Lexington Sex Crimes Attorney

Lexington Davidson County Sex Crimes

A sex crime charge can be devastating to your reputation and relationships. Sexual offenses are serious crimes and thus vigorously prosecuted in North Carolina. Subject to significant consequences, including lengthy prison sentences, you must take sex crimes seriously and ensure you have a strong legal advocate in your corner to defend against the charge.

If you are facing sex crime charges in Lexington, Davidson County, defend yourself with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney from Greenwood Law. We understand this may be a dark time in your life, but you do not have to face the charges alone. We will help you understand the charges and potential penalties, answer all your questions, and represent you in court. When you retain a Greenwood Law criminal defense attorney, you can rest assured they will work hard to seek your best outcome. Contact us today to speak to a lawyer about your sex crimes case.

What Is a Sex Crime?

North Carolina identifies several sex crimes in its criminal code, including rape and other sex offenses, including but not limited to:

First-degree forcible rape – You will be guilty of first-degree forcible rape if you engage in vaginal intercourse with another person by force and against their will and either use (or threaten to use) a deadly weapon, inflict serious personal injury, or are aided and abetted by someone. First-degree forcible rape is a Class B1 felony.
Second-degree forcible rape – Second-degree forcible rape is distinguished from a first-degree crime if you engage in vaginal intercourse with someone by force and against their will or who has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated (of which you are aware). Second-degree forcible rape is a Class C felony.
Statutory rape of a child by an adult – This sex offense occurs if you are at least eighteen and engage in vaginal intercourse with a child under the age of thirteen. If you are convicted of this crime, you will be guilty of a Class B1 felony.
First-degree forcible sexual offense – You will be guilty of a first-degree forcible sexual offense if you engage in a sexual act with someone else by force and against their will and use or threaten to use a deadly weapon, inflict serious personal injury on them, or are aided and abetted by another person. This is a Class B1 felony.
Second-degree forcible sexual offense – Like second-degree forcible rape, you will be guilty of second-degree forcible sexual offense if you engage in a sexual act with someone by force and against their will or who has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated (of which you are aware). This is a Class C felony.
- Sexual battery – You could be found guilty of sexual battery, a Class A1 misdemeanor, if you “for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, engage in sexual contact with another person by force and against the will of the other person, or who has a mental disability or who is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know that the other person has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.”

Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, you can see how many sexual offenses can result in felony or misdemeanor criminal charges. At Greenwood Law, we will explain the intricacies of the charges as we listen to your side of the story. We will answer all your questions and build a strong case on your behalf.

What Are the Penalties for Sex Crimes?

The severity of a penalty depends on the severity of the crime. For example, first-degree forcible rape is a Class B1 felony, with a prison sentence of 144 months to a life sentence without parole. A second-degree forcible rape charge is a Class C felony, meaning a prison sentence of 44 to 182 months in prison.

In addition to these consequences, a sex crimes conviction may also mean you must register as a sex offender. It can also irreparably harm your reputation and even affect your ability to secure employment. Because you are facing the possibility of significant penalties once you are charged with a sex crime, it is critical to retain an experienced sex crimes defense attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

What Are the Possible Defenses to Sex Crime Charges?

The alleged facts and circumstances of every case differ. Your attorney will assert the defenses that best fit your case. Some possible defenses to a sex crime charge include the following:

Your innocence – Your attorney will gather and analyze all available evidence to establish your innocence. Depending on the circumstances of your case, your attorney may argue you have an alibi and were not in the geographic vicinity where the crime occurred. If you have a time-stamped photo, you might prove you were fishing at High Rock Lake. Your attorney may also use a restaurant receipt, movie ticket, or witness testimony to establish your alibi. The evidence may also show that the law enforcement officers incorrectly identified you as the perpetrator or that DNA evidence allegedly linking you to the crime was tainted and thus invalid.
Your mental Incapacity – Sometimes, a defense of mental incapacity is warranted in a sex crimes case. This defense may be available if your attorney can prove you had a mental defect or incapacity at the time of the crime or that some form of mental illness made you unable to understand that the act was wrong.
The victim’s consent – As shown above, necessary elements of most sex crimes require that the act occurred against the alleged victim’s will. However, if the victim consented to the act, the prosecution cannot establish all the elements of the crime against you. While difficult to prove if the only available evidence is the victim’s word against yours, sometimes other communications, such as text messages or telephone records, can serve as evidence of consent. Your lawyer will analyze these communications between the parties as they develop your defenses.

Contact Greenwood Law Today

Are you facing sex crime charges in Davidson County? An experienced criminal defense attorney from Greenwood Law is ready to help you navigate the North Carolina criminal justice system. For all your criminal defense needs, contact a Greenwood Law attorney serving Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina. We look forward to speaking with you in a confidential, free consultation.

Directions to Our Office

Our office, located at One Salem Tower, 119 Brookstown Avenue, Suite 300, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, is approximately twenty miles north of Lexington. Regardless of where you are in the state, consider following these directions:

From the North:

Take US-52 S toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-421 E
Take the exit for S Main St
Turn left onto S. Main St
Turn right onto Brookstown Avenue
Destination will be on the right

From the South:

Take US-52 N toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-421 E
Take the exit for S Main St
Turn left onto S. Main St
Turn right onto Brookstown Avenue
Destination will be on the right

From the East:

Take I-40 W toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-52 N
Take US-52 N toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-421 E
Take the exit for S Main St
Turn left onto S. Main St
Turn right onto Brookstown Avenue
Destination will be on the right

From the West:

Take I-40 E toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-52 N
Take US-52 N toward Winston-Salem
Take the exit for US-421 E
Take the exit for S Main St
Turn left onto S. Main St
Turn right onto Brookstown Avenue
Destination will be on the right