Columbia Sex Crime Lawyer
Defending You on Sex Crime Charges in Columbia
In general, any type of crime does not carry a particularly pleasant reputation in society. However, there are some crimes which are especially heinous in the eyes of the public. The obvious ones include murder, grand theft and sex crimes. The category of sex crimes is perhaps one type of crime that gets a lot of attention and that attention is almost always bad attention. The thought of someone sexually violating another person in some way is almost as heinous as them violating their humanity by threatening their life altogether. Because of the seriousness of this crime, society and the criminal justice system have both developed a sort of bias against those accused of such actions.
Because of the social stigma that has haunted this area of criminal law, sex crimes defense cases can be particularly difficult to handle. Not only does the Columbia attorney working the case have the task of defending his client against the charges brought against them, he must also do while battling the personal prejudices that the jury members and even sometimes the judge have against the subject under question. Whether or not an individual is innocent of the charge of sex crime, he or she will likely face an uphill battle in overcoming the reputation that is carried with such charges.
What Are the Types of Sex Crimes in Columbia, SC?
Sex crimes in South Carolina range from relatively minor to serious depending on the nature of the actions. The category includes any illegal act, behavior or activity that involves sexual gratification, desire or arousal. These crimes can stand alone or they can be committed in corroboration to other illegal acts, such as violence and kidnapping.
Some of the most common types of sex crime charges in Columbia include:
- Indecent exposure
- Lewd Conduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Solicitation
- Prostitution
- Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor
- Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
- Statutory Rape
- Rape
While some of these crimes are the result of someone's simple foolishness, others involve serious violations of the victim's rights, privacy and safety. Sex crimes are usually sentence in proportion to the nature of the crime. For example, the criminal punishments for indecent exposure, while serious, will not come close to amounting to the punishments for criminal sexual assault.
Another factor that will almost always increase the punishments for a sexual offense is the age of the alleged victim. The first differential is whether the accuser is an adult or a minor under the age of 18. This means that the criminal punishments for conviction of criminal sexual assault of a seventeen year old will likely be harsher than if the victim was twenty-five years old. The second difference is the actual age of the minor. That means that punishment for criminal sexual conduct of a minor who is seventeen years old will be less than if the minor was a child. South Carolina recognizes minors under the age of 14 as children and as such, they are protected by stricter laws.
With over two decades of experience working with family law, personal injury and criminal defense cases throughout South Carolina, we at Masella Law Firm, P.A. are prepared to guide you through the legal process. Click below to be taken to our secure payment page.
Can You Get off the Sex Offender Registry in SC?
In South Carolina, the South Carolina Supreme Court has allowed John Christopher Johnson to get off the sex offender registry list. The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed a decision by the S.C court of appeals that was going to keep John on the registry list for life. The SC Supreme Court has ruled that he has was not a candidate to re-offend, so they had him removed from the sex offender registry list.
Where can Sex Offenders live in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, sex offenders are not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a school or other places where kids come together. This law also applies to those who are convicted of committing a sex offense on a minor and also bans them from living within 1,000 feet of a daycare center, school, kid’s recreational facility, park, or public playground.
