You probably do not expect the ill-fated heroes from a Shakespearean tragedy to come to your rescue when charged with a sex offense, but Texas’ Romeo and Juliet statutes may provide a defense. Knowing that sexual assault of a child is one of the most serious sex crimes defined by state law, it is a […]

Under Texas law, those who are convicted of certain criminal offenses could qualify to have their record sealed at a later date. This means that most employers and members of the public wouldn’t have access to those records. Determining whether you qualify to have your own criminal record sealed can be difficult, so if you […]

Unlike many other types of crimes, sex offenses are usually charged as felonies. Felony sex crime convictions come with severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, as well as mandatory registration as a sex offender upon release. Those who are charged with aggravated sex crimes, however, face particularly harsh punishments, making it especially important for defendants […]

It is not uncommon for people to be charged with a sex crime regardless of their intent, especially if there is confusion amongst the parties about what qualifies as consent. For this reason, having an understanding of what consent means under Texas law is crucial, including how a person’s age or intoxication level could affect […]

Sex offenses are some of the most serious crimes that a person can be accused of, as conviction almost always comes with mandatory registration as a sex offender. This can have far-reaching consequences for registrants, making it especially important for those who have been accused of a sex crime, to speak with an experienced Houston […]

Most sex crimes in Texas are prosecuted as felony offenses, which carry mandatory jail time and sometimes the requirement of registration as a sex offender. Some sex crimes, however, namely those that don’t involve violence or penetrative sexual contact, can be charged as misdemeanors, which means that a defendant could receive probation instead of jail […]

In a criminal trial, the prosecution’s job is to prove that the defendant committed the alleged offense. The objective is not to put the defendant’s overall character on trial. Indeed, under Texas law, such character evidence is inadmissible to prove the defendant’s guilt with respect to the actual charges. Unfortunately, we often see prosecutors try […]

Contrary to what television crime dramas would have you believe, DNA testing is not a mistake-proof way of identifying criminal suspects. Indeed, like any scientific method, the process of DNA testing has been altered and refined over the years to the point where many older test results would no longer be considered valid. Yet there […]

A sex crime conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. Indeed, even after you have served a criminal prison sentence for a sex offense, a Texas judge may subsequently order your “civil commitment” if prosecutors can show you are a “repeat sexually violent offender.” And even if the court does not strictly […]

Sex crimes involving child victims often draw the harshest penalties under Texas law. For example, the offense of continuous sexual abuse of young child or children is a first-degree felony. This means that if convicted, a defendant faces a potential life sentence–or at a minimum, at least 25 years in prison. Houston Court Upholds 50-Year […]