Sex Crimes Lawyer in Cadiz

Legal Counsel for Ohio Sex Crime Charges

Sex offenses carry significant severity and can majorly affect your reputation and career. If you’ve been charged with a sex crime, it’s crucial to consult a Cadiz criminal lawyer from the Youngstown Criminal Law Group.

Ohio Sex Offenses Categories

Ohio categorizes sexual offenses into five levels for both felonies and misdemeanors. First-degree being the most severe, and fifth-degree being the least, carrying less stringent penalties.

Sex Offenses & Misdemeanors and Their Penalties

1. Sexual Imposition

Sexual imposition involves unwanted sexual contact, often arising from impairment due to substances like drugs or alcohol. According to the Ohio Revised Code, a first-degree misdemeanor restricts sexual contact by anyone with prior convictions of rape, unlawful conduct with a minor, sexual battery, or gross sexual imposition. Penalties include up to 6 months in jail or fines up to $1,000. A third-degree misdemeanor prohibits contact by:

• A mental health professional with a client or patient.
• Individuals aged 13-16 by someone at least 18 years old and four years older.
• Situations where the victim is unaware due to ignorance.
• Circumstances where the victim cannot resist due to impairment.
• Instances where the offender knows the contact is offensive.

These offenses may result in up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $500.

2. Aggravated Sexual Assault or Rape

Under Ohio Revised Code 2907.02, rape involves forceful sexual engagement with threats or actual force, leading to severe penalties like life imprisonment or permanent sex offender registration. Rape charges apply when:

• The victim’s judgment is impaired through deceit or force using substances.
• The victim is under 13 years old.
• The offender knows the victim’s physical or mental condition limits resistance.

Being a first-degree felony, rape is punishable by 3-10 years in prison or fines up to $20,000. If the victim is a minor, life imprisonment could be imposed without parole.

3. Sexual Battery

Classified as a second and third-degree felony, sexual battery charges may arise when:

• The victim is below 13 years old.
• The victim’s resistance is significantly impaired.
• The victim was forced to submit.
• The victim was unaware of the contact.
• The offender was mistaken for a spouse.
• The offender is a parent, guardian, or holds custodial authority.
• There’s a supervisory or disciplinary relationship, such as a coach or teacher.
• A mental health professional manipulates the victim claiming it’s necessary for treatment.

Conviction involving a victim under 13 is a second-degree felony resulting in 2-5 years imprisonment with fines up to $15,000. For victims over 13, penalties include 1-5 years in jail and fines up to $10,000.

4. Illegal Sexual Activity with a Minor

Per Ohio Revised Code 2907.04, charges apply if an adult engages in sexual acts with minors aged 13-16. Offenses range from first to fourth-degree felonies depending on circumstances. For a fourth-degree felony, penalties include 6-18 months in jail and fines up to $5,000. If the offender is four years older than the victim, it becomes a first-degree felony with up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the offender is ten years older, it escalates to a third-degree felony with 1-5 years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000. Prior convictions elevate it to a second-degree felony, leading to 6-8 years in prison or fines up to $15,000.

The Sex Offender Registry

In Ohio CCSD manages sex offender registrations to track offenders, forwarding their details to the Ohio attorney general’s office. In some cases, judges enforce community notification, requiring deputies to inform neighbors, law enforcement, and schools about the offender’s location and past conduct.

Get Immediate Help From the Youngstown Criminal Law Group

Charged with a sex crime? Reach out  (330) 992-3036 to a Cadiz OVI lawyer from Youngstown Criminal Law Group. Discussing your case with experienced Cadiz traffic ticket lawyers ensures you receive the best legal representation possible.