Information Center Sex OffensesCall us now or use the form below. Frequently Asked Questions about Sex OffensesQ: How are sex offenses punished? A: Punishment for a sex offense can vary dramatically depending on the category of crime. A misdemeanor sex crime conviction (such as indecent exposure) may receive less than a year of jail time, a fine, community service, counseling or probation. A felony, on the other hand, may be punished by a lengthy prison term (up to a life sentence). Additionally, released sex felons must register as sex offenders and multiple convictions often lead to greater punishments. Q: Is consent a defense? A: Consent may be a defense to sex crimes, in some cases. However, some individuals are not considered able to consent to sex under the law. For those individuals, even if they explicitly agree, their agreement is not legally valid. For example, minors, the mentally disabled and unconscious or intoxicated people (even if they willingly became intoxicated) typically cannot provide valid consent. Statutory rape or date rape charges may result. A felony sex offense charge requires immediate intervention from a criminal defense attorney who knows how to protect your rights and negotiate the best possible result according to the facts and applicable law. Do not delay. If you have been charged with a felony sex offense, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney. Nashville, Tennessee Sex Crimes AttorneyIt's terrible to be accused of a sex crime. Anyone can make a false accusation with nothing more than a few words. If the accuser is a child, he or she may not even understand the seriousness of these accusations. For the accused, there's only one option: fight back with all the force you can. At Rob McKinney, Attorney at Law, we take immediate action to defend people against the serious charges of:
For a free consultation, call 1-866-502-0009 or contact us online. If you can't come to our office, we can come to you. We accept credit cards and offer other payment plans. Sex Offenses - An OverviewSex offenses include a myriad of criminal sexual behaviors, ranging from prostitution to rape. If you or one of your family members is facing a sex-offense charge, it is very important to obtain the legal representation of an experienced criminal defense attorney like one at Rob McKinney, Attorney at Law of Nashville, Tennessee. The penalties for a sex offense conviction can be serious and life-changing, but many defenses are available. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible allows the evidence to be evaluated and witnesses to be questioned soon after the event. What Is A Sex Offense?Sex offenses include all forms of illegal sexual activity, ranging from the crime of rape, usually defined as sexual penetration without consent, to the crime of prostitution, usually defined as sex for hire. The most serious crimes involve the sexual assault of children or include physical injury. Other sex offenses include public indecency, voyeurism, prostitution, solicitation, pornography, date rape, lewd acts, pandering, pimping, statutory rape and unlawful sodomy. Rape, Sexual Assault, Date Rape and Statutory RapeUnwanted sex acts are generally regarded as rape. However, these criminal offenses are also commonly referred to as "sexual abuse" or "sexual assault." A wide range of activities may be included under these definitions. Statutory rape, for instance, is sexual activity with a person under the legal age of consent. Date rape is a nonlegal term for forcible sexual activity between people who know one another during a social engagement. Regardless of the circumstances, there are serious penalties for individuals found guilty of these sex crimes. Prosecutors and the police focus on sexual offenses, so if you or someone you know is accused of or arrested for a sex crime, you need to contact an attorney immediately. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss your situation. Victimless Sex OffensesA victimless crime, sometimes termed a consensual crime, a crime without victims or a complainantless crime is a "crime that is considered to have no direct victim, usually because only consenting adults are involved." Black's Law Dictionary. State laws regarding victimless sex offenses vary greatly, but state statutes typically address victimless sex offenses such as prostitution, pandering, solicitation, indecent exposure and illegal possession of pornography. The penalties for victimless sex offenses, such as solicitation of a minor or child pornography, are severe; often involving felony convictions, jail or prison time, sexual offender treatment programs and lifetime registration as a sexual offender. For other offenses such as indecent exposure, the penalties are generally less severe; they range from fines and community service to felony charges and incarceration. If you have been arrested for a victimless sex offense, contact a law firm immediately to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney who can clearly explain your rights and options. Sex Offender RegistryAll states require sex offender registration of some kind. Individuals convicted as sex offenders must register their addresses with law enforcement. Sex offenders must also send updates whenever they change addresses and must keep their registration information current. Some states require sex offenders to verify information on a yearly basis via mail or more frequently if deemed violent predators. States have different requirements regarding what offenses require registration and for what periods of time. Additionally, some offenses that are more serious may require registration for life. Serious crimes vary by state, but most commonly include repeat offenders, violent sexual offenders and those who commit sexual crimes against children. If you are concerned about your status under these rules, contact a knowledgeable attorney from our firm for help and advice. False AllegationsFalse allegations may occur, most often in child sex-abuse situations. An adult may have influenced a child's allegation or the child may have based his or her accusation on an overactive imagination. Public awareness of child abuse has increased and more reports of possible abuse are being made, but not all reports are substantiated. Also, even good-faith accusations may not be true and false allegations may be made to harm the accused. If you find yourself the victim of false allegations, a criminal defense attorney can help you take immediate action to defend yourself. Sex Offenses Resource Links
SafetyCops
The Sentencing Project
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
Family Violence Prevention Fund
CDC: Division of Violence Prevention
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Information Center Sex Offenses
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Rob McKinney
Attorney at Law
214 2nd Ave N., Suite 103
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: 615-509-8599
Toll-Free: 1-877-364-6072
Fax: 615-242-5967
"There are precious times in our lives when we are blessed with people in our life who make a difference. Although at times we may not have the right words to express just how grateful we are, we truly are grateful. God has brought you into our life, and we are forever thankful for you and all that you have done. Even if at times we may not say so. The picture included is of our daughter. We believe that it is she who will benefit the most from what you have done for us. Because of you, her father will be returned to her soon. That is why I would like to say thank you. People may not take the time to acknowledge the great work that you do or have done, but we want you to know that we do."
Thank You So Very Much - Nathan
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Thank you so very much Rob,
My regret is that we met under such a circumstance, my second regret is that we did not seek you sooner. Joshua's father did something good, he introduced us to you. You have been so important to us, some good comes from every misfortune, we were able to know you, and appreciate your talent.
Maybe Josh will further his education, if so this money will help him.
We will never forget you,
Thank you Robin,
(names omitted to protect confidentiality)
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Dear Rob,
I wanted to take this time to sincerely thank you for your success in my court case on May 6th. I know this is a little delayed as I have been busy as we all are... Anyway, I want you to know how much I appreciate your attention to detail and your professionalism. I made it through the 48 hours and have put it past me. Thanks once more for your ability to get it reduced and if I ever need legal assistance in the future, you have proven yourself to me.
Sincerely,
A.W.
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Rob,
Thank you for always taking care of Charles, Jessica and Drew for me. Without your help I would not know what to do or who to turn to. You are more to us than just a lawyer. Your are a friend someone who is always there for us.
Thank you,
JB
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Dear Rob,
I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have been doing for me. It's comforting to know I've got you on my side. You're the BEST!!
Thanks again,
R
PS I really can't thank you enough.
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Rob,
Thank you so very much for all you have done and are still doing. Thank you for being such a great attorney in our time of need. You made a difficult situation endurable.
Sincerely,
LM
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Dear Rob,
I wanted to take this time to sincerely thank you for your success in my court case on May 6th. I know this is a little delayed as I have been busy as we all are... Anyway, I want you to know how much I appreciate your attention to detail and your professionalism. I made it through the 48 hours and have put it past me. Thanks once more for your ability to get it reduced and if I ever need legal assistance in the future, you have proven yourself to me.
Sincerely,
A.W.
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Attorney Rob was the attorney I hired to defend me for a DUI arrest I experienced in 2007. It took place in a TN county that is notorious for refusing to plead down DUI's to lesser charges under any circumstances, and for insisting on nothing less than at least the minimum sentencing requirements for this offense. (Williamson) Upon the very first viewing of my "arrest tape" that we were finally allowed to see - along with the arresting officer, Rob was able to spot the officer giving me a bad command, starting me out on the wrong foot. Rob, himself, has been through field sobriety courses, has achieved certification, and knows the correct procedures the officers should follow. When he pointed this out to him, the officer was evidently rattled enough to realize that he had even more to lose than just the case if it went to trial. This one factor influenced heavily the outcome of my case. Rob was able to help me plead to a lesser charge of reckless driving, with no jail time, and 6 months of probation. I thoroughly believe that if Rob had not brought this to the attention of the officer during our viewing of the tape, we might have had to go through an even more protracted period of having to wait, and then go through a stressful trial. My case, otherwise, was one that most people, with untrained eyes, would view as "borderline." I did not deserve to be penalized to the degree that the county of Williamson was set on, and Rob McKinney made sure that it did not happen. I highly, unreservedly, recommend Rob McKinney to assist you in your DUI case. He is fierce and fearless when it comes to supporting his clients. July 23, 2008