Child sex abuse offenses in Dallas can involve any number of acts that may be considered harmful to the child, such as intercourse, sodomy, fondling, touching, sexual contact, penetration, lewd or lascivious exposure, or behavior, child pornography, and child prostitution.
According to Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code, child sexual abuse is commonly defined as:
- Any sexual conduct that is harmful to a child’s mental, physical, or emotional welfare;
- Any failure to reasonable make an effort to prevent sexual conduct with a child; and/or
- Encouraging or compelling the child to engage in sexual conduct.
If you have been accused of child sexual abuse in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex, you could face serious penalties and repercussions, such as:
- A criminal record,
- An inability to be accepted into certain education programs,
- Inability to apply for certain jobs, professions, or occupations,
- Ineligibility to own or possess a firearm,
- Ineligibility to receive certain types of government aid or assistance,
- Jail or prison sentences,
- Public embarrassment or damage to reputation,
- Requirements to register as a sex offender, and/or
- Steep fines.
Child Sexual Abuse Defense Lawyer in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, TX
Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas.
Dallas criminal defense attorney Richard McConathy is knowledgeable in all areas of Texas’ sex crimes laws and will make every effort to fight the allegations against you. Call Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy for a free consultation at (972) 233-5700 about your alleged child sexual abuse offense.
Dallas Child Sex Abuse Offenses
Under the Texas Penal Code, any of the following offenses can result in charges and/or a conviction for child sex abuse:
According to section 22.011 of the Texas Penal Code, an individual can be charged with child sexual assault if they intentionally or knowingly:
- Cause a child’s anus to contact the anus, sex organ, or mouth of another person;
- Cause a child’s mouth to be penetrated by another person’s sex organ;
- Cause a child’s mouth to contact the sex organ or anus of another person;
- Cause a child’s sex organ or anus to be penetrated; and/or
- Cause a child’s sex organ to contact or penetrate the anus, sex organ, or mouth of another person.
According to section 22.021 of the Texas Penal Code, an individual can be charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child if they commit a sexual offense listed above and:
- Administers GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, or ketamine to the child during the commission of the offense;
- Attempts to cause the death of the child or cause the child serious bodily injury;
- Causes the child to fear imminent serious bodily injury, death, or kidnapping;
- Is an accomplice to an individual who causes the child serious bodily injury;
- The child is under the age of 14;
- Threatens to cause serious bodily injury, death, or kidnapping of any person; and/or
- Uses or shows a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense.
According to section 21.11 of the Texas Penal Code, an individual can be charged with indecency with a child if they commit any of the following with a child under the age of 17:
- Cause the child to engage in sexual contact or engages in sexual contact with the child;
- With the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, expose their anus or genitals knowing a child is present; or
- With the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of any person, cause the child to expose their anus or genitals.
Child Sexual Abuse Penalties in Fort Worth
An individual convicted of a child sexual abuse offense can face any of the following penalties, as defined in Chapter 12 of the Texas Penal Code.
- A child sex assault offense is generally punishable as a felony of the second degree, which can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years.
- However, a child sex assault offense is punishable as a felony of the first degree if the alleged offender was prohibited from marrying or holding out as married to the alleged victim. This degree of offense can result in a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life imprisonment and/or a fine up to $10,000.
- An aggravated child sex assault offense is generally punishable as a felony of the first degree, which can result in a fine up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life imprisonment.
- Indecency with a child offense is punishable as a felony of the third degree if the alleged offender exposes their genitals when a child is present or causes a child’s genitals to be exposed. This degree of offense is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence ranging from two to 10 years.
- Indecency with a child offense is punishable as a felony of the second degree if the alleged offender causes the child to engage in sexual contact or engages in sexual contact with the child. This degree of offense is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years.
Find A Dallas County Defense Attorney for Child Sexual Abuse Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy
Contact Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today for a consultation about your child sex abuse allegations throughout Dallas County in Texas. Richard McConathy is an experienced Dallas sex crimes attorney who will make every effort to find defenses or mitigating factors to have your charges reduced or even dismissed.
Call (972) 233-5700 or fill out an online form for a consultation about your alleged child sex abuse crime throughout Dallas County in Texas and the surrounding counties of Denton County, Collin County, and Tarrant County.