If you have been accused of a sex crime in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, you will be subject to the criminal process from arrest to disposition. Although your preliminary hearing can take place at any of the 18 District Courts in Bucks County, it is likely that your case will eventually be heard at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown.
Because sex offenses are so serious, you need the best representation possible to protect your constitutional rights. Sex crimes are incredibly serious and can lead to very serious consequences. This can include lengthy prison sentences, high fines, and the requirement that you register as a sex offender. This can affect the rest of your life if you do not fight back. It will affect where you can live, where you can work, and impact your freedoms long after any prison sentence is served.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a sex crime in Doylestown, PA or the surrounding area, experienced sex crime attorney Joseph D. Lento is here to help.
Doylestown Sex Crime Defense Attorney
With nearly a decade of experience working in various roles in the Pennsylvania justice system, Joseph Lento is a qualified Doylestown criminal defense attorney with a comprehensive knowledge of how a criminal case operates from start to finish, and beyond.
If you have been charged with a sex crime in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and need a comprehensive, customized defense, contact the attorneys at Lento Law Firm. Joseph Lento built his practice on the ideals of customer service and justice and he will fight for your rights and freedom. Call (215) 535-5353 today to schedule your free consultation and discover what Joseph Lento can do to clear your name.
Sex Crimes in Pennsylvania
A sex crime occurs when a sexual component is present in the offense that you face. This may involve violence, force, or may even occur due to consensual sexual contact in certain cases. In many of these cases, you may not have known there was an issue or the other party is simply lying for some reason. No matter the case, you deserve to have your constitutional rights protected against an overzealous prosecutor.
Sex crimes carry a lot of stigmas as well as the potential for sex offender registration. Registration requires that you register with a statewide and nationwide database that will designate you as a sex offender, and subject you to specific reporting requirements. This can limit where you can live as well as the jobs you can perform.
Some of the most common sex crimes people face include, but are not limited to:
- When a person forces the victim to engage in sexual intercourse through forcible compulsion, the threat of forcible compulsion, or in a situation where the victim is unable to give consent due to his or her mental faculties or existing mental disabilities
- First-degree felony
- When a person reveals his or her genitals in a public setting, or in a situation where the person knows the act is likely to offend or alarm others
- First or second-degree misdemeanor
- When a person engages in penetration of the genitals or anus of the victim without a legitimate medical, hygienic, or law enforcement purpose
- First or second-degree felony offense
- When a person engages in sexual intercourse or deviant sexual intercourse with a victim without his or her consent
- Second-degree felony
- When a person engages in sexual intercourse with a victim who is 4 years younger than said person and the victim is under 16.
- Excludes married couples that meet these requirements
- Second-degree felony
Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (IDSI)
- When a person engages in any form of sexual intercourse with a victim without the victim's consent
- Includes involuntary sexual intercourse with a child
- First-degree felony
- When a person engages in indecent contact with the victim, causes the victim to have indecent contact with said person, or intentionally causing the victim to come in contact with urine, feces, or seminal fluid for the purpose of arousal in the victim or offender
- First or second-degree misdemeanor, or third-degree felony
How to Defend Your Case
A sex crime is a serious accusation against you and cannot stand unchallenged. There are a variety of defenses available to those accused of this type of crime, and it is critical that you have a highly experienced attorney at your side to ensure they are put to good use for you. These powerful defenses can make all the difference in protecting your rights, and your future.
- Consent: If the other party consented to the sexual acts, and was an appropriate age to consent, this operates as a total defense to an allegation that a non-consensual sexual act was perpetrated on the alleged "victim." When the other party consented at the time but is changing his or her mind now, this can be a great defense.
- Filing a Suppression Motion: When evidence is collected in a way that is in violation of the Constitution, that evidence can be kept out of court, or "suppressed." This evidence cannot be used against you, and often severely damages the prosecutor's case when these motions are successful.
- Presenting Reasonable Doubt: Criminal cases require that the prosecutor prove your guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt," a very high standard to meet. You and your attorney can present facts that create this reasonable doubt to show that you are not guilty of this alleged crime.
Presenting a strong defense is crucial to protecting your constitutional rights. Many prosecutors will attempt to make you think there is no hope, and that they have you "over the ropes." That is not the case. An experienced attorney can analyze your case for things police missed, did wrong, or did not pay attention to. No rock should be left unturned in creating a defense that will help to protect you.
Working with a Doylestown Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
If you have been accused of a sex crime in the Doylestown area, it is highly recommended that you begin defending your rights and your future with as soon as possible. Joseph Lento is passionate about helping sex crimes charges like yours through the system and making sure justice is served on all sides.
For your consultation on how Joseph D. Lento and the team at Lento Law Firm can help you, call (215) 535-5353 today.
