Sex With A Minor - Arizona Criminal & DUI Defense Attorney
Aggressive, Affordable Arizona Lawyer 24/7 for Charges Relating to Sex with A Minor
If you or a loved one has been charged with having sex with a minor, the implications can be life-altering. A young adult can have a conviction on their record that derails their life plans. An older adult can face the very real consequences associated with becoming a registered sex offender – in addition to time in prison. If you've been arrested for having sex with a minor, it's critical that you obtain legal representation as soon as humanly possible in order to mitigate what are unthinkable outcomes.
Types of Arizona Charges Relating to Sex with a Minor
Under Arizona law, sex with a minor involves sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact. The charges and potential penalties for having sex with a minor depend upon the age of the minor. Having sex with minors who are 15, 16, or 17 years old is considered a class 6 felony, and carries a prison term of up to six months. If the charge is having sex with a minor under 15, it is a class 2 felony. A conviction would result in a minimum of 13 years in prison; a second conviction would mean a minimum of 23 years behind bars. If the person is less than 12 years old, a conviction of having sex with a minor comes with life imprisonment.
Beating a Charge of Sex with a Minor in Arizona or Surrounding Cities
There are many ways to win a case involving sex with a minor in Arizona, as well as ways to get the charges reduced and penalties minimized. Some of the most common defenses Paul Ramos uses are:
- Asserting that you believed that the other person was 18 or older
- Attesting that the other person said that he or she was over 18
- Describing the meeting place as a location meant for adults
- Claiming that you were falsely accused by the other person or the other person's parents
- Arguing that the prosecutor has no physical evidence