Grand Rapids Sex Crimes Lawyers

Michigan Sex Offender Defense

Sex offenses are some of the most serious crimes. As such, they carry harsh penalties, which may include jail or prison time, fines, and a requirement to register as a sex offender. If you've been accused, your rights, freedoms, and reputation are at stake. Attempting to handle the matter on your own or with the help of an inexperienced lawyer could be costly.

Rather than leave your case to chance, allow our knowledgeable and skilled attorney to provide the dedicated legal help you need. At Brandon Gardner & Associates, PLC, we know there are two sides to every story.

When you come to us for legal representation, we will listen to the circumstances of your case without judgment and with a staunch adherence to the presumption of innocence. We will sit with you, one-on-one, to learn about you, your goals, and your needs. We understand what you're going through and how the accusation and outcomes can impact you.

We are committed to providing the aggressive defense you need to fight your charges. Get started by calling our skilled Grand Rapids sex crimes attorneys at (616) 303-7444 as soon as possible.

Sex Crimes and Their Penalties in Michigan

What Is Considered a Sex Crime?

Generally, a sex crime is an offense that is committed when you engaged in sexual-related conduct. The act could be something done to yourself or another person. Regardless of the type of crime, a conviction could affect you for the rest of your life.

What Are the Different Types of Sex Crimes?

A few types of sex crimes include:

Soliciting Prostitution

If a person asks someone else to have sex or engage in any lewd act in exchange for money or something of value, they could be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.

Indecent Exposure

This offense is committed when a person knowingly exposes their or someone else's body in an indecent manner. The charges for this offense depend on the circumstances. Generally, it is a misdemeanor that carries up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

However, the penalties increase if the person was fondling their genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or breasts (females only). In this case, the punishments can include up to 2 years of jail time and/or up to $2,000 in fines.

Criminal Sexual Conduct

This offense occurs when a person engages in unlawful sexual penetration or sexual contact with another. It can be charged in the first-, second-, third-, or fourth-degree, which depends on the type of conduct and the age of the people involved.

The penalties can include anywhere from life in prison (for a first-degree offense) to 2 years in jail (for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct).

Assault With Intent To Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct

This felony offense is charged when a person engages in an assault for the purpose of having sex or sexual contact with someone else. Depending on the act involved, a conviction for this crime could be punished by up to 10 years in prison.

Additional Penalties for Sex Crimes in Michigan

On top of incarceration and fines, some sex crimes could result in a mandatory sex offender registration requirement. This means you would have to report to local law enforcement your personal information, which gets stored in a database. The public can access some of this information, which can damage your reputation.

Serving Kent County and Fighting Against Sex Crime Allegations in the Grand Rapids Area

In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offense. Although they might have evidence against you for a sex crime, by thoroughly reviewing your circumstances and discussing the situation with you, our Grand Rapids attorney can mount a defense on your behalf to challenge the accusations.

Learn more about how our Grand Rapids sex crimes attorney at Brandon Gardner & Associates, PLC can help yo. Give us a call today at (616) 303-7444 or fill out our online contact form.