as a Sex Offender in Arizona

If you are found guilty of a sexual offense, you will have to register your address and other information every three or six months for the rest of your life, even if you leave the state. This information is available to the public, so it can affect your ability to get a job or rent an apartment. It can also affect how people treat you. You can read more about the Arizona Sex Offender Registry here.

If You Are Being Charged with an Arizona Sex Crime, Get Legal Help Right Away

To obtain more information about lewd and lascivious crimes, sexual assaults on minors, or other sex crimes that involve children, contact an experienced Arizona criminal defense lawyer. Since the stakes are so high, be sure to find out about your criminal defense lawyer’s experience and knowledge of defending Arizona sex crimes in court.