Fort Myers Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
Being accused of a sex crime in Fort Myers can instantly put your reputation at risk and cause people to assume the worst – even before charges are filed. If prosecutors bring charges against you, you confront equally challenging odds, but the potential consequences extend far beyond mere reputation damage.
Needless to say, if you’re facing sex offense charges, you need to seek the help of an experienced and tenacious criminal defense attorney immediately. When you contact Cantor & Cantor, you’ll work with an attorney who has more than 20 years of experience defending clients throughout Florida against a wide range of difficult charges. Attorney Zachary Cantor gets to work immediately defending your freedom, your rights and your standing within the community.
Charged With A Sex Crime In Florida? Assessing What You’re Up Against.
The fear and panic you’re likely experiencing right now make reaching out to a sex crimes defense attorney all the more urgent. Zack Cantor is ready to help you make sense of the charges and defend you against nearly any accusation, including those related to:
- Prostitution or solicitation: Engaging in, offering or arranging sexual activity for compensation
- Rape/sexual assault: Non-consensual sexual contact or penetration
- Statutory rape: Sexual activity with a person under Florida’s age of consent (18), regardless of whether the minor appeared to consent
- Indecent exposure: Deliberately exposing one’s sexual organs in public or on another’s property in a vulgar or indecent manner
- Soliciting a minor: Communicating with a minor for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual conduct
- Lewd and lascivious molestation (child molestation): Inappropriate touching or forcing a child under 16 to touch an adult in a sexual manner
- Traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct: A specific felony offense for adults who travel any distance after using electronic devices to solicit a minor
- Possession/distribution/manufacturing of child pornography: Creating, sharing or possessing explicit material depicting minors
- Computer sex crimes: Using electronic devices or the internet to commit sex-related offenses, including solicitation, transmission of harmful material to minors or online enticement
- Failure to register as a sex offender: A separate felony offense for those previously convicted who fail to comply with Florida’s strict registration requirements and deadlines.
Make no mistake: Some of these sex offenses can result in decades in prison if convicted. They are among the more serious charges you can face. There is so much hysteria surrounding sex crime allegations that the truth can get lost in the public chatter. You need a level-headed attorney who squarely looks at the facts of the case and challenges prosecutors on every claim that is speculative, hyperbolic or not backed up by solid evidence. That’s the kind of attorney you’ll find at our firm.
When Do You Have To Register As A Sex Offender In Florida?
Florida law mandates sex offender registration for individuals convicted of qualifying offenses under Florida Statute 943.0435. Registration requirements begin immediately upon release into the community – whether through probation, parole or completion of a prison sentence.
Registrants must report to their local sheriff’s office within 48 hours of establishing residence or changing addresses, providing personal information such as name, address, vehicle details and employment under state requirements. Registration periods range from 25 years to life, with those classified as sexual predators under Florida Statute 775.21 facing stricter protocols. Failure to register is itself a felony offense.
Given these life-altering consequences, working with a skilled sex crimes defense lawyer is critical to protecting your freedom and future opportunities.
What Are Common Defenses To Sex Crimes In Fort Myers, Florida?
When facing sex crime allegations in Fort Myers, several powerful defense strategies may be available depending on your specific circumstances:
- Consent: Proving the alleged adult victim consented to the sexual activity (never applicable with minors)
- False accusations: Identifying motives for false allegations like revenge or custody disputes
- Lack of evidence: Challenging cases that rely primarily on testimony with limited physical evidence
- Mistaken identity: Using DNA, alibis and forensic evidence to prove misidentification
- Constitutional violations: Suppressing evidence obtained through illegal searches or coerced confessions
- Mental capacity: Examining the defendant’s mental state as a potential defense or mitigating factor
An experienced defense attorney can identify case weaknesses and develop a customized strategy to protect your rights and future.
Does Florida Have Romeo And Juliet Laws?
Yes, Florida has a “Romeo and Juliet” provision that helps certain young people avoid sex offender registration. This law allows individuals who were age 14 to 17 when they engaged in consensual sexual conduct with another minor who was no more than four years younger (age 13 to 17) to petition for removal from the registry. This applies primarily to lewd and lascivious battery offenses.
While this exception exists for registration purposes, it’s important to note that sexual activity between minors remains potentially prosecutable. The law simply distinguishes between predatory behavior and close-in-age teenage relationships.
Understanding the nuances of sex crime charges involving minors requires in-depth legal knowledge. Our experienced criminal defense law firm can guide you through these complex legal matters while working to protect your future.
Your Freedom Is On The Line – Contact Us Today For A Confidential, Free Consultation
At Cantor & Cantor, we understand that time is of the essence in any criminal case, and especially in sex crime cases in Florida. Therefore, we get to work right away. To discuss your charges in a confidential and free initial consultation, call our office in Fort Myers at 239-494-3164, or reach us online.