Sexual Conduct with a Minor Attorney in Citrus Park, AZ
In Arizona, statutory rape is known as sexual conduct with a minor. This crime occurs when an adult knowingly engages in sexual intercourse or oral sex with a person under the age of 18. If you’re facing allegations, you should take them seriously and hire a Citrus Park sexual conduct with a minor lawyer who can help you fight them right away.
For a free legal consultation with a sexual conduct with a minor lawyer serving Citrus Park, call 480-400-5555
Trust Grand Canyon Law Group
You deserve to work with a legal team that has the experience required to provide you with skilled legal services. When you choose Grand Canyon Law Group, that’s what you’ll get. We’ve been in practice for years, and in that time, we’ve handled countless sex crime cases, successfully representing clients and obtaining positive results. You can trust us with your sexual conduct with a minor case, as well.
Citrus Park Sexual Conduct With A Minor Lawyer Near Me 480-400-5555
Why Hire a Sexual Conduct With a Minor Lawyer?
There were 1,583,034 children living in Arizona as of 2023. Only a small percentage of them ever experience sexual contact with adults. However, with that many children living in the state, the number of people facing statutory rape charges is still quite high. If you’re among those people, you need to hire a sexual conduct with a minor lawyer right away. Your lawyer can help you:
- Understand the charges
- Gather and evaluate evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Look for holes in the prosecution’s case
- Come up with an effective defense strategy
- Negotiate a plea deal if you opt to take this route
- Provide you with courtroom representation if you choose to go to trial
The team here at Grand Canyon Law Group has extensive experience litigating sex crime cases. We have what it takes to provide vigorous courtroom representation.
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What Is Considered Sexual Conduct With a Minor?
Sexual conduct with a minor is the technical term in Arizona for statutory rape. It involves oral sex or sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 18, and it’s a serious crime in Arizona.
No Requirement for Force
Unlike other rape cases, there’s no requirement that the alleged perpetrator use force against the victim for a case of sexual conduct with a minor to be upheld in court.
Arizona’s Romeo and Juliet Law
There are exceptions to sexual conduct with a minor laws made for people under the age of 19, still in high school, and less than 24 months older than the alleged victim. These exceptions are intended to protect minors and very young adults from prosecution for having relationships with people in their peer group.
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Sexual Conduct With a Minor Penalties
Sexual conduct with a minor penalties vary depending on the age of the alleged victim in Citrus Park, AZ. For victims under the age of 12, the penalty upon conviction is life in prison. If the victim was under 15 but over 12, this crime is considered a Class 2 felony punishable by three to 12.5 years in prison. If the victim is at least 15, it’s considered a Class 4 felony punishable by 1 to 3.75 years in prison; however, if the alleged perpetrator was in a position of trust, it’s a Class 2 felony.
Potential Defenses Against Statutory Rape Charges
There are several potential defenses against statutory rape charges in Arizona. Your Citrus Park sexual conduct with a minor attorney can help you decide which of them is most applicable to your case. Common options include:
- Mistake of age
- Defense of marriage
- Lack of sexual relations
- Mistaken identity
The use of mistake of age defenses is limited in Arizona. You can only use this defense if the alleged victim was over the age of 15 and you had compelling reason to believe that they were over 18 at the time of the incident. If the person was 17 and provided you with a fake ID in an age-restricted venue, for example, you could use this defense.
FAQs
What Type of Lawyer Deals With Sexual Conduct With a Minor Cases?
The type of lawyer that deals with sexual conduct with a minor cases is a sex crime lawyer. You may also hear this type of lawyer referred to simply as a Citrus Park sexual conduct with a minor attorney. Sex crime lawyers have extensive experience in representing clients facing these and similar charges, giving them access to a wealth of knowledge about how to defend you against these serious charges.
Is Sexting Illegal for Minors in Arizona?
Sexting is illegal for minors in Arizona. It’s also illegal for an adult to sext with a minor in Arizona. If you’re caught engaging in this activity, you could be charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation. If your sexts can be used as evidence to prove an actual, physical relationship, you could be tried for sexual conduct with a minor.
How Hard Is It to Beat a Sexual Conduct With a Minor Case?
It is extremely hard to beat a sexual conduct with a minor case because both the legal system and the public have a strong bias. The assumption among jury members is typically that the alleged victim is telling the truth, which creates a significant hurdle for the defense. You can improve your chances of beating your charges by working with an experienced sex crime lawyer.
Why Do Sexual Conduct With a Minor Cases Get Dismissed?
Sexual conduct with a minor cases can get dismissed if there isn’t enough evidence to support them, there are serious questions regarding the alleged victim’s credibility, or there have been procedural errors made during the investigation that violate the rights of the defendant, leading to the exclusion of key evidence.
Your Citrus Park Sexual Conduct With a Minor Lawyer
If you’ve been accused of having sexual contact with someone under the age of 18, you need to hire a Citrus Park sexual conduct with a minor lawyer right away. You can trust the team here at Grand Canyon Law Group to help you craft an effective defense against these serious charges.
We’ve been in practice for years, and in that time, we’ve developed a keen understanding of sexual conduct with a minor laws. Let us leverage our knowledge to help you. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.
Call or text 480-400-5555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form