Sex Crimes Lawyer St. Louis, MO. It is a fact that sex crimes are no ordinary crimes, and that the debate regarding sex crimes in Missouri has begun to heat up over the past few years. Laws in Missouri relating to sex crimes have become both more expansive and harsher over this time period, and if you are convicted of a sex crime in Missouri it usually means a sentence of not just jail time and fines, but also a life of embarrassment, shame, and severely limited life outcomes. You will likely be at risk of losing your employment, be limited in where you can live, and be considered an outcast by people who once called you friends or family.
- Table of Contents
- Sex Crimes Cases We Handle in St. Louis, MO
- We Believe Everyone Is Entitled To The Best St. Louis, MO Legal Defense
- How Combs Law’s St. Louis, MO Sex Crimes Lawyers Can Help
- St. Louis, Missouri Sex Crimes Frequently Asked Questions
- Will I Go to Jail?
- Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender?
- Can Sex Crimes Be Expunged From a Criminal Record?
- Choose Combs Law Group For Your St. Louis, Missouri Sex Crimes Defense
If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in St. Louis, MO, you will want to seek legal counsel from an experienced St. Louis, MO sex crimes attorney such as the lawyers at Combs Law Group. Our firm has extensive experience in trying sex crimes cases in Missouri and is driven to provide our clients with total satisfaction. We work one-on-one with our clients to find the best resolution for their situations. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP to speak with an attorney or contact us online and schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation case review.
Sex Crimes Cases We Handle in St. Louis, MO
Sex crimes in Missouri exist on a wide spectrum, from child-related crimes such as molestation to crimes more common amongst adults like harassment. We understand that all areas of sex crimes defense require a special level of discretion between attorney and client, and we provide this discretion to all our clients. “Sexual offenses” in Missouri are laid out in Chapter 566 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. We have taken cases in the following areas and more:
- Rape or Sexual Battery (§566.030, RSMo, §566.031, RSMo)
Rape is having sexual intercourse with someone without their consent, either through force, threat or when they were incapable of consenting. Depending on the circumstances, in Missouri a rape conviction can lead to a sentence anywhere from 7 years in prison to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
- Child Molestation (§566.067, RSMo, §566.030, RSMo, §566.068, RSMo, §566.069, RSMo, §566.071, RSMo)
Child molestation is sexual contact with a minor, or sexual contact with someone younger than 17 years old if the alleged offender is over 21. Depending on various circumstances including the age of the alleged victim, the age gap and whether you have previous convictions, punishments can range from heavy fines and probation to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Sexual Abuse (§566.100, RSMo, §566.101, RSMo)
Sexual abuse occurs when one person subjects another to sexual contact without their consent or when they are unable to give consent. A second-degree sexual abuse conviction may be a class A misdemeanor, but most instances will result in a felony charge.
- Statutory Rape (§566.032, RSMo, §566.034, RSMo) and Statutory Sodomy (§566.062, RSMo, §566.064, RSMo)
Statutory sex crimes occur when an adult has sexual intercourse with a minor, or when someone over the age of 21 has sexual intercourse with someone under 17, even if the minor agreed to or even initiated it. Punishment can include a prison sentence of anywhere from five years to life if there are aggravating factors.
- Sexual Harassment
Missouri considers sexual harassment a form of sex discrimination, and is often seen as a labor issue. It includes unwanted sexual advances, repeated requests for “favors,” promises of promotions in exchange for sex, threatening to fire somebody if they don’t agree to sex and creating a toxic work environment through pervasive or severe sexual conduct.
- Sexual Misconduct (§566.093, RSMo, §566.095, RSMo)
Sexual misconduct occurs when someone exposes themselves in a manner and circumstance that would cause shock, offense or alarm, or when people have sexual intercourse in public. Depending on the circumstances it can be either a misdemeanor or felony.
- Sexual Contact With a Student (§566.086, RSMo)
Any time a teacher, coach or other employee of a school district has sexual contact with a student of the school is a class E felony charge. Consent and the age of the student are not valid defenses.
- Enticement of a child (§566.151, RSMo)
Enticement of a child occurs when someone over the age of 21 if they persuade, entice or lure, through words, actions, the Internet or other electronic communication, anyone younger than 15 for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. The sentence if convicted is five to 30 years imprisonment.
- Child Pornography (§573.037, RSMo, 18 U.S. Code § 2251, 18 U.S. Code § 2252)
The production, distribution, receipt and possession of any visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit or suggestive material will likely amount to a child pornography charge. As this often occurs on the Internet, which constitutes interstate travel, alleged offenders are likely to face both state and federal charges.
- Sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or a vulnerable person (§566.115, RSMo, §566.116, RSMo)
If a person who is an owner or employee of a nursing home or Alzheimer’s care unit, or works with an organization for mental health, has sexual intercourse with a resident or vulnerable person, it is a class A misdemeanor for a first offense, and a class E felony for a subsequent offense. If they have sexual contact it is a class B misdemeanor.
We Believe Everyone Is Entitled To The Best St. Louis, MO Legal Defense
Combs Law Group is committed to handling all their St. Louis, MO sex crimes cases with care and understanding. We are not here to judge you, or treat you differently than any of our other clients. We believe that everyone in St. Louis, MO, no matter what crime they have been charged with, deserves an aggressive legal defense and to have their rights protected. The United States legal system operates under the principle that defendants are innocent until proven guilty, after all. It is unfortunate that in our society, if you have been accused of a sex crime many people will instantly rush to judgment and believe you to be one hundred percent guilty. Our firm understands that your reputation can be heavily damaged regardless of whether you actually committed a sex crime in St. Louis, MO, and we work to limit the impact these allegations can have on your career, family, and standing in the community.
How Combs Law’s St. Louis, MO Sex Crimes Lawyers Can Help
Being merely accused of any sex crime in St. Louis, MO can have an immediate effect on your reputation and your relationship with coworkers, friends and even family. Combs Law’s sex crimes lawyers are not here to judge you or make any assumptions. We know there is more than one side to every story, and we will listen to what you have to say and work with you to determine the best defense strategy that gets the best possible results in your case. When you hire us, our St. Louis, Missouri sex crimes lawyer will:
- Conduct a full investigation into your case
- Review the evidence and examine how it was obtained
- Determine if your Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment or Sixth Amendment rights were violated
- Examine witness reliability
- Look for inconsistencies in the accuser’s story
- Negotiate with prosecutors to have your charges reduced or dismissed
- Defend you at trial if we have to, and challenge the jury on whether or not the prosecution has proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt
If the evidence is stacked against you and a conviction seems likely, we may advise, based on our experience and knowledge of St. Louis and Missouri courts and laws, that your best option may be to take a plea deal in the interest of receiving a lighter sentence. While we leave the ultimate decision up to you, all of our legal counsel is based on what we genuinely believe to be in your best interest.
St. Louis, Missouri Sex Crimes Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re facing allegations or charges of a sex crime in St. Louis, you likely have many questions about the criminal defense process and possible outcomes. Some of the most common questions our sex crimes lawyers are asked are:
Will I Go to Jail?
That depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the charges, the strength of the evidence held against you, your age and the age of the alleged victim and the abilities of your St. Louis, MO sex crimes lawyer. While it’s possible you may be incarcerated for a period if convicted, we can also work with the prosecution to lower your sentence to probation and mandatory treatment programs, or to reduce the charges to an offense that doesn’t involve time behind bars. If we are able to get the charges dismissed or achieve a not guilty verdict, you obviously will be free to return to your normal life.
Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender?
Again, that depends. According to Missouri Revised Statute §589.400, convicted of committing or attempting a felony outlined in Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 566, in addition to the following sex crimes in Missouri must register as a sex offender:
- Sexual abuse of a child
- Sexual contact or intercourse with a resident of a nursing home or vulnerable person
- Endangering a child when the endangering is sexual in nature
- Promoting prostitution
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Promoting child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
- Furnishing pornographic materials to minors
- Publicly displaying explicit sexual material
- Incest
- Patronizing prostitution if the alleged prostitute is under 18 years old
If the charges you’re facing require registration as a sex offender, we’ll work hard to dismiss or reduce those charges to ones that do not require it.
How Long Will I Have to Stay on a Sex Offender Registry?
If you are convicted of one of the above charges, how long you remain on the registry will depend on the nature of the crime and your age when you committed it. A Combs Law sex crimes lawyer may be able to help you petition for removal under Missouri Revised Statute §589.401 if you meet certain qualifications.
Can Sex Crimes Be Expunged From a Criminal Record?
Unless you are later proved to be innocent, once convicted of a felony sex crime you will not be able to have that record expunged or sealed. That’s why it’s so crucial to have a strong and dedicated defense team from the moment you are accused or charged.
Choose Combs Law Group For Your St. Louis, Missouri Sex Crimes Defense
With sex crimes in St. Louis, MO having such a high level of scrutiny, it is imperative that if you are accused you act quickly to protect your good name and reputation. It is an unfortunate situation that we are currently in a climate where most of the public rushes to judgment based solely on mere allegations of impropriety. This is why it is incredibly important to hire the right St. Louis, MO criminal defense attorney if you are ever charged with sex crimes.
Combs Law Group works tirelessly to not only fight for your freedom and reputation, but also maintain an exceptional level of client satisfaction. We suggest you take a look at our client feedback to see what people from all around St. Louis, MO have said about working with our firm. If you contact us today, we will set up a discreet, one-on-one consultation to discuss your situation.