Federal Sexual Abuse

One of the most commonly charged Federal sex crimes is Federal Sexual Abuse prohibited under United States Code Chapter 28 Section 2242. Under the law, a person commits sexual abuse if the defendant causes another to engage in a sexual act by threat or by fear. A person is also guilty of the crime if the defendant engages in a sexual act with a person who by mental incapacitation is incapable of understanding the nature of sexual conduct or who is similarly incapable of objecting to the sexual act. Federal sexual abuse is a serious charge that can potentially carry hefty mandatory prison sentences. Don’t try to face such allegations on your own. Instead, contact a Clearwater sex crimes lawyer right away to find out how we can fight your charges.

People charged with Federal offenses often wonder why they cannot proceed with their cases in a more lenient State court. Federal charges can only be lawfully prosecuted when the Federal court can assert jurisdiction over a specific offense. Most commonly, Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases where the allegations are that a single crime was committed across state lines. This circumstance is obviously rare in sexual abuse cases. Federal sexual abuse cases are commonly brought when the charges arise from allegations that a crime occurred on Federal property such as a Federal park, within a Federal building, or inside of a Federal prison.

Since the institution of modern criminal justice systems, sex-based offenses have been some of the most serious charges that a defendant can be exposed to. And as our understanding of the effects of sex offenses on victims grows, the penalties associated with sex crime convictions grow as well. The criminal justice system is constantly growing and modernizing, and certain classes of offenses ebb and flow. Drug crimes and other nonviolent offenses have fallen out of favor and more often result in probationary or diversion sentences. Sex crimes however, have become and continue to be treated more and more seriously by police, judges and prosecutors. For that reason, anyone charged with a sex offense should not hesitate to contact a dedicated Clearwater sex crimes lawyer to aid in their defense.

When facing sex charges, one must also consider what prosecuting organization is bringing the charges. State level sex offenses, like all state level prosecutions, are often haphazard. State prosecutors offices are more often than not understaffed and overworked, which helps defense attorneys more effectively attack issues in the cases. On the other side of the coin, sex charges can also be brought in certain circumstances by Federal authorities. The offices of Federal prosecutors are very selective in the types of cases they choose to prosecute, and are often stocked with resources and access to more professional Federal law enforcement agencies. Federal prosecutors often build up the evidence on their cases before an arrest is even made, and do everything they can to ensure that a conviction is air tight before proceeding.

The attorneys at Hanlon Law have years of experience defending clients charged with serious sex offenses. Our lawyers take proactive efforts to protect you from the overreach of aggressive police and prosecutors that often use underhanded efforts in order to collect evidence against you. Don’t fall victim to law enforcement that use unfair methods in order to pin a crime on you. Hire a skilled Clearwater criminal defense team who can level and tip the playing field in your favor. We take pride in the work we do and in the results that we achieve for our clients. So call us today for a consultation at 727-897-5413.