Available 24/7
Shealey Law Firm is a sex crime defense lawyer in Columbia, SC. If you’re charged with a sex crime, what happens next impacts your future. Contact our experienced criminal sexual conduct lawyers for immediate help.
Types of Sex Crimes Charges in South Carolina
Sex crimes in South Carolina include:
- 16-3-652. Criminal sexual conduct, first degree. Sexual battery, with certain conditions present, including aggravated force.
- 16-3-653. Criminal sexual conduct, second degree. Sexual battery, with aggravated coercion.
- 16-3-654. Criminal sexual conduct, third degree. Sexual battery, with force or coercion, or with a helpless or incapacitated victim.
- 16-3-655. Criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Sexual battery of a minor under 16 years.
- 16-3-615. Spousal sexual battery. Sexual battery by one spouse against another, with aggravated force.
- 16-3-755. Sexual battery with a student. A high school official engaging in sexual battery with a student.
- 16-3-800. Et. seq. Sexual performance by children. Engaging a child for sexual performance, or producing, directing, or promoting sexual performance by a child.
- 16-3-2020. Sex trafficking. Recruitment, transportation, or obtaining a person by force, fraud, or coercion for criminal sexual conduct, sexual performance, or exploitation.
Most South Carolina sex crimes are found in SC Laws, Title 16, Crimes and Offenses, Chapter 3, Offenses Against the Person, Article 7, Assault and Criminal Sexual Conduct.
Attempt
Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct is treated as though the conduct was committed. S.C. Code § 16-3-654.
South Carolina’s Sex Offender Registration Requirements
Sex offender registration means going to the sheriff’s department to register. Depending on your conviction, it could be every 90 days for life. You must also update your status if you move, change employment, or change education.
Complying with registration requirements can be burdensome. If you fail to register, you may face additional criminal charges.
The South Carolina Sex Offender Registry is public. Anyone can search it.
Life After a Sex Crime Conviction: Housing, Employment, and Travel Restrictions
Life after a sex crime conviction is never the same. Here are some ways that a sex offense can ruin your life:
Housing. SC prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, daycares, public parks, and playgrounds. This limits your options and makes housing more expensive.
Employment. Many employers won’t hire sex offenders. You may also be denied professional licensing.
Travel restrictions. When you apply for a passport, you must report your conviction. An identifier gets printed on your passport. Many countries will deny your admission. Plus, you can’t get a passport card.
Community reputation. With a sex crime conviction, your standing in the community changes forever. You may not be welcome as a volunteer. SC imposes a 15-year restriction on felons running for elected office.
Immigration. A sex offense conviction can result in deportation or inadmissibility. Your green card, visa, or citizenship application may be denied.
Defenses Against Sex Crime Charges in South Carolina
Your defense to sex crime charges in South Carolina will probably include multiple tactics. Here are some ways that you may question the evidence and defend your case.
Witness credibility. Witnesses may not tell the truth. Their memory may not be accurate. They may not have correctly observed the situation.
The act did not occur. The act complained of did not occur. You may show this with an alibi, by effective cross-examination, and records that call the evidence into question.
Lack of evidence. There is insufficient evidence that the crime occurred, including a lack of forensic evidence.
Suppression of evidence. The court may suppress evidence if it was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights.
Evidence inadmissibility. Evidence may be inadmissible based on court rules. Your sex crime defense lawyer can object at the right time.
Sexual Assault Defense Attorney in Columbia, SC
When you’re charged with a sex crime in Columbia, SC, the case will be heard in the Richland County Court of General Sessions. The initial bond hearing will probably be held by a magistrate with the Richland County Bond Court.
Shealey Law Firm is an experienced sexual assault defense lawyer in the Richland County courts. We are lawyers who represent people facing sex crime charges in Columbia, SC.
What to Do If You’ve Been Accused of a Sex Crime in SC
If you’ve been accused of a sex crime in SC, ask for a lawyer right away. Don’t say anything to the police or try to explain yourself. Don’t agree to take a polygraph. You may think you can explain what happened, but statements to the police are rarely helpful.
Stop all communication with the accuser. Don’t discuss the case with anyone else, either, because what you tell them can be admissible in court.
Keep and organize any emails, texts, or social media communication that may be important. Keep receipts, GPS data, and any other records that can explain your whereabouts. Identify witnesses, even if you think they’re witnesses against you. Give this information to your attorney.
Why You Need a Columbia Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Immediately
The things that you do early in your defense can significantly impact your case outcome. Your attorney can represent you in court, to the police, and in building your defenses. They can help preserve evidence before it disappears. They can make sure that you avoid mistakes that can hurt your defense.
Contact an Attorney
Shealey Law Firm is a Columbia sex crime defense attorney. Contact us now.