Sex Crime Attorney Columbus Ohio
Sex Crime Allegations are Felony Offenses That need Immediate Attention
Sex offenses are defined under Ohio Law as crimes involving sexual contact or sexual conduct. All sex offenses require defendants to register as a sex offender and can carry penalties up to life in prison.
How Can Convictions for Sex Offenses be Searched Nationally?
Sex crimes are being reported with increasing frequency as attitudes regarding sexual norms and what constitutes consent changes, and law enforcement agencies have dedicated more time and resources to their investigation and prosecution. Such charges carry an especially harsh stigma. Defense lawyer Brandon Shroy defends people charged with sex crimes.
How Can Convictions for Sex Offenses be Searched in Ohio?
Reporting as a sex offender is public record which is often posted online by the local sheriff's department and is also searchable through the U.S. Department of Justice. Sex Charges are uniquely public and searchable. Make sure you have an attorney experienced in defense against allegations of sexual misconduct.
Read the Ohio Law for Any Sex Offense.
Consent is the most common reason for criminal charges of a sexual nature to be charged. It is important to work quickly with experienced legal counsel to preserve evidence quickly. Contact Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyer Brandon Shroy today.
FAQS ABOUT SEX OFFENSE|Sex Crime CHARGES IN OHIO
+ What are sex offense laws in Ohio?
Sex offense laws prohibit various types of sex crimes. Typical examples are Rape, Sexual Battery, and Sexual Imposition. Some of these charges do not involve actual sexual contact or conduct. Rather, they involve possession of illegal sexual material such as child pornography.
+ What is the Ohio Sex Offender Registry?
Certain laws require that if you plead guilty or are found guilty by a jury that the State of Ohio register people as convicted sex offenders. Ohio maintains a sex offender registry that is broken down into three tiers. The tiers correspond to the level of intrusiveness that is required and is broken down as follows:
- Tier I Sex Offender: (least intrusive) Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done annually for 15 years at the Sheriff’s Department.
- Tier II Sex Offender: Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done every 180 days for 25 years at the Sheriff’s Department.
- Tier III Sex Offender: Ohio Law requires offenders to “verify the offender’s current residence address or current school, institution of higher education, or place of employment address” (ORC 2950.06(B)). This must be done every 90 days for life at the Sheriff’s Department.
+ What tiers do sex offenses fall under?
Tier I Sex Offenses
Importuning
Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a minor less than 4 years younger
Voyeurism
Sexual Imposition
Gross Sexual Imposition
Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance
Child Enticement with Sexual Motivation
Pandering Obscenity
Menacing by Stalking with Sexual Motivation
Unlawful Restraint with Sexual Motivation
*Any attempt, complicity, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.
Tier II Sex Offenses
Compelling Prostitution
Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor
Pandering Sexually Oriented Material Involving a Minor
Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or Performance
Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor more than 4 years younger
Gross Sexual Imposition – Victim under 13
Child Endangering – Enticing into sexually oriented matter
Kidnapping with Sexual Motivation
Kidnapping victim over 18
Abduction with sexual motivation
*Any sex offense that occurs after offender has been classified as a Tier I offender/ Any attempt, complicity, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.
Tier III Sex Offenses
Rape
Sexual Battery
Aggravated Murder with Sexual Motivation
Murder with Sexual Motivation
Unlawful Death or termination of pregnancy as a result of committing or attempt to commit a felony with sexual motivation
Kidnapping of minor to engage in sexual activity
Kidnapping of minor, not by parent
Gross Sexual Imposition
Felonious Assault with Sexual Motivation
*Any offense that occurs after the offender is classified as a Tier II offender. Any offense with a Sexually Violent Predator specification. Any Attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses.
+ Click here for more information about sexual offense tiers.
SEX OFFENSE|Sex Crime CHARGES IN OHIO
Rape (F1) - engaging in unwanted sexual conduct without the consent of the other person. Usually achieved by force, threat of force, or intimidation.
Sexual battery (F3) - engaging in sexual conduct where the other person was coerced and/or unable to resist.
Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor (F2) - creating, reproducing, publishing, buying, selling, distributing, or publicly displaying obscene material involving a minor/minors.
Unlawful sexual conduct with minor - a person, who is 18 or older, can be charged with this offense if they knowingly or recklessly engaged in sexual conduct with another person who is 13 years old but less than 16. Prior criminal history and the range of age between the person and minor are used in determining which level of felony or misdemeanor the perpetrator will be charged with.
Gross Sexual Imposition (GSI) - touching another person's erogenous areas (thighs, genitals, breasts, etc) for the purposes of sexual gratification, using force or threat of force; use of drugs/alcohol, deception; or if the other person is under 13.
Sexual Imposition - touching another person's erogenous areas when the touching is offensive to the alleged victim; the alleged offender knows the alleged victim is impaired by drugs/alcohol; the alleged victim is asleep or passed out; the alleged victim is between 13 and 16; or the alleged offender is using their status as a mental health professional to persuade a patient that it is for medical necessity.
Importuning - attempting to engage in sexual activity with an individual under the age of 13, regardless of whether or not the alleged offender is aware of the individual's age.
Voyeurism - invading someone else's privacy to spy or eavesdrop on them for one's own sexual arousal or gratification. This charge also encompasses taking pictures of or filming someone in a state of privacy. Depending on the details of the alleged crime, this can be charged anywhere from a misdemeanor of the 3rd degree to a felony of the 5th degree.
Public Indecency - exposing oneself or engaging in a sexual act in close proximity to others who are not members of one's household. Depending on the details of the alleged crime, this can be charged anywhere from a misdemeanor of the 4th degree to a felony of the 5th degree.
Prostitution - engaging in sexual activity for money or payment. This is charged as a misdemeanor of the 3rd degree, or a felony of the 4th or 5th degree if the alleged perpetrator has tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
Solicitation - soliciting a person to engage in sexual activity in exchange for money. This is charged as a misdemeanor of the 3rd degree, or a felony of the 4th or 5th degree if the alleged perpetrator has tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
Brandon Shroy has spent years defending and winning sex offense | sex crime cases in Central Ohio.
As your attorney, Brandon Shroy will utilize his extensive criminal defense experience and leverage his reputation as an aggressive litigator to fight on your behalf and deliver the best possible outcome.
Brandon practices in all Central Ohio courts including the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the Courts of Common Pleas, Municipal courts and Mayor's courts.
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