Montgomery County officials arrested 17 people on charges of felony sex crimes in the month of June, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle. The newspaper also published photos of each of the 17 suspects in the sex crime arrests, all but one of whom were male.
Among the charges they face include sexual assault, possession of child pornography, possession of child pornography with intent to promote, aggravated sexual assault of a child and online solicitation of a minor.
In fact, 15 of the 17 charges involved children or minors.
If convicted, those who were charged could face severe sex crime penalties and punishments as set forth in Texas sex crime laws. Such punishments are especially steep when children are involved in a sex crime.
Texas Sex Crime Punishments
Depending on the particular offense, Texas sex crime punishments can include years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines, as well as having to register as a sex offender.
As for sex offender registration, that’s a way for society to protect itself from possible repeat predations by sex offenders. The Texas Department of Public Safety provides an online map revealing the homes of registered sex offenders across Texas.
But also keep in mind that when large numbers of people are rounded up by law enforcement to face sex crime charges, not everyone charged may be guilty, particularly when online Internet “sting” operations cast a wide net.
Every American is entitled to his or her day in court. Everyone should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Wrongly Convicted Persons Deserve Justice
Far too many Americans have been imprisoned unjustly, though many have been released in recent years thanks to exonerations. In fact, Texas is among the leading states for numbers of exonerations in which individuals who were wrongly convicted are set free. Furthermore, Harris County leads the nation in exonerations.
Many of those who were wrongly convicted have received thousands of dollars in compensation from the state. Texas provides $80,000 for every year of wrongful imprisonment.
Hire an Experienced Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
If you or someone in your family has been unjustly and falsely accused of a Texas sex crime, notify an experienced Houston sex crime defense lawyer to protect your legal rights. For cases in Montgomery County, Fort Bend County, Houston or elsewhere in Harris County, notify the Neal Davis Law Firm.
You deserve the best sex crime defense lawyer you can find. Your future and your freedom may depend on it. We will help you to explore your prospects for fighting a sex crime charge in the legal arena.