Human trafficking–also known as sex trafficking–is traditionally understood to mean “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Sex trafficking is normally associated with the act of transporting someone across state or international lines for the purposes of […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The right to a jury trial is fundamental to our criminal justice system. Having an impartial, unbiased jury is especially crucial in cases involving alleged sex crimes and sex offenses. By their very nature, these charges are deeply emotional and understandably provoke a sympathetic reaction in favor of the accusers. As a result, judges must […]