Molestation Attorney in Friendswood, TX
Sex crimes involving children are among the most aggressively prosecuted in Texas. If you are facing allegations that you made inappropriate physical contact with a minor, you can rely on the services of a Friendswood molestation lawyer to protect your rights and work to secure a favorable outcome in your case that could include reduced or dropped charges.
Why You Should Choose The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates?
When your freedom is on the line, you need legal representation from a law firm that gets results. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates provides strategic legal services that focus on chipping away at the state’s case and pursuing a resolution to your case that allows you to put the entire ordeal behind you.
Our Friendswood criminal defense firm understands that misfortune or misunderstandings can leave otherwise good people in bad situations. We’re not here to pass judgment on the people we represent. Rather, our focus is on protecting your rights and holding the prosecution to their high burden of proof when it comes to proving their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
By scrutinizing the evidence and independently investigating the claims, we can provide you with the exceptional legal services that you deserve.
Understanding Molestation in Friendswood
Molestation is a serious offence that usually involves victims who are below the age of consent. The offense involves sexual abuse through inappropriate touching or exposure directed toward a minor.
In Texas, these crimes are charged under statutes like Indecency with a Child (§ 21.11) or Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child (§ 21.02), which apply when abuse occurs repeatedly over a period of time.
Prosecutors aggressively pursue convictions and lengthy sentences because these crimes often involve victims who are unable to fully understand or report the abuse due to their age or relationship with the offender. These cases can happen in any community, including neighborhoods in and around Friendswood like West Ranch, Heritage Park, and Forest Bend.
Statewide data from 2022 details the scope of the problem. That year, Child Protective Services investigated 268,734 reports of child abuse or neglect. Of the 58,120 confirmed cases, over 6,000 involved sexual abuse and accounted for roughly 10–11% of all confirmed incidents.
In a nearby example, a Galveston County man was sentenced to life in prison in July 2023 for the repeated sexual abuse of a young family member. The child reported the abuse in August 2022, and two other survivors testified he had victimized them as well. He failed to appear in court for the conclusion of his trial and remains wanted by law enforcement. A jury returned a guilty verdict in under ten minutes.
Potential Outcomes of a Molestation Case
Molestation cases can lead to serious consequences, but not every defendant will be convicted of a serious sex crime. Depending on the strength of the prosecution’s case, the charges may be dropped or reduced, especially if there are issues with witness credibility, lack of physical evidence, or procedural errors.
In some cases, the prosecution may offer a plea deal to a lesser offense in exchange for avoiding trial. Plea deals often come with strict conditions that must be met. If those conditions are met, a judge may approve the agreement, which often results in an admission of guilt to the initial charge or a lesser offense.
If the case goes to trial, a judge or jury will ultimately decide whether the defendant committed the crime for which they are accused. While a trial may delay your case considerably, it offers a potential avenue for clearing your name of wrongdoing.
Potential Consequences of a Criminal Conviction
Being convicted of molestation can have far-reaching consequences beyond fines and jail time. Depending on the offense, a conviction may result in probation, mandatory counseling, community service, or a permanent criminal record. Sex offenders are required to register with the state’s sex offender registry, which limits where convicted offenders can live and travel.
For more serious charges, the convicted individual may face prison time, parole restrictions, and loss of certain civil rights. A conviction can lead to challenges when it comes to securing future employment and housing.
Even after serving a sentence, individuals may face long-term stigma that can create barriers to rebuilding their lives. Because of these serious and far-reaching consequences, it is critical to fight your charges up front so you stand the strongest chance of protecting your future and freedom.
Effective Legal Defense Strategies
Effective legal defense strategies focus on challenging the prosecution’s evidence and creating reasonable doubt. Common strategies include questioning the credibility of witnesses and suppressing unlawfully obtained evidence. In some cases, a defense may argue that they were mistakenly identified, especially if they have a supporting alibi witness.
Skilled defense attorneys can analyze every detail of the case, from the arrest to the evidence handling, to identify procedural errors or constitutional violations. They may also negotiate plea deals or seek reduced charges when appropriate. A strong defense strategy can position a defendant for a favorable outcome in their case, even when they are potentially facing serious jail or prison time.
Why You Should Hire a Molestation Lawyer?
The criminal justice system in Friendswood can be imposing and unforgiving, especially if you are facing a serious sex crime like molestation. The most important step you can take to protect your rights and future is to hire a Friendswood molestation attorney who has years or decades of experience representing clients in molestation cases.
Legal representation ensures that you do not make costly missteps, like discussing your case with law enforcement or social media. The state’s molestation laws are strict, but they are also specific. If the facts of the case show that you did not commit the elements of this offense, your lawyer can take steps to have your charges dropped or at least reduced.
With legal representation, you gain a trusted ally who cares about the outcome of your case and is willing to go the extra mile to see that you are treated fairly by the courts and that prosecutions are held to their high burden of proof. If the prosecution fails to meet its burden, your lawyer can take strategic steps that may not be available or obvious without legal training, such as filing motions to dismiss, suppress evidence, or challenge procedural errors.
FAQs About Molestation Charges
What Should I Do Immediately After Being Accused of Molestation?
If you have been accused or charged with molestation, you should immediately contact a criminal defense attorney. Do not talk to the police or the accuser. In Friendswood, even a verbal accusation can lead to an arrest or investigation. Anything you say may be used against you. By hiring an attorney, you gain an ally who can protect your rights, review the facts, and begin building a defense before charges are filed or the case escalates.
How Are Molestation Charges Proven in Texas?
In Texas, molestation charges can be proven using different forms of evidence that could include testimony, forensic evidence, and any digital or physical records. In Friendswood, these cases often depend on statements made by the alleged victim. Corroborating evidence is not always required, but any inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case can be used to pursue reduced or dropped charges.
Can False Allegations of Molestation Be Dismissed?
Yes. False allegations of molestation do happen and can be dismissed through a strong defense. In Friendswood, securing a dismissal of your case largely depends on the strength of your legal representation and evidence that shows the accuser’s credibility is questionable. Inconsistent victim or witness statements can be used to question the prosecution’s assertions.
What Are the Penalties for a Molestation Conviction in Friendswood?
Convictions for molestation in Friendswood, TX carry severe penalties, including long prison terms, permanent registration as a sex offender, and loss of civil rights. Prosecutors take an aggressive stance on these cases. A conviction can destroy your reputation and freedom. Taking decisive action is often essential for fighting the charges and avoiding the devastating consequences of a conviction.
How Can a Lawyer Defend Against a Molestation Charge?
A lawyer can challenge the credibility of the accuser, dispute forensic evidence, and expose flaws in the investigation. In Friendswood, strong defense strategies often focus on inconsistencies in the prosecution’s timeline of events, motives of the victim to harm the defendant’s reputation, and constitutional violations. Any steps that weaken the prosecution’s case can favor the defense.
Accused of Molestation in Friendswood? Let a Proven Legal Team Defend You
Allegations of molestation carry heavy legal and social consequences, including the risk of sex offender registration and significant prison time. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates offers strategic defense informed by decades of courtroom experience and a detailed understanding of criminal law.
Our legal team includes a former U.S. Air Force Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and attorneys with memberships in the Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Galveston County Bar Association. We approach these sensitive cases with discretion, precision, and a commitment to safeguarding your future. To learn how we can fight your criminal charges, contact our office today.