Smyrna, GA Sex Crime Lawyer
Sex Crime
Sex Crime Attorney in Smyrna, GA
Facing any kind of criminal charges can be overwhelming, emotional, and confusing, but being charged with sex crimes can have far-reaching consequences you will want to avoid at all costs. If you are convicted of a sex crime, you will have a criminal record that will follow you forever, and you could even end up on the sex offender registry if the charge is serious enough. To avoid a conviction, you should contact a trusted Smyrna sex crime lawyer to help you build a strong case.
The legal team at The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman recognizes how difficult the road ahead may be for you. Sex crime charges come with a social stigma that is often unavoidable. People you’ve known for years may start avoiding you or looking at you differently. You’ll want to hire a Smyrna sex crime attorney as soon as possible. You will want someone with extensive knowledge of Georgia’s sex crime laws to help you build your sex crime case. Our firm can help.
Hire a Sex Crime Lawyer
Arguably, the most important decision you can make for yourself during all this is to hire a sex crime lawyer. That should be the very first thing you do in this situation. The right lawyer can prove to be invaluable as you fight the charges being made against you. Lawrence J. Zimmerman has spent over 25 years helping clients who are facing charges for serious crimes. He prioritizes every client who comes to him for help and has represented many people in state and federal courts.
Sex crimes are unfortunately not rare in Georgia. According to recent statistical data collected by the United States Sentencing Commission, there were 67 sentences carried out throughout the state in 2024 for sex-related crimes that include sexual abuse, obscenity, stalking, harassment, and child pornography. A 2024 report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation showed over 3,300 rapes reported throughout the state. You should call a lawyer if you are charged.
If you are formally charged with a sex crime in Smyrna, it will either happen at the Smyrna Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges or the Cobb Superior Court for felony charges. You may want to consider seeking additional help for a sex-related condition through local support groups like LiveSafe Resources or Atlanta Mental Health Services, LLC. Talking to someone about the potential consequences of your conviction can be beneficial to your case overall.
Potential Defenses Against Sex Crime Charges
The most important thing you can get from your lawyer in a situation like this is a defense strategy. Without a defense strategy, you may as well accept that you’ll lose. Be sure to never speak to the police without your lawyer present, and refrain from anything that could incriminate yourself. Let your lawyer develop a sound strategy that challenges the prosecution’s case and relies on hard evidence that supports your claims. Here are some possible strategies:
- Consent: One of the most common arguments against a sex crime charge is consent. It may be impossible to deny that sexual activity happened between you and the victim, but you can argue that it happened with their express consent. Any video, audio, or texts that support this claim can be very helpful. Depending on the charges, you may not be able to argue consent, especially if the victim was a minor.
- Mistaken identity: It’s entirely possible that the prosecution has mistaken you for the actual perpetrator, who may still be out there. The most effective way to prove that you were not the one who committed this crime is by providing your lawyer with a strong alibi for your whereabouts at the time of the crime. If you have that, it can shatter the prosecution’s case, and they may even dismiss the charges entirely.
- Entrapment: This is a defense that is most often used in cases involving the internet. Entrapment occurs when the police create the circumstances of a crime and coerce you into doing something you would ordinarily never do. If you can successfully prove entrapment, fault may lie with the police and not with you.
FAQs
What Is the Law for Sex Offenders in Georgia?
The law for sex offenders in Georgia is quite clear. State law demands that every convicted sex offender register with the local sheriff’s office when they move to a county and update that office within 72 hours of any subsequent address changes. They are prohibited from living anywhere that’s within 1,000 feet of a school, park, playground, church, or anywhere else that minors may frequent. Penalties for any violations may be severe.
What Are Sex Offenders Not Allowed to Do in Smyrna, GA?
There are many things that sex offenders are not allowed to do in Smyrna, GA. Primarily, they can’t do anything that even remotely involves children. This includes being prohibited from having certain jobs or volunteering at schools, daycares, or any similar places. They are also banned from possessing pornographic materials of any kind and cannot use any controlled substances without a valid prescription.
What Is the Juliet Law in Georgia?
The Juliet law, which is also called the Romeo and Juliet exception, refers to a potential reduction in charges for statutory rape in certain situations. The charge is brought down to a misdemeanor if the perpetrator is no more than four years older than the victim. However, the victim must be no younger than 14 years old for this exception to apply.
Should I Hire a Sex Crime Lawyer in Smyrna, GA?
You should absolutely hire a sex crime lawyer in Smyrna, GA. The last thing you want is to go up against a seasoned prosecutor, who may be looking to put you away for a very long time, by yourself without any legal help. Having an experienced lawyer by your side can make a considerable difference.
Smyrna Sex Crime Lawyer
At The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman, we can provide you with the resources to fight back against sex crime charges and stand up for yourself in Smyrna. Contact us to speak to someone on our team who can assist you with your case.
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GENERAL DISCLAIMER:The information provided on our website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. For legal advice or counsel you should consult directly with an attorney. Contacting our firm via this website, email, fax, phone or other means of communications does not create a client-attorney relationship. Please do not provide any confidential information until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established.
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- Lawrence J. Zimmerman
269 Roswell Street
Third Floor – Synovus Building
Marietta, GA 30060 - Phone
404-351-3000
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