Trusted Child Sexual Abuse Attorney in Mesa, AZ
Child sexual abuse is a felony in Arizona that carries significant penalties. If you’ve been accused of committing this serious crime, you should hire a Mesa child sexual abuse lawyer right away. Your lawyer can help you understand the charges being brought against you and analyze the evidence to come up with the most effective defense strategy.
For a free legal consultation with a child sexual abuse lawyer serving Mesa, call 480-400-5555
Trust Grand Canyon Law Group
If you’re looking for a Mesa sex crime lawyer to help with your child sexual abuse case, look no further than Grand Canyon Law Group. Our team has been defending clients against serious sex crime allegations for years. In that time, we’ve become keenly familiar with child sexual abuse laws and how they apply to different kinds of cases. We can help you with yours, too.
Mesa Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 480-400-5555
Why Hire a Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer?
Child sexual abuse victims made up 4.2% of the total of 12,324 victims of childhood maltreatment in 2024. While this term is used differently by the Child Welfare League than it is in Arizona law, it still captures the extent of the problem. That means hundreds of children faced abuse in Arizona that year. According to one source, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience childhood sexual abuse before the age of 18.
If you’re one of the adults facing allegations of committing this crime, you need to hire a child sexual abuse lawyer right away. Child sexual abuse may not be as serious a crime in Arizona as child molestation, but it is still a felony and can carry significant penalties. Your lawyer can help you craft an effective defense strategy, increasing your chances of obtaining positive results in your case.
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What Is Child Sexual Abuse in Mesa, AZ?
The charge of child sexual abuse in Arizona is defined in ARS 13-1404 as a sexual act with someone under the age of 18 that involves only the female breast. This charge is less serious than the related charge of child molestation, but you should still take it seriously.
Continuous child sexual abuse is a different charge in Mesa, AZ. It involves engaging in three or more acts of inappropriate touching or other sexual abuse over the course of three months or more with a child under the age of 14. This crime is a Class 2 felony.
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Defenses Against Child Sexual Abuse
If you’ve been accused of child sexual abuse, there are several defenses your lawyer might choose to employ to get your charges dismissed or get you a not guilty verdict. They include:
- False allegations. Sometimes, children make false allegations of sexual abuse against their parents or other adults in their lives.
- Lack of intent. If an adult touches the breast of a child accidentally, that’s not considered child sexual abuse. The same is true of an adult who must medically examine a child or has another legitimate reason to be touching her breast.
- Insufficient evidence. If the prosecution does not have sufficient evidence to show that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, you should not be convicted of child sexual abuse.
- Police misconduct. If law enforcement officials coerced a confession from you or conducted an unlawful search and seizure, the evidence obtained from those actions should be inadmissible in court, which could leave the prosecution without sufficient evidence to pursue your case.
- Mistaken identity. In some cases, defense lawyers argue that while an act of sexual abuse occurred, it was not their client who committed it. This defense typically requires an alibi or another form of proof that you were elsewhere when the crime occurred.
It’s okay if you’re not sure what the right defense strategy is against the charges being brought against you. Your lawyer can analyze the evidence and decide how to move forward.
FAQs
What Is the Difference Between Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault?
The primary difference between sexual abuse and sexual assault is the victim’s ability to consent. If someone commits an unwanted sexual act with an adult who is generally capable of giving consent but has not given it or cannot give it due to temporary incapacity, that’s generally considered sexual assault. If someone commits an unwanted sexual act with a person who can’t consent, such as a child, that’s generally considered sexual abuse.
What Is the Romeo and Juliet Law in Arizona?
The Romeo and Juliet law in Arizona refers to ARS 13-1407(E), which provides an exception to statutory rape charges for minors who are close in age engaging in consensual sex. This law applies when the alleged victim is 15 to 17 years old, and the alleged perpetrator is under 19, still in high school, and no more than 24 months older.
What Are Some Legal Defenses for Child Sexual Abuse in Arizona?
Some legal defenses for child sexual abuse in Arizona include questioning the legitimacy of the allegations being made against you, arguing a lack of sexual intent, or proving the absence of any sexual contact. It is difficult to defend against child sexual abuse charges because emotions surrounding these cases tend to run high. A skilled lawyer can help you establish an effective defense strategy.
Can DCS Remove a Child for Sexual Abuse Allegations in Arizona?
DCS can remove a child for sexual abuse allegations if an agent suspects that the child is in actual danger. The agency moves quickly if there is the potential for harm to come to the child, initiating removals for up to 72 hours to protect children during investigations. For longer removals, DCS needs to get court approval.
Your Mesa Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
There are few crimes more serious than child sexual abuse. If you’re facing charges, you need to find a Mesa child sexual abuse lawyer who can protect your rights and defend you against them right away. The team here at Grand Canyon Law Group can help. We’ve been practicing sex crime law for years, and in that time, we’ve successfully represented many defendants charged with this serious crime. We can help you, too. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation.
Call or text 480-400-5555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
