Mesa Criminal Defense Lawyer
In Arizona, public sexual indecency is considered a sex crime and those convicted can face harsh penalties including years in jail, fines, and mandatory registration on the national sex offender list. These are serious charges and an accusation of a sexual crime alone can be enough to tarnish a reputation and put your life on hold.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn for help. At Naegle Law Firm, we are here to provide clear and unbiased legal advice so that you always know what is going on in your case. Our Mesa criminal defense attorney knows that this can be a confusing and frustrating time. If you have any questions on your case, we offer free, confidential consultations to all of our clients.
Top-tier defense against sex crime charges. Call (480) 245-5550.
What Is Public Sexual Indecency?
Arizona defines an act of public sexual indecency as a sexual act between two or more people performed in a public area intentionally or with the knowledge that a reasonable person would be offended by witnessing the act. In this case, the victim is not required to be directly involved in the sexual activity, they must only witness the act.
Sexual acts can include:
- Oral sex
- Sexual intercourse
- Contact of a sexual nature
- Bestiality
In order to successfully charge you with public sexual indecency, the prosecution must prove you were acting with a reckless disregard to the sensibilities of the general public and that a person could (1) reasonably take offense to witnessing the public sexual act and (2) the act could have reasonably been witnessed by a member of the public. This means that actions occurring in areas where a person could expect to encounter acts of a sexual nature, such as within an adult entertainment convention, may not always incur this charge.
Penalties for Public Sexual Indecency
Arizona does not charge sex crimes lightly and public sexual indecency is no exception. Generally, a first offense can be charged as a class 1 misdemeanor and is punishable by up to six months in jail and fines of no more than $2,500. For cases in which the victim is under the age of 15, the offense becomes a class 5 felony punishable by more than 2 years in prison and fines of no more than $150,000. Penalties can also increase in cases where the defendant has two or more prior felony convictions for public sexual indecency. Under these circumstances, a person facing a felony charge can incur a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
In addition to jail time and fines, those convicted will be required to register as an Arizona sex offender. This alone can drastically affect where a person is allowed to live and work. The prospect of facing any of these charges can be frightening and protecting yourself begins by contacting the sex crimes lawyers at our firm.
Award-Winning Criminal Defense
At Naegle Law Firm, your rights will be protected by a nationally recognized trial lawyer. Our lead Mesa criminal defense attorney has been honored for excellence by numerous legal organizations including Martindale-Hubbell® as well as National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and has maintained a perfect 10.0/10 “Superb” Avvo rating. When your future is at stake, you need an attorney with a proven track record of success in your corner fighting for you.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney.
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