Sex Crimes Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you or a loved one is facing legal charges for sex crimes in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, you’ll want to understand the complexities of the state’s laws right away. Sex offenses can range widely in severity depending on what specific charges the crimes carry. However, you should understand that sex offenses and rape charges are very serious crimes in Florida, and consulting a reputable sex crime defender is your best course of action.

Sex offenses can affect your future by impacting your ability to buy a home and build a career as well as educational opportunities, your relationships, and your reputation. A sexual offense conviction can follow you throughout the rest of your life, impacting your well-being.

In South Florida, sex offense charges can come with a variety of punishments. If you or someone you know is facing sex offenses or rape charges in the Fort Lauderdale area, get in touch with our criminal defense attorneys immediately. We offer free consultations for your case.

Sex Offense Charges in Fort Lauderdale

Depending on the severity of the sex crime, Florida courts may charge you with any number of sex offense charges. When determining your charges and punishment, your judge will consider the following details of your case: whether penetration occurred, whether use or threat of force was used, age of victim, past criminal history, and other factors.

One of the biggest details that will affect the outcome of your case is whether consent was given freely and willfully. By Florida statute, if a person made it explicitly clear through verbal or non-verbal communication that you were not given consent for a sexual act, sexual offense charges can be filed.

And, if the act in question involved a minor, the defendant will be charged with a sexual offense because, by law, minors cannot give legal consent. These are details to keep in mind when navigating your legal case.

Different Sex Crimes

Statutory Rape

Statutory rape occurs in any situation where a sexual act occurs with a minor 12 years old or younger. If one of the parties in a sexual offense case is under the age of 18, the difference in age cannot be more than four years. Sexually battery is an automatic charge in these cases as minors can’t legally consent to sex.

Sexual Battery

When the defendant performed vaginal, oral, or anal sexual acts with a victim without their consent, sexual battery has been committed.

Sexual battery is included as a charge in Statutory Rape cases in Florida when the following occurs:

The defendant solicited a minor for sexual acts
The victim in the case was under the age of 18
The offender knows or has custody over the minor

Aggravated Sexual Battery

Aggravated sexual battery charges follow normal sexual battery charges, but involve one major difference: the sexual act is carried out via the use of a deadly weapon to intimidate or threaten the victim into the sexual act.

Aggravated sexual battery can also be charged when the victim has been drugged is mentally or physically impaired or unable to consent to said sexual acts. This charge can also apply in situations where the offender is in a position of power over the victim.

Lewd and Lascivious Acts

Lewd and lascivious acts are defined in Florida by the following sexual acts:

Indecent or vulgar exposure of genitalia to a minor, elder, or disabled individual
Molestation of any kind
Forcing, encouraging, or enticing sexual activity
Sexual exhibition via digital devices like phones, computers, etc. where the offender exposes genitalia, masturbates, or performs sexual conduct
Lewd and lascivious battery: the offender performs sexual acts or forces or entices sexual contact with a victim between 12 and 16 years old
Lewd and lascivious molestation: the accused intentionally touches the victim’s body parts or forces them to touch theirs, and the victim is under 16
Lewd and lascivious conduct: the accused touches the victim in a sexual way or forces the victim to touch them sexually, and the victim is under 16

Prostitution and Solicitation

Solicitation is defined as the offering of one’s prostitution services or offering someone else’s prostitution services.

Prostitution occurs when engaging in a sexual activity in exchange for payment. If an individual is underage, charges can become more severe.

Child Pornography

Child pornography charges can be issued if one party is in possession of child pornography of any kind.

Sexual Offense Punishments in Fort Lauderdale

Florida is among the states with the harshest punishments for sex offense crimes in the United States. The penalties for sex crimes include:

Sexual battery: 2nd degree felony with 94.5 months to 15 years in prison, up to 15 years of probation, and up to $10,000 in fines
Sexual battery on a child under 12: life felony and a life prison sentence with no option of parole
Sexual Battery with the use of a deadly weapon: life felony, and 126 months to a full life sentence in prison
Aggravated sexual battery: first degree felony with 94.5 months to 30 years in prison, up to 30 years of probation, and up to $10,000 in fines
Aggravated sexual battery on a person between 12 and 18 years old: life felony, 108 months to a life sentence in prison
Lewd or lascivious battery: 7 to 15 years in prison
Statutory rape: 5 to 17 years in prison

What to Do If You’re Convicted of a Sex Crime in Florida

If you’re in a situation where you’re facing sex offense charges in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida, your punishment may be severe: including thousands of dollars in fines, and up to a life sentence in prison.

In addition to the penalties laid out above, you may be labeled a sexual offender or sexual predator depending on the charges you face and the outcome of your case. In this scenario, you are added to the Florida state database of sexual offenders in addition to whatever other punishment you may be facing from your sentencing. This distinction comes with extremely strict rules that you must follow at all times to avoid harsher punishments.

How Do I Know If I Will Be Considered A Sexual Offender?

You may be considered a sexual offender if you’ve committed any of the following crimes:

lewd and lascivious acts with a minor
sexual performance with a minor
child pornography possession
child prostitution

Who Is Considered a Sexual Predator?

In Florida, sexual predator status is a very serious label that should not be taken lightly. Sexual predators are considered sex offenders with multiple offenses. The status occurs when the offender is convicted of a first degree sexual felony or two second degree felonies.

Consult an Experienced Sex Offense Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale

If you’re facing sex offense charges, contacting a trusted, local attorney is your best course of action. A great legal team will help you navigate the legal situation and will make you feel well-represented to get you the best possible outcome.

The sex offense legal experts at Smith & Eulo have years of experience defending sexual offense cases through Fort Lauderdale. Get in touch with our team to help create the best possible defense for your case.

If you or your loved one find themselves in a situation where you are being accused of a sex crime? Call us right away at 754-332-0513 to speak with a qualified legal professional or fill out the contact form on this page. We’re available 24/7, we offer free initial consultation and payment plans. In addition to our Fort Lauderdale office, we have offices in the following cities across the state of Florida: