Child Sex Crime Charges in Tampa, FL

Tampa Criminal Attorney

If you have been accused of a sex crime that involves a child or minor, your reputation, future, and freedom could be in jeopardy. Sex crimes carry some of the most severe penalties and almost all sex crime charges score mandatory prison on the state sentencing guidelines.

Any sex crime involving a minor requires sex offender registration.

This could greatly handicap your ability to live where you want, not to mention the total destruction of your reputation when anyone can access your name, photograph, address and the crime for which you were convicted.

Types of Sex Crimes Against Children in Florida

We have extensive experience handling all types of sexual offenses involving children. If you are facing any of the following types of charges, we can evaluate your case and prepare a defense to give you the best chance of a successful case resolution.

Common child sex crimes include:

Child rape
Child pornography
Sexual battery involving a minor
Aggravated sexual battery
Lewd and lascivious molestation
Lewd and lascivious battery
Lewd and lascivious exhibition
Enticing a child to commit a lewd act
Sex with a minor
Exposure of sexual organs
False imprisonment of children
Impregnating a minor
Kidnapping a child
Sexual performance by a child
Sex predator designations
Sex offender designations

Any accusation of child sex crimes in Florida is a very serious matter. If you have been so accused do not make any response other than to immediately seek the assistance of a Tampa sex crime defense attorney with extensive experience in these matters. Child sex abuse is a criminal act and the potential penalties are severe.

Penalties for Child Sex Abuse

Child abuse is the intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon a child. In Florida, this is a felony. If a child suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement through neglect, torture, caging, battery or other act this is a felony of the first degree punishable by up to 30 years imprisonment. Additionally, it is a felony of the third degree for a person 21 years of age or older to impregnate a child under the age of 16 punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000.

The exact charge will depend upon the type and seriousness of the injury to the child. In order to gain a conviction, the prosecutor must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that discipline used on a child was excessive and not reasonable. A child abuse lawyer at our firm is experienced in fighting allegations of child abuse. Parents and caregivers do have the right and responsibility to discipline a child and you have the right to a powerful defense.

Since you only have one opportunity to defend yourself from these charges it is important to select a defense lawyer who listens to you and answers your questions fully. Our legal team considers communication with a client to be of prime importance and takes care to be responsive at all times. Call The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger for a consultation with a talented sex crime defense lawyer and find out what can be done in your defense.

Contact a Tampa child abuse attorney at the firm for assistance in constructing a solid defense against the allegations you are facing.

Have You Been Accused of Molestation?

Have you been arrested for or are you under investigation for child molestation? If so, it is important that you consult a Tampa sex crime defense attorney quickly. Early intervention by a knowledgeable former state attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Our legal team has an intimate understanding of the procedures followed by investigators. With this background, our firm has built up an impressive record of obtaining a positive outcome for a client charged with a sex crime.

A molestation charge can come about for various reasons. A child may be trying to get attention. An ex-spouse may wish to gain an advantage in a child custody case or simply be seeking revenge. There are numerous cases of innocent people charged and convicted of this crime because an adult simply misunderstood what actually occurred.

Penalties for Molestation

3 to 8 Years in Prison
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration

Police very often have strong feelings concerning an accusation of child molestation which can cloud their judgment during an investigation. This may result in assumptions being taken as fact.

An experienced molestation lawyer can investigate and interview witnesses to uncover ulterior motives which prompted the accusation. The ability to recognize where law enforcement procedures were not followed may result in your attorney getting charges reduced or dropped altogether.

Choose Our Firm's Experienced Defense in Tampa

At The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger, we have extensive experience in all matters relating to child sex crimes. Tim Hessinger was a prosecutor for 15 years in the State Attorney's Office. Eight of those years were spent prosecuting in the Major Crime Division- Special Prosecution Unit. While in this unit, Tim was solely responsible for all high profile child abuse cases involving sexual allegations as well as all of the child murder cases. Tim was the lead trial attorney on countless cases involving sexual allegations by high profile individuals such as priests, scout leaders, youth ministers, teachers, and police officers. While in this position, Tim also trained other prosecutors, police detectives, child protective investigators, law students, police academy students and criminal defense attorneys on various aspects of child abuse investigations.

Since the formation of our firm, our defense team has effectively defended a wide range of child abuse cases, many involving allegations of sexual misconduct such as sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation. We bring our skill and experience to every case we take on. We can intervene on your behalf with the State Attorney prior to formal charges being filed and persuasively tell your side of the story or provide other mitigating evidence to the State Attorney. The State Attorney has complete discretion on what level of charge is filed and how many charges are filed, if any, against you. Providing this information prior to the prosecutor filing formal charges can impact the prosecutor's filing decision. Failing to be proactive can be disastrous.

Contact a Tampa sex crime attorney from The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger immediately if you have been accused of a sexual offense involving a minor.