Sex Crimes

Sexual crimes are serious offenses. They carry harsh prison terms, fines, and social stigmas. The prison terms vary depending on the degree of the offense. A victim may file a civil suit even if there is a criminal action pending. A convicted sex offender will become a registered sex offender. Sexual assault can include a number of offenses such as rape and sexual assault.

All sex crimes are non-exclusionary in terms of gender. Both males and females can be offenders or victims. If you need help with sex-related crimes please seek us out for legal help. At Freundlich & Littman, LLC, we help those affected by sex crimes. In Pennsylvania, the process and penalties are serious and strenuous. Do you need assistance with a sex-related crime? Sex crimes are perhaps some of the harder crimes to get past. We can handle the civil action. If you were a victim of sex crime, you may be able to receive financial restitution. Contact us for more information. We are here to help you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Types Of Sex Crimes

A person commits a felony of the first degree when the person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant:

“By forcible compulsion.
By threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution.
Who is unconscious or where the person knows that the complainant is unaware that the sexual intercourse is occurring.
Where the person has substantially impaired the complainant’s power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, drugs, intoxicants or other means for the purpose of preventing resistance.
Who suffers from a mental disability which renders the complainant incapable of consent.”
The act of sexual assault occurs with any form of unwanted or forced penetration of the mouth, anus, or vagina.

Statutory sexual assault is often a source of confusion for many, as the rule varies among the states. Statutory sexual assault is a serious offense. Statutory sexual assault is:
“that person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant to whom the person is not married who is under the age of 16 years and that person is either:

four years older but less than eight years older than the complainant; or.
eight years older but less than 11 years older than the complainant.
Felony of the first degree.–A person commits a felony of the first degree when that person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant under the age of 16 years and that person is 11 or more years older than the complainant and the complainant and the person are not married to each other.”

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse is a felony in Pennsylvania. The state defines involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as:

“By forcible compulsion.
By threat of forcible compulsion;
[victim] who is unconscious;
where the person has substantially impaired the complainant’s power to appraise or control his or her conduct;
who suffers from a mental disability which renders him or her incapable of consent; or
who is less than 16 years of age and the person is four or more years older than the complainant and the complainant and person are not married to each other.”
Aggravated Indecent Assault is where a victim uses force or a weapon to commit a sexual assault without penetration.

Penalties For Sex Crimes

As stated above the penalties for sex crimes can be lofty. They carry harsh prison terms. Most sex crimes are a felony. Additionally, any convicted sex offender must register as a sex offender. This registration is a part of Megan’s Law enacted in 1996.

Megan’s Law requires law enforcement officials to share the details of a sex offender’s crimes with federal, state, and local agencies. It ensures that the community at large is aware of the individual. A registered sex offender may not live, work, or simply be in certain locations. A child abuser may not work, live, or be near areas with large amounts of children.

In addition, there can be a financial penalty. Financial penalties may include fines, restitution orders, or even civil actions. You may bring a civil action, regardless of the criminal verdict. The victim can seek out civil action either during the criminal case or afterward, depending on their choice.

In terms of prison penalties, they can range from 10 years to life in prison depending upon the act. A judge can add to a prison sentence if the defendant committed additional crimes in conjunction with the sex crime. There are several factors that can determine the final prison sentence. They are dependent upon the specific situation. Contact us to learn more about a specific sex crimes case.