Sex Crime Lawyer Houston, TX

Under Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.011, sexual assault occurs when a person intentionally causes sexual contact or penetration without the other person’s consent. This can include using force or threats, targeting someone who is unconscious, or engaging in sexual activity with someone who is unable to give legal consent, such as a minor or a person with a mental disability.

Sexual assault charges are typically considered a second-degree felony in Texas, and the consequences of a conviction can follow you for life. When you’re involved in a sexual assault case, hiring an experienced Houston sexual assault lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take.

Aggravated sexual assault (Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.021) is a first-degree felony that carries some of the harshest penalties under Texas law. It happens when someone commits sexual assault and certain aggravating factors are present, such as:

• causing serious bodily injury
• using or exhibiting a deadly weapon
• threatening the alleged victim with death, kidnapping, or serious harm
• the alleged victim is a child under 14, an elderly person, or a person with a disability

As a trusted aggravated sexual assault lawyer in Houston, B. Keith Jackson understands how serious these cases are, especially when false allegations are involved. If you’re facing aggravated assault charges, having an experienced criminal defense attorney is key to challenging the evidence against you and protecting your future.

According to Texas Penal Code Sec. 21.08, indecent exposure happens when a person intentionally exposes their genitals with the intent to arouse or gratify someone sexually, and they are reckless about whether another person might be offended or alarmed. Public lewdness (Texas Penal Code Sec. 21.07) is defined as engaging in sexual acts in a public place or somewhere others are likely to see.

Both offenses are serious and can lead to criminal charges, fines, and even sex offender registration in some cases. If you’ve been accused of these crimes, a Houston indecent exposure attorney can help protect your rights, challenge the evidence, and work to keep the charges from damaging your future.

Prostitution (Texas Penal Code Sec. 43.02) is an offense that involves a person knowingly offering or agreeing to engage in sexual activity for money or something of value. Solicitation of prostitution (Sec. 43.021) is when someone offers or agrees to pay another person for engaging in sexual activity.

These offenses can result in jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. The charges may also be connected to other sex crime cases, especially if law enforcement believes the situation involved coercion or someone younger than the age of 18.

Because the stakes are so high in sex crime cases, it’s critical to speak to a Houston sex crime defense lawyer who will work to challenge any false allegations or insufficient evidence that may exist in your case.

Several crimes fall under the category of child sexual abuse in Texas. These offenses involve illegal sexual contact or behavior with minors and carry life-altering consequences, including mandatory sex offender registration. Crimes like indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child, and improper relationships involving authority figures are some of the most common child sex offenses.

Below, we explain the severity of these charges and how our sex crime defense attorneys can help if you’re dealing with false allegations related to child sexual abuse.

Indecency With a Child

Under Texas Penal Code Sec. 21.11, a person can be charged with indecency with a child if they engage in or cause a child under 17 to engage in sexual contact or expose themselves with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. This law applies whether there is physical contact or not. Simply exposing yourself or asking a child to do the same can result in a criminal charge.

When you’re facing charges like indecency with a child, a Houston sex crime defense attorney can help your case by reviewing the evidence, challenging false accusations, and building a strong defense strategy that protects your rights and future.

Sexual Assault of a Child

A person commits sexual assault of a child (Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.011(2)) by intentionally engaging in sexual contact with someone under 17, even if the minor agrees to it at the time. Because minors cannot give legal consent, it is considered one of the most serious sexual offenses under Texas law.

Houston sexual assault attorney B. Keith Jackson understands the impact of a crime like this and how allegations alone can do irreparable damage to your reputation, career, and relationships. Our legal team takes every case seriously by carefully reviewing the facts, questioning witness statements, and finding evidence that could weaken the prosecution’s case.

Statutory Rape Involving Authority Figures

Under Texas Penal Code Sec. 21.12, an improper relationship between educator and student happens when a teacher or school employee has sexual contact, intercourse, or sexually explicit communication with a student. This applies even if the student is over the legal age of consent and does not attend the same school where the employee works. The law covers both physical behavior and non-physical actions, such as texting or online messaging with sexual intent.

Because educators hold a position of trust and authority, these cases are charged as second-degree felonies, and anyone accused should speak with a Houston sex crime attorney immediately.

Many sex crimes in Texas are committed over the internet, and these charges can be treated just as seriously as those that happen in person. Common internet sex crimes include sending sexual messages to minors, possessing or sharing explicit images of children, and posting private images of someone without their permission. Below are the different cases our Houston sex crime law firm handles.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

Online solicitation of a minor (Texas Penal Code Sec. 33.021) happens when someone uses the internet or electronic messaging to communicate with someone under 17 in a sexually explicit way or to ask for sexual activity. It is still a crime even if no in-person meeting takes place.

This offense is a felony charge with consequences that permanently affect your future. A Texas sex crime lawyer can help you understand the charges and fight to protect your rights.

Child Pornography

Under Texas Penal Code Sec. 43.26, it’s against the law to knowingly have, share, or view pictures or videos that show a minor involved in sexual activity. This includes anything saved on your phone, computer, or online storage. Even having just one image can lead to serious sex crime charges, and claiming it was sent by mistake is not enough to avoid a sex crime conviction.

These cases usually rely on digital evidence, so it’s crucial to have an experienced internet sex crime lawyer to look closely at how the evidence was obtained and whether your rights were violated.

Sexting

According to Texas Penal Code Sec. 43.261, it is illegal for anyone under 18 to send, receive, or share sexually explicit images of another minor using a phone, computer, or any electronic device. This law applies even if the images were shared voluntarily, such as between teens in a relationship. Simply having or forwarding these images can result in criminal charges.

If you’re a young person facing charges for sexting, you need a sex crime defense attorney who understands how to handle these sensitive situations and explain your legal options.

Revenge Porn

Revenge porn is when someone shares private sexual images or videos of another person without their consent, usually to embarrass or hurt them. This is a crime under Texas Penal Code Sec. 21.16, even if the person originally shared the images willingly. It doesn’t matter whether the content was posted online, sent in a group chat, or shared another way. The law focuses on the intent to cause harm or distress, and the penalties can be serious.

A Texas revenge porn attorney can help if you’ve been accused of this offense by explaining the charges and building a defense to protect your rights and reputation.