Student Sex Crimes Defense

Services

Criminal defense work requires fearlessness and commitment, and sex crimes are some of the worst allegations a person can face. The stakes are high both personally and professionally, requiring attorneys to analyze sensitive evidence and provide the most vigorous defense possible. We understand how to defend allegations involving sex crimes. As lawyers who defend students, we also know that a criminal record for a sexual offense has a long-lasting impact on those who are just starting their lives.   

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Attorney helping her client

How we can help:

We defend students accused of multiple types of sex crimes

  • Rape (2907.02) 
  • Sexual Battery (2907.03)  
  • Unlawful Sexual Contact with a Minor (2907.04) 
  • Gross Sexual Imposition (2907.05) 
  • Sexual Imposition (2907.06) 
  • Importuning (2907.07) 
  • Voyeurism (2907.08) 
  • Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor (2907.322) 
  • Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor (2907.321) 

What you should know:

The Sex Crimes Investigation Process

Unlike campus Title IX matters, the investigative process for sex crimes often moves slowly. Parents and students should prepare for the investigative process to take months. Law enforcement officials need to interview witnesses and gather relevant evidence, which often includes electronic devices requiring forensic analysis. Police routinely seize and examine cell phones, computers and even social media accounts.   

Believe it or not, a slow-moving investigation is a good thing. Given the high stakes for sex crimes, you want the police to be thorough, and sometimes evidence is uncovered that changes how a case is viewed by law enforcement. Because a mere charge, even without a conviction, can cause permanent damage to a student’s future, it is important that all available evidence is identified and analyzed. Parents must be prepared to provide emotional support for the long haul.      

Student sex crimes lawyers know that a student can be suspended from school just for being charged with a crime. Many states have laws that require public institutions to hold a hearing to determine if a charged student presents a danger to the community. Often, a student will be suspended until the criminal case resolves.   

Important to know:

Many schools also require notification, and upon learning of a student’s sex crime conviction, may remove the student from campus or severely restrict the student’s ability to participate in extracurricular school activities. For example, schools may restrict the student’s ability to play sports and limit locker room access.     

What to expect

Consequences of Sex Crime Charges

In Ohio, like other states where we have defended students, when a person is convicted of a sex offense, the law requires sex offender registration and notification (SORN). Each state has its own registration requirements. In Ohio, there are three tiers of registration and registration occurs for 15 years to a lifetime, depending on the offense of conviction.  The person will have to register in person with the county sheriff where the person resides every 90 (Tier 3), 180 (Tier 2) or 365 (Tier 1) days. Employment and school enrollment information must also be provided. Sex offenders cannot live within 1000 feet of any school.   

WHAT’S ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY?

Sex offender registration information is public information through the eSORN database. The public information includes: 

  • Name 
  • Home address 
  • Work address 
  • Personally identifying characteristics 
  • Criminal history 
  • Photo 
  • Vehicle information 
  • Victim information

Tier 3 sex crime community notification requirements:

Neighbors

Information sent to neighbors within 1,000 feet of the offender’s residence.

Apartments

Notice is provided to building management & occupants of units that share a common hallway.

Day-to-Day

Notice sent to school districts, child and daycare center, and colleges.

Other Top Questions:

Student Sex Crimes
Frequently Asked Questions

Do you help students nationally?  

Yes, we defend students across the country. For criminal cases outside of Ohio, we work in conjunction with local counsel and request court permission to appear in court for the limited purpose of that particular case. We petition for admission pro hac vice.

Is it ok to talk to others if you are accused of a sex crime?  

A student charged with a crime should only talk to defense counsel (and parents for support). Students must remember that there is no attorney-client privilege between parents and a child and certainly no privilege between good friends. 

What role does consent play in allegations of sexual assault or charges of sex crimes? 

Consent is a key defense when it comes to allegations of rape or other felony sex crimes.

Can evidence from campus proceedings be used in criminal court proceedings?

Yes. During the criminal process, a prosecutor can issue a grand jury subpoena or a regular subpoena to obtain school records. Statements made by a defendant in a campus Title IX investigation are likely admissible in a criminal prosecution.