Federal Aggravated Sexual Abuse

Being charged with a criminal offense can be one of the scariest and most stressful experiences that a person can be subjected to. Regardless of the severity of the crime, the arrest process and the litigation of any criminal offense can have life changing effects. However, some criminal charges are easier to overcome than others. Someone arrested these days for possession of cannabis will probably not have to worry about seeing any time in jail and will usually get off without any serious repercussions. Even those arrested for a DUI can achieve positive results with the right circumstances and the right lawyer.

On the other side of the coin, there are criminal charges that are difficult to overcome and that will leave a lasting mark on the accused for years or even for a lifetime. Sex offenses are among the most serious charges that a person can face, and a conviction for even the lowest forms of sex crimes can result in years of imprisonment, lifetime sex offender registration requirements, along with embarrassment and hindrance to finding gainful employment. If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex offense, you should not hesitate to contact a dedicated St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney.

There is another wrinkle to sex based offenses in that they can be charged by both State and Federal authorities. The entity that decides to bring a case against you can have a large effect on the eventual outcome of your case. Criminal charges brought by the state will typically be less well prepared, less well researched, and the prosecutors will be less experienced and dedicated. Criminal charges brought by Federal prosecutors however, can be much more dangerous. Federal criminal statutes are purposely designed to be more convoluted and harder for a lay person to understand. And Federal sentencing laws mandate much more serious prison sentences for people convicted of such crimes than they would face under similar State charges.

One of the most serious sex charges than can be brought at the Federal level is Aggravated Sexual Abuse under United Sates Code Chapter 18 section 2241. Under the statute, a person is guilty of aggravated sexual abuse under a few different circumstances. First, a person can be convicted if he or she uses force or threatens to use force to cause death or serious bodily injury in order to engage in a sexual act with another person. A defendant can also be convicted of aggravated sexual abuse if he or she uses an intoxicating drug or substance to render a victim unconscious, and then engages in sexual conduct with the unconscious person. A violation of this section is punishable by a maximum penalty of life in prison. A person commits aggravated sexual abuse with children if the victim of the offense is under the age of 16, and the penalty is increased substantially to include a minimum mandatory 30 year prison sentence. The potential penalties facing anyone convicted of a Federal sex offense are extreme. Because of those penalties, anyone facing such charges should not hesitate to contact a dedicated St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyer right away.

The attorneys at Hanlon Law have years of experience defending clients facing both serious State and Federal charges. Over the years we have developed effective defense strategies that time and time again help our clients achieve excellent results on their cases. We take great pride in the results we are able to achieve for our clients, and hope that we will be able to provide you and your loved ones with the same service and achieve those same excellent results. If you are facing charges for any sex-based offense , you should not hesitate to call us today for a consultation at 727.289.0222.