Being accused of a sex crime changes everything. Your family, career, freedom and future may never be the same without proper legal intervention. At Fitzgerald, Klesner, & Pavelich, PLC, our attorneys strive to protect people in Iowa from the irreversible damage of a sex crime conviction. We will help you understand criminal defense in Des Moines so you can protect your family, career and reputation.
Our attorneys help people who are facing a variety of sex crime accusations, including:
It’s our job to defend you, not to judge you. In our eyes, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Our Des Moines domestic violence lawyers believe everyone deserves a chance to defend themselves.
The nature and degree of a sex crime are based on many factors, including:
The penalties for sex crimes include prison time, fines and being required to register as a sex offender.
Even if the charge a defendant is convicted of is not technically a sex crime, the court has the authority to find the offense sexually motivated and require the defendant to register as a sex offender.
Sex crimes, as a sentencing condition, require an individual to register as a sex offender on the sex offender registry under Iowa state law. If you register as a sex offender, you have less privacy. You have to verify your information with the state periodically, tell them when you move, and the police may drop in to check on you. There are places you’re banned from going and you can’t travel out of the state without permission. Employment opportunities, housing options and even internet access can be limited.
Iowa employs a three-tier system that defines the registration requirements. Tier I is the least severe group of offenses and includes stalking and indecent exposure. Tier II is the middle group in terms of severity and includes soliciting sex from a minor and lascivious acts with a minor. Tier III has the most severe offenses, including sex acts done by force and human sex trafficking. The tier an individual is placed into is determined by the specific sex offense and the individual’s criminal history.
In addition to any jail or prison sentence and the requirement to register as a sex offender, a conviction requires a 10-year to lifetime special parole to the Iowa Department of Corrections.
The direct and collateral consequences of a sex crime will be life-altering. Our firm’s experienced attorneys could drastically change your case’s outcome and possibly help you avoid those life-altering consequences.
If you’ve been accused of a sex crime, get legal help immediately to protect your freedom, reputation and future. Our attorneys are standing by. Call 319-354-1712 or reach out online to request a free initial consultation.
