Top Rated Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in Columbus, Ohio
Getting accused of committing a crime involving sex does more than put you at risk for going to jail. Even before you get a trial, the public record of your arrest may cause friends and family to turn away from you. Your employer may decide to fire you and finding a new job may seem impossible.
The Columbus sex crime attorneys at Tyack Law dedicate themselves to upholding the bedrock legal principle that all people charged with breaking the law deserve a fair hearing and a vigorous defense. Our Columbus sex crime lawyers have spent decades taking on tough cases like sexual battery, juvenile sexting, and sex crimes involving computers. Tyack Law Firm provides aggressive legal defense against all kinds of sexual offense charges for clients throughout the greater Columbus area.
Overview of Ohio Sex Crimes Law
Chapter 2907 of the defines more than a dozen sex offenses. Individuals who are convicted of sex offenses often face severe penalties, including lengthy terms of incarceration and substantial fines, as well as possible requirements to register as sex offenders for several years—or possibly life.
Ohio Revised Code 2907.01(A) defines sexual conduct as “vaginal intercourse between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between persons regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal or anal opening of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal or anal intercourse.”
Under Ohio Revised Code 2907.01(B), sexual contact is defined as “any touching of an erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if the person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.” Sexual activity is defined under Ohio Revised Code 2907.01(C) as sexual conduct or sexual contact, or both.
Common Ohio Sex Crime Charges
- Rape: Under Ohio Revised Code 2907.02, it is a first-degree felony for an alleged offender to engage in sexual conduct with another person who is not the spouse of the alleged offender or who is the spouse of the alleged offender but is living separate and apart from the alleged offender, when any of the following applies: For the purpose of preventing resistance, the alleged offender substantially impairs the other person’s judgment or control by administering any drug, intoxicant, or controlled substance to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception; the other person is less than 13 years of age, whether or not the alleged offender knows the age of the other person; or the other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age, and the alleged offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age.
- Sexual Battery: Ohio Revised Code 2907.03 generally defines sexual battery as engaging in sexual conduct with another person who is not the spouse of the alleged offender when the alleged offender knowingly coerces the other person to submit by any means that would prevent resistance by a person of ordinary resolution, the alleged offender knows that the other person’s ability to appraise the nature of or control the other person’s own conduct is substantially impaired, the alleged offender knows that the other person submits because the other person is unaware that the act is being committed, the other person is a minor, or other specific circumstances.
- Unlawful Sexual Conduct With a Minor: Under Ohio Revised Code 2907.04, it is a fourth-degree felony for an alleged offender who is 18 years of age or older to engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the alleged offender, when the alleged offender knows the other person is 13 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age, or the alleged offender is reckless in that regard. If the alleged offender is less than four years older than the other person, the crime is a first-degree misdemeanor, but if the alleged offender is 10 or more years older than the other person, the crime becomes a third-degree felony. If an alleged offender has been previously convicted of this offense or rape, sexual battery, or unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, then the crime becomes a second-degree felony.
- Gross Sexual Imposition: Ohio Revised Code 2907.05 defines gross sexual imposition as either the alleged offender purposely compelling the other person or one of the other persons to submit by force or threat of force, substantially impairing the judgment or control of the other person or of one of the other persons by administering any drug, intoxicant, or controlled substance to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception, or knowing that the judgment or control of the other person or of one of the other persons is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age, and the alleged offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the ability to resist or consent of the other person or of one of the other persons is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age.
- Sexual Imposition: Ohio Revised Code § 2907.06 defines sexual imposition as having sexual contact with another person who is not the spouse of the alleged offender, causing another person who is not the spouse of the alleged offender to have sexual contact with the alleged offender, or causing two or more other persons to have sexual contact when either the alleged offender knows that either the sexual contact is offensive to the other person or one of the other persons, the other person’s or one of the other person’s ability to appraise the nature of or control the alleged offender’s or touching person’s conduct is substantially impaired, the other person or one of the other persons submits because of being unaware of the sexual contact, the other person or one of the other persons is 13 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age and the alleged offender is at least 18 years of age and four or more years older than such other person, or the alleged offender is a mental health professional. Sexual imposition is a third-degree misdemeanor. If the alleged offender has been previously has been convicted of this offense or of rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with minor, or gross sexual imposition, sexual imposition becomes a first-degree misdemeanor.
- Prostitution: State law in Ohio establishes multiple offenses relating to prostitution. Compelling prostitution is defined under Ohio Revised Code 2907.21, promoting prostitution is established under Ohio Revised Code 2907.22, procuring prostitution is defined under Ohio Revised Code 2907.23, and solicitation for prostitution is established under Ohio Revised Code 2907.23.
Other sexually oriented offenses in Ohio include public indecency, pandering indecency, commercial exploitation of a minor, voyeurism, and importuning. Importuning and pandering can be accomplished, for example, by sending sexually explicit photographs through text messages—commonly referred to as “sexting.”
A Legal Ally When You Need One Most
The possible sentences alleged offenders can receive if convicted of sexual offenses vary depending on the specific crimes they are accused of. Additional factors—such as the criminal records of the alleged offenders and the ages of the alleged victims—can also impact the severity of the consequences.
People who are convicted of sex-related crimes may be required to register as a sex offender, and—depending on the severity of the criminal offenses—may also lose public housing benefits, their rights to possess firearms, and the ability to serve on a jury or hold public office. Sexual offense convictions can also make individuals ineligible for certain kinds of employment and lead to some people having professional licenses revoked.
Because of the serious potential consequences associated with being convicted of a sexually-oriented offense, it is important that you hire an experienced Columbus sex crime attorney as soon as possible. The Columbus Ohio sex offense attorneys at Tyack Law have experience defending against sex offense charges in Franklin County, Delaware County, Union County, Licking County, and surrounding central Ohio counties.
If you believe you could be under investigation or you have already been charged with a sexual offense in Central Ohio, it is imperative that you immediately seek legal representation. Contact the Columbus sex crime lawyers at Tyack Law to learn how our Columbus-based criminal defense lawyers can help you with advice or representation.
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