Woodbridge Sex Crimes Lawyer

A sex crime is a serious criminal offense that comes with very harsh consequences. If you are convicted of a sex crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia you are likely to face stiff fines and penalties, including significant time in jail. You may also be required to register as a sex offender with the Virginia Sex Offender Registry for many years and possibly for a lifetime. This means that even after your fines have been paid and your jail sentence has been served, the negative consequences of your conviction are likely to follow you for the rest of your life.

Casey R. Stevens and Lisa K. Caruso are first-rate criminal defense lawyers who are devoted to defending individuals facing serious criminal charges, including crimes such as rape, child molestation and sexual assault. As former Virginia prosecutors, Casey and Lisa know first-hand just how serious and devastating the consequences can be when you are charged with a sex-related crime. They also know that when you are accused of a sex crime, far too often individuals and entire communities will rush to make a quick judgment about your guilt.

Protecting Important Legal Rights

If you have been accused of a sex-related crime, Casey R. Stevens and Lisa K. Caruso will make sure that you are treated fairly and that your rights are protected at all stages of the legal process.  They are seasoned criminal defense lawyers who have the skills and knowledge necessary to defend all types of sex-related crimes, including:

Rape

The crime of rape is defined in Section 18.2-61 of the Virginia Code. Under Section 18.2-61, a person can be convicted of rape for having sexual intercourse with a victim or “causing” a victim to have sexual intercourse with another person either: (i) against the victim’s will, by force, threat or intimidation of or against the complaining witness or another person; or, (ii) through the use of the victim’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness, or (iii) with a child under age 13.

Rape convictions carry a minimum prison sentence of five years in Virginia; however, the judge has discretion to impose up to a life sentence. Attempted rape is a Class 4 felony carrying a term of imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than 10-year prison sentence and up to a $100,000 fine. In all cases, representation by an experienced Woodbridge sex crime attorney is critical for mitigating your risk of facing a life-altering conviction.

Statutory Rape

The age of consent in Virginia is 13. However, sexual intercourse with an individual between 13 and 15 can be prosecuted as felony carnal knowledge under Virginia Code Section 18.2-63, and between 15 and 17 as causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent under Virginia Code Section 18.2-371:

  • Virginia Code Section 18.2-63 – Under Section 18.2-63, having carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 13 and 15 is a Class 4 felony carrying not less than two years nor more than 10 years in prison.
    • The statute defines “carnal knowledge” as, “acts of sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, and animate and inanimate object sexual penetration.”
  • Virginia Code Section 18.2-371 – Under Section 18.2-371, any person 18 years of age or older who engages in “consensual sexual intercourse or anal intercourse with or performs cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus” with a minor age 15 or older can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor carry up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

Sexual Battery

Sexual battery is defined in Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.4 as committing sexual abuse under a variety of specific sets of circumstances. “Sexual abuse” is defined as:

An act committed with the intent to sexually molest, arouse, or gratify any person, where:

  1. The accused intentionally touches the complaining witness’s intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts;
  2. The accused forces the complaining witness to touch the accused’s, the witness’s own, or another person’s intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts;
  3. If the complaining witness is under the age of 13, the accused causes or assists the complaining witness to touch the accused’s, the witness’s own, or another person’s intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts; or
  4. The accused forces another person to touch the complaining witness’s intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts.

Aggravated Sexual Battery

Aggravated sexual battery is defined under Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.3 to include sexual battery committed under any of the following “aggravating” circumstances:

  1. The complaining witness is less than 13 years of age; or
  2. The act is accomplished through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness; or
  3. The offense is committed by a parent, step-parent, grandparent, or step-grandparent and the complaining witness is at least 13 but less than 18 years of age; or
  4. The act is accomplished against the will of the complaining witness by force, threat or intimidation, and
    The complaining witness is at least 13 but less than 15 years of age; or
    The accused causes serious bodily or mental injury to the complaining witness; or
    The accused uses or threatens to use a dangerous weapon; or
  5. The offense is not a recognized form of treatment in the profession, and is committed, without the express consent of the patient, by (i) a massage therapist, or a person purporting to be a massage therapist, during an actual or purported practice of massage therapy.

Under Virginia law, aggravated sexual battery is a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one nor more than 20 years and by a fine of not more than $100,000.

Indecent Liberties with a Child

Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-370 any person 18 years of age or over, who, with lascivious intent, knowingly and intentionally commits any of the following acts with any child under the age of 15 years is guilty of a Class 5 felony carrying not less than one year nor more than 10 years, or in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both. Allegations of taking indecent liberties with a child can take several forms. Some examples include:

  1. Expose his or her sexual or genital parts to any child to whom such person is not legally married or propose that any such child expose his or her sexual or genital parts to such person; or
  2. Propose that any such child feel or fondle his own sexual or genital parts or the sexual or genital parts of such person or propose that such person feel or fondle the sexual or genital parts of any such child; or
  3. Propose to such child the performance of an act of sexual intercourse, anal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus or any act constituting an offense under § 18.2-361; or
  4. Entice, allure, persuade, or invite any such child to enter any vehicle, room, house, or other place, for any of the purposes set forth in the preceding subdivisions of this subsection.

In all cases, representation by an experienced Woodbridge sex crime attorney is essential. If you are facing any allegations involving taking indecent liberties with a child in Virginia, we encourage you to contact us right away for more information.

Child Pornography

Virginia Code Section 18.2-374.1:1 establishes multiple offenses involving child pornography. Generally, possessing child pornography is a Class 6 felony when it is a first-time offense, and it is a Class 5 felony in all subsequent cases. However, the law imposes enhanced penalties in cases involving possession with intent to transmit, distribute or sell. Operating a website for the purposes of facilitating payment for access to child pornography is a Class 4 felony.

Solicitation of Prostitution

Under Section 18.2-346.01 of the Virginia Code, soliciting prostitution is a Class 1 misdemeanor in most cases. However, it is elevated to a felony offense in cases involving the solicitation of minors (Class 6 if the minor is age 16 or older and Class 5 if the minor is under age 16).

Forcible Sodomy

Forcible sodomy is a felony offense punishable by five years to life in prison under Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.1. However, in cases in which the alleged offender is more than three years older than the complaining witness, the minimum sentence can increase to 25 years. Additionally, where the victim is less than 13 years of age and the offender was at least 18 years of age the punishment is mandatory life.

VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 18.2-374.3. USE OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE CERTAIN OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN

Making personal contact with a minor or direct contact through any agent or agency, any print medium, the United States mail, any common carrier or communication common carrier, any electronic communications system, the Internet, or any telecommunications, wire, computer network, or radio communications system is a felony punishable from anywhere between 1 to 40 years in prison with up to a possible 25 years of a mandatory minimum term in prison all dependent upon the age of the victim and the defendant at the time of the offense. Said conduct includes sexting, or proposing sexting, proposing sexual conduct involving the offender or minor which would involve the genital parts of the minor or defendant, or enticing a minor to enter any place or vehicle to accomplish such act.

Regardless of the charges that you may be facing, Casey and Lisa are committed to building the strongest defense possible focused upon winning your case. They know that in many of these cases, an acquittal or conviction will hinge upon the issues of consent and credibility.  Casey and Lisa are skilled trial attorneys who know how to fully investigate the facts and present a winning defense before a judge or jury. They are focused on protecting your freedom and are prepared to do everything within their power to reach a successful outcome in your case.

Seek Skilled Legal Representation Today

Stevens Caruso is a leading criminal defense firm that represents clients in Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Fauquier County and all other areas in Northern Virginia and beyond.  If you have been accused of any type of sex crime in Virginia, you need to make sure that you have a strong defense lawyer on your side every step of the way.

Casey R. Stevens and Lisa K. Caruso are tough lawyers who are well-positioned to help you confront the serious charges you are facing.  They offer free in office consultations where they will identify your options and guide you through the legal process. Casey and Lisa offer free in office initial consultations and can be reached through by contacting Casey on his cell phone 703-967-5750 or Lisa on her Cell 804-731-4262 or the firm’s online contact form.

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