Takoma Park, MD Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer

Aggressive Defense Attorney for Allegations of Sex Crimes in Takoma Park

In Maryland, being accused of a sex crime has the potential to completely upend your life. If convicted, you could be sentenced to years in prison and be forced to register as a sex offender, which can impact your ability to find stable employment. In these kinds of cases, the best thing you can do is to seek strong legal representation as soon as possible.

A charge of a sex crime should be treated with the utmost seriousness. At The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC., we have built up a reputation for excellent representation in criminal cases, so you can trust us to fight hard on your behalf. Our Takoma Park defense lawyer has years of experience as a proficient trial attorney, and he has secured numerous victories for people accused of serious offenses.

Sex Crime Charges Involving Minors

The state of Maryland takes sex crime charges involving children very seriously. For instance, the crime of soliciting a minor on the internet is a felony offense, punishable by a prison sentence of up to a decade as well as a possible fine not to exceed $25,000. Under state law, "soliciting" can mean any number of things, such as arranging to meet with a minor for sex or sending explicit material to a child.

The possession, production, distribution, or sale of child pornography is also strictly criminalized in Maryland. A first-time offense for possession of child sexual abuse material is a misdemeanor, but distributing or creating it is a felony. Our firm can look for mitigating factors in your case or possible defenses. In some cases, we can assert that the alleged image or video does not qualify as child sexual abuse material.

Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in Takoma Park

As previously mentioned, many sex crimes require you to register as a sex offender if you are convicted. In Maryland, there are three different tiers of sex crimes that affect how long your registration will last. For a Tier I sex crime, you will have to register for 15 years. For a Tier II sex crime, you will have to register for 25 years. Lastly, for Tier III sex crime, you will have to register for life.

Sex offenders have a responsibility to provide accurate information to law enforcement, including employment history and changes in address. Failing to update this information, even by mistake, can be charged as a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to three years in prison for a first offense.

How Serious Is a Rape Charge in Maryland?

Under Maryland law, the crime of rape is charged in either the first or second degree. Both first- and second-degree rape are felony crimes, and a conviction will mean registering as a sex offender for life.

Any act of non-consensual sexual intercourse with another person can result in a second-degree rape charge. Intercourse may be considered rape if:

• It is accomplished by force and without consent
• The victim cannot mentally or physically consent to the act
• The victim is under 14 and the alleged offender is more than four years older than them

By itself, second-degree rape is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, with the possibility of strict minimum sentences. However, when an act of rape involves aggravating factors like the use of a dangerous weapon, threats of physical harm, or multiple assailants, the charge could escalate to first-degree rape, punishable by life in prison.

Contact a Takoma Park, Maryland Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

Our firm is ready to provide you with an aggressive defense for allegations of sex crimes. To schedule a free consultation with The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. today, call our offices at 301-589-9500 or reach out to us online.