Takoma Park Sex Crimes Attorney

Lawyer Helping Clients Build Defense Strategies to Address Sex Crime Charges in Takoma Park, MD

A person who is accused of an offense that is considered to be a sex crime may find that their entire life will change, even before they are formally charged with an offense. A person's reputation, career, relationships, and freedom may be placed at risk by these types of accusations. The penalties of a conviction can be severe, especially since the requirement to register as a sex offender will continue to affect a person's life after they have served a prison sentence.

Like other criminal defendants, anyone who is charged with a sex crime has the right to a defense, including the right to legal representation by an attorney. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer can help people in these situations understand their options, and he will work closely with clients to build effective defenses and achieve the best possible outcomes to these difficult situations.

Sexual Assault Charges in Maryland

Some of the most serious sex crime charges may be based on accusations that a person engaged in sexual activity with someone without receiving consent. While these offenses are often referred to as sexual assault, charges of rape or sexual offense may apply under Maryland law depending on the circumstances of a case.

Rape will generally involve non-consensual sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration. In addition to situations where a person may be accused of using force, threats, or coercion to have sex with someone without their consent, rape charges may also apply if a person allegedly had intercourse with someone who was intoxicated or impaired to the degree where they could not give consent.

Sexual offenses may involve sexual contact other than intercourse or penetration that was allegedly committed without consent. Depending on the specific activities that allegedly occurred and the people who were allegedly involved, a person could be charged with either rape or a sexual offense if they are accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

People may engage in a variety of sexual activities when they interact with others using the internet. When these activities allegedly involve minors, a person may face serious criminal charges. The offense of online solicitation of a minor may involve using the internet, text messaging apps, social media, or other types of electronic communications to attempt to cause a minor to engage in activities that would be illegal.

A person does not have to actually meet with a minor or complete an illegal sexual act to face criminal charges. An exchange of messages in which a person allegedly tried to arrange a meeting with a minor or other actions taken to carry out an offense may serve as a reason to arrest a person and charge them with online solicitation of a minor.

Child Pornography Charges

Offenses involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) are a major focus of many law enforcement agencies. People who are accused of possessing child pornography can face serious criminal charges that may carry penalties such as lengthy prison sentences and high fines. These charges may apply if a person is accused of purposely accessing child pornography on websites or other online sources or downloading files to their computer or other devices.

Charges may escalate to distribution of child pornography if a person is accused of sharing CSAM with other people. These cases may involve accusations that a person tried to sell illegal materials or that they made these materials available to others by uploading them to websites or cloud storage accounts or shared CSAM on file-sharing programs.

The most serious charges involving child pornography will usually be related to the production of CSAM. These offenses often involve claims that a person directly or indirectly participated in photographing or filming children in sexual situations. Allowing a child to be involved in the production of CSAM, profiting from CSAM, or creating materials that appear to depict an actual child using computer software or AI could also be among the accusations that a person may face in these cases.

Prostitution and Solicitation Charges

The laws in Maryland have made it illegal to engage in prostitution, to solicit another person for the purposes of prostitution, or to profit from prostitution. Prostitution will generally involve an offer to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual contact in exchange for money or other forms of compensation. Prostitution and solicitation generally involve the same penalties for people who are convicted of these offenses.

In some cases, people who have allegedly been involved in prostitution could face charges related to sex trafficking. Those who have allegedly profited from commercial sex work performed by others, who have allegedly transported or harbored people who have engaged in commercial sex work, who have allegedly coerced people into performing sex work, or who have allegedly been involved in prostitution by minors may face serious criminal charges that could carry severe penalties.

Contact Our Takoma Park, Maryland Sex Crimes Lawyer

After an arrest for a sex crime, you should not wait to get legal help. The stakes in these cases are too high to try to defend against criminal charges on your own. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our lawyer can handle serious sex crime cases, making sure clients take the right steps to respond to the accusations they are facing and defend against convictions.

Regardless of the seriousness of the charges you may face, our attorney can help you get through this situation successfully. He will advise you of your rights and the options for defense, and he will stand by your side throughout your entire case. When you go to court to respond to criminal charges or defend yourself in a trial, he will make sure you understand how to dress, how to behave in the courtroom, and how to answer any questions you may be asked. He will be there to ease your concerns and fully prepare you for whatever may happen. To learn more about how he can help you, contact our Takoma Park sex crimes defense attorney at 301-762-7500 and schedule a free consultation.