At Blumberg & Associates, our Phoenix children crimes attorneys are committed to defending people throughout Arizona who are charged with dangerous crimes against children. Dangerous crimes against children are those sex offenses that are committed against children under the age of 15 years old. Typical dangerous crimes against children include:
Sexual Conduct with a Minor (some penetration or what is known as “manual masturbatory conduct”), and
Molestation of a Child (the direct or indirect touching of a child under the age of 15 for sexual interest)
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (possession or distribution of child pornography)
It should be noted that child molestation includes direct or indirect touching over a child’s clothing. Additionally, if a child is forced to touch the adult in a private part over the adult’s clothing, for sexual interest, the molestation has occurred.
SENTENCING IN DANGEROUS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
The most severe portion of the Arizona’s mandatory sentencing laws concerns Dangerous Crimes against Children.
Sentencing – Sexual Conduct with a Minor
Sexual Conduct with a Minor is the most severe crime with which a person can be charged in the State of Arizona, short of Murder in the First Degree. The sentence for one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor under the age of 15 is a minimum of 13 years, a presumptive term of 20 years and an aggravated term of 27 years. All of the terms of imprisonment must be served day for day: there is no early release provision. You may also be added to a public Sex Offender Registry.
The Arizona Revised Statutes pertaining to sentencing for Sexual Conduct with a Minor also provide that the term of imprisonment must be served consecutively to any other sentence for any other offense committed at any time. Consequently, if a person is on parole when sentenced, or is sentenced to other criminal acts during the same trial, none of the offenses may run concurrently, or at the same time as, the imprisonment for any other offense.
There is no probation eligibility for the crimes of Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Sexual Molestation.
Sentencing – Molestation
One count of Molestation is punishable by a minimum of 10 years, a presumptive term of 17 years and a maximum of 24 years in prison. The term of imprisonment must be served day for day: there is no provision for early release.
PROBATION IN DANGEROUS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CASES
Under the right circumstances, a person charged with a Dangerous Crimes against Children offense can have the charge reduced to an “attempt” of one of these crimes, which may make them probation eligible. On occasion, the County Attorney’s Office will stipulate to probation, but more often, they will give a person a “no agreements” plea, in which case the individual’s attorney must advocate before the Court for probation for one’s client.
EXPERTS IN ARIZONA DANGEROUS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CASES
When you retain an Arizona sexual offense lawyer to represent you in a Dangerous Crimes Against Children case, the lawyer must be familiar with the use of experts. Expert testimony is very important in defending dangerous crimes against children charges, particularly with respect to a syndrome known as the Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS). The State often utilizes an expert to testify about a variety of theories stemming from this syndrome, including so-called “characteristics” of sex offenders and the so-called “victim cycle”. At Blumberg & Associates, through our years of criminal defense experience, we have developed relationships with some of the best and most distinguished criminal defense experts in the country.
For more information about sex offenses and some recent case, please visit our Sex Offenses Practice Center and Recent Results page.
Our Arizona attorneys routinely provide legal advice and representation to people charged with dangerous crimes against children such as child pornography charges, child molestation charges, or sexual conduct with a minor. We represent clients from across the state of Arizona including Maricopa County, Yavapai County, Coconino County, Pinal County, and the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Peoria, Tempe, Scottsdale, Prescott, Tucson, and Flagstaff.
If you have been charged with a dangerous crime against a child, please contact Blumberg & Associates. When your future is on the line, you need an Arizona sexual offense law firm where skill and experience are more than just a slogan.
