Lewd and Lascivious Conduct

With more than 20 years of experience, Clearwater sex crime lawyer Will Hanlon is committed to assisting people who have been charged with a wide range of crimes, including lewd and lascivious conduct and other sex offenses. At Hanlon Law, we believe in taking the time to understand the details of a client’s situation so that we can offer a multifaceted legal defense. Attorney Will Hanlon recognizes that being accused of a crime or facing prosecution is a stressful experience, and he knows the broad range of rights that defendants may be able to assert.

Lewd and lascivious conduct is a type of sex crime involving victims under the age of 16. It covers any type of touching that is considered illicit, untoward, lustful, or otherwise sexual in nature. It also includes soliciting a person under the age of 16 to engage in that type of conduct. Lewd and lascivious conduct is a strict liability crime in Florida, which means that prosecutors do not need to prove that the person charged with the crime actually knew the victim’s age at the time of the offense. It also means that you cannot avoid a conviction by claiming that the victim consented to the sexual activity.

A person convicted for lewd and lascivious conduct in Florida faces up to 15 years in prison and as much as $10,000 in fines. You also will need to register as a sex offender, which may make it more difficult to find and keep a job. Your home address will be listed in the state sex offender registry upon your release. That information – along with your photo - will also be publicly shared by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on its website.

Given the consequences of a conviction, it is vital that a person suspected of or charged with lewd and lascivious conduct seek the counsel of a seasoned criminal defense lawyer as early as possible in the process. You should not talk to police officers without enlisting a lawyer to guide you. Your attorney can investigate the case, collect evidence, and locate witnesses who can back up your version of the events. If you were not even present at the time and place of the crime, a criminal defense lawyer can help explain where you were and what you were doing during the time in question to help establish that you could not have committed the crime.

At Hanlon Law, we understand how law enforcement handles sex crime cases, such as those based on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct. We are familiar with the strategies that may be available to a defendant, as well as the procedural protections that they may be able to assert. When your future is at stake, it is critical to explore all of the options available to you.

If you are facing prosecution, Clearwater sex crime attorney Will Hanlon is ready to help you fight the charges. Hanlon Law provides aggressive representation to defendants. Call us at 727.897.5413 or contact us online to discuss your case with us at no charge. Will Hanlon also can assist you if you are seeking a DUI attorney or facing charges of drug crimes, domestic violence, or other violent crimes.