Sex crimes include, but are not limited to, rape, child molestation, sexual battery, lewd conduct, possession and distribution of child pornography, and prostitution.  A conviction for a felony sex crime can negatively affect an individual for a lifetime.  In fact, if convicted of a sex crime, an individual is required to register as a sex offender.  Consequently, this may affect one’s residency.  Specifically, some towns and cities forbid registered sex offenders from residing in certain areas.  Moreover, your name and offense will be made available online to the public, and potential job prospects may be limited.  If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is imperative that you notify a criminal defense attorney, immediately.  Occasionally, sex crimes can be reduced to a misdemeanor.  Moreover, you may actually qualify to have your record expunged.  As a result, you will be eligible to withdraw your guilty plea and all charges will be removed from your record.  In the following cases, adults were accused of engaging in sexual acts that tainted their records. 

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

                                                                                                                                John 8:44

Occasionally, good people endure hardships.  In other words, bad things sometimes happen to good people.  There have been many cases where innocent persons have been convicted and forced by the judicial system to serve time in prison for sex crimes that they did not commit. 

In 1987, an 18-year-old lady accused Mark Denny, who is now 46 years old, and several other men of rape and robbery.   The incident occurred at a Burger King restaurant, and the young lady was an employee at the facility.  Evidence shows that officials discovered fingerprints on the premises from two of the men, and a third man pleaded guilty.  However, there was no available evidence that linked the then-17-year-old Denny to the crime.  In fact, he continuously maintained his innocence. 

During the sexual assault, the victim’s eyes were covered throughout part of the ordeal.  Initially, she was unable to identify Denny when she viewed photographs at the police station, but she did pick him out of a line up a couple of days later. 

Again, there was no physical evidence to link Denny to the crime scene.  In addition, one of the young men that was convicted wrote a letter six years after being sentenced and stated that Denny was innocent and did not play any role in the robbery or brutal rape of the victim.  Moreover, Denny’s grandmother stated that she and her grandson had spent the entire night in Queens at Denny’s mother’s home. 

Denny spent nearly three decades in prison for a crime that he did not commit.  Fortunately, the Innocence Project became involved and took Denny’s case to the Kings County District Attorney’s conviction review unit.  The DA’s office concluded that Denny was not involved in the crime.  As a result, the office agreed to vacate and dismiss Denny’s conviction on the grounds of actual innocence, and a judge overturned the conviction. 

Denny was wrongly convicted.  However, this conviction can still taint his record.  Therefore, it is essential that he seeks the assistance of an attorney to clear his record.  Otherwise, he may have a difficult time seeking housing and employment. 

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

                                                                                                                                Isiah 54:17

In another case, the courts falsely accused a lady of being a prostitute.  Unfortunately, this error appeared on the young lady’s record and caused dire hardship. 

Kendra Dawn Speed was a 37-year-old registered nurse.  She had just started a new job with Favorite Healthcare staffing.  The company was responsible for sending employees on temporary work assignments in hospitals and assisted living facilities.  The work was steady.  However, on October 27, Speed’s fortune collapsed.  Specifically, Speed’s boss terminated her because her background check stated that Speed was a fugitive from California who was wanted on a warrant.  Allegedly, officers had arrested Speed on charges of prostitution, but Speed had failed to appear in court. 

Speed knew that the allegation was inaccurate because she was working in a hospital on the night that she was supposedly arrested.  Moreover, she was never in the county where the incident occurred.  Lastly, she had never engaged in the unlawful act of prostitution. 

Speed attempted to correct the error via phone.  However, she was unsuccessful and was required to board a plane and travel to the city to have the situation corrected.  While Speed sat in the courthouse, a Sheriff’s deputy reviewed her license.  Eventually, Judge Robert Nagby withdrew the warrant for Speed’s arrest and issued the warrant for the appropriate individual, someone whose name was similar to Speed’s—Kendra Michelle Speed—not Kendra Dawn Speed.

The mistake was a clerical error.  The error not only caused Speed to lose her job, but the error may prevent her from seeking other employment because the mistake is on Speed’s record—her background check. 

You may be thinking that the individuals in these illustrations are innocent.  As a result, a criminal defense attorney will be beneficial because he/she can easily expunge a record when individuals are falsely accused.  This may be true.  However, criminal defense attorneys are also able to assist those that may actually be guilty of sex crimes.  Do not hesitate.  Call or stop by our office, today.  We may be able to assist you.  You do want an inexperienced attorney working on your case.  I have years of experience, and I can answer your questions and help you to prepare for the best defense.