- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Few criminal allegations carry the same stigma as sex crimes do. And if you’re convicted, the repercussions can follow you for life. If you’ve been charged with a sexual offense, you can’t afford to not hire an experienced High Point, NC, sex crimes attorney. Call us right away or get in touch online today.
North Carolina criminal law takes sex crimes incredibly seriously, and if you’ve been accused, you should contact a High Point criminal lawyer right away. Here’s a look at sex crimes in North Carolina.
This involves intercourse by force against the will of another person. For a rape to qualify as first-degree, one of these factors must also be present:
First-degree rape is a class B1 felony. If convicted, your sentence will be 144 months to life without parole.
This is a slightly less severe offense. It involves intercourse with another person against their will and by force or with a person who is physically or mentally helpless.
A conviction of second-degree forcible rape is a class C felony that comes with a sentence of 44 to 182 months in prison.
This offense occurs when someone 18 or older has sexual intercourse with a child under 13. It is a B1 felony, and if convicted, you must spend 300 months to life in prison. In some cases, you’ll be subjected to satellite monitoring. A sexual abuse lawyer may be able to argue against this condition.
This crime involves sexual intercourse with a child under 13 if the perpetrator is at least 12 years old and at least four years older than the victim. It’s a B1 felony punishable from 144 months to life without parole.
This involves someone who engages in intercourse with a child up to 15 when the accused is at least 12 and at least six years older than the victim. It’s a B1 felony, and if convicted, you’ll serve 144 months to life.
There is a lesser version of this crime that occurs when the defendant is more than four but less than six years older. This is a class C felony punishable by 44–182 months in prison.
This offense is similar to first-degree rape, but it involves non-intercourse sex acts. It’s a B1 felony that comes with a sentence of 144 months to life.
This offense is like second-degree forcible rape, but it involves non-intercourse sexual acts. It’s a class C felony punishable by 44–182 months in prison.
This is when someone 18 or older engages in a sexual act with a child under 13. It is a B1 felony punishable by 300 months to life without parole.
This is an offense when someone engages in a sexual act with a child under 13. The perpetrator must be at least 12 years old and at least four years older than the victim. It’s a B1 felony that comes with a sentence of 144 months to life with no parole.
There are two versions of this offense. The first, a B1 felony, happens when someone who is at least 12 years old and at least six years older than the victim engages in sexual activity with someone up to age 15. It’s punishable by 144 months in prison to life without parole.
It’s a class C felony if the perpetrator is more than four but less than six years older, and the penalty is 44–182 months in prison.
This is when a person in a parental or care taking role engages in intercourse or other sexual acts with a minor. It’s a class E felony with a sentence of 15–63 months.
This is when a teacher or school staff member at least four years older than a student engages in any sex act with a student. This can be a class G felony (8-31 month sentence) or class I felony (3-12 month sentence). This law still applies if a student is 18.
For instance, if you’re a teacher at High Point Central and an 18-year-old student expresses interest in you, you’d still have to wait until after they transfer or graduate.
The above are felony sex crimes, but you also may face charges for misdemeanor crimes. Misdemeanor sex offenses can still have far-reaching consequences. It’s still in your best interests to contact a High Point criminal defense attorney immediately.
Yes. In North Carolina, offenders may have to register from 30 years to life. A High Point, NC, defense lawyer may be able to negotiate a shorter time on the registry. Being a registered sex offender can have many undesirable effects:
Being on the registry restricts your housing options and may require you to move if convicted since registered sex offenders may not live within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare center. For example, if you own a home that’s just a few houses down from Fairview Elementary, you would have to move.
If you’re facing sexual assault charges, there’s no time to waste! At Greenwood Law, we firmly believe that clients are innocent until proven guilty, and we defend every client as we would a family member. If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, fill out our intake form or give us a call to set up a consultation with our law firm.
