Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
Sex crimes are among the most serious and stigmatizing charges you may face. The penalties are extremely harsh and usually involve a potential prison sentence, but the remaining consequences can be even more damaging. A sex offender designation stays with a person for life and follows them to every state like a permanent scarlet letter that will severely limit who will hire you, where you can live or attend school, and will likely become known to your friends and neighbors. It is one of the only crimes in Florida that will truly stay with someone for life.
Sex crimes are often the most misunderstood cases and can often be the result of a single false allegation from someone with an angry agenda. It can also be the result of a story told by a child who has been coached by an adult to make an allegation of abuse. Because of the complexity and public furor about these cases, many attorneys either steer clear of them, or are not properly equipped to handle them. This type of case, above all others, requires an attorney with vast experience with specialized experience.
Robert Nichols spent a decade as a Sex Crimes Prosecutor. He was an instructor for sex crime investigations for the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and for law enforcement agencies across the country. He has handled literally thousands of cases both from the prosecution and the defense, and understands the unique steps needed to protect you in this specialized area. His team includes the use of computer technology experts for computer-related cases, as well as polygraph experts, and forensic psychologists.
If you or someone you know has been accused of a sex crime, it is vital to get a strong legal advocate in your corner as soon as possible to avoid the worst consequences of a sex crime conviction. Often times, our team can persuade the prosecutor to limit the charges against you before your case makes it into the courtroom, which makes the case more manageable later.
Nichols Law approaches each case with fresh eyes and an open outlook, working to ensure that every criminal defendant is treated properly and with the benefit of the doubt they are guaranteed under the state and federal constitutions. We will use every tool at our disposal to make sure you are treated fairly and that weak allegations are exposed before the court. If you have been accused a sex crime, the experienced team at Nichols Law can help you.
Types of Florida Sex Crimes
The phrase sex crimes covers a broad range of alleged criminal activity under Florida law. At Nichols Law, we represent clients arrested for or charged with all varieties of Florida sex crimes, including the following:
- Internet and Computer Crimes
- Child Pornography
- Sexual Battery
- Lewd Exhibition
- Indecent Assault
- Rape
- Statutory Rape
- Failure to Register
- Prostitution
Consequences of Sex Crime Conviction in Florida
Sex crimes carry some of the most severe penalties of all Florida crimes. For some offenses, what may appear to be minimal conduct, such as possession of a few images on a computer, can lead to years of prison time. Violent sex crimes such as sexual assault, rape, and sexual battery of a minor are likely to involve long-term prison sentences, including, in some cases, life without the possibility of parole.
In addition to imprisonment and fines, convictions for sex offenses usually include other consequences that can follow a person for the rest of their life. These effects include:
- No use of the Internet
- No use of a computer
- No use of a cell phone
- Loss of professional license
- Restrictions on travel to certain locations
- Limitations on where they can live
- Ankle tracking devices
- Inability to rent a home or apartment
- Inability to get a professional license, a student loan, or governmental assistance
- Deportation
- Sex offender registration for life
- Loss of friends, family, and professional reputation
- Civil commitment in hospital
The impact of these consequences cannot be stressed strongly enough. If you are facing sex crime charges, call our team at Nichols Law as soon as possible to start building your defense.
Jimmy Ryce Commitment
We also represent defendants who have been subject to confinement under the Jimmy Ryce Act. Jimmy Ryce commitment refers to civil commitment and confinement that takes place separate from, and in addition to, criminal incarceration. Under the Jimmy Ryce Act, when a violent sex offender is released from prison, the State can claim that the defendant is still likely to commit another violent sex act. The defendant can then be confined in a civil commitment center (which is essentially a hospital with bars) even though they have already served their time for their criminal conviction. Commitment can be indefinite, even without the commission of additional crimes.
The need for and effectiveness of Jimmy Ryce commitment has been sharply called into question since its passage, and at Nichols Law, we believe that a convicted criminal has the right to their freedom after they serve their punishment. If you are facing Jimmy Ryce commitment following a sex crime conviction, speak with the sex crime defense legal team at Nichols Law about your case.
Help With Sex Crime Charges in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
If you or someone you know has been charged with a sex offense, our dedicated team of professionals at Nichols Law is ready to offer advice and aggressive representation. We bring more than 50 years of litigation and technical experience to bear to provide qualified and dedicated service to criminal defendants accused of sex offenses. Call us today at 954-779-3313 for a free consultation, or fill out our contact form online. We are here to help protect your reputation, your freedom, and your future.
