Sex Offense Criminal Defense Attorney in Phoenix, AZ

We Defend Those Accused of Every Type of Crime

Phoenix Sex Crimes Attorney

Professional & Experienced Lawyer – Available 24/7

Perhaps no other crime you can be charged with carries the stigma associated with a sex crime accusation, whether rape, indecency with a minor, sexual assault, or prostitution. Sex crime cases can also be emotionally charged and complex, as there are two sides to every story. As a sex crimes attorney, Belén understands the complex nature surrounding the preparation and defense of a sex crime charge and the sensitive nature of the allegation. She also understands the severity of the punishment her clients may face, if convicted. Belén Olmedo Guerra has the courtroom experience and skill required to defend her clients.

Belén Olmedo Guerra is known for providing aggressive defense representation for her clients throughout Phoenix. She has successfully handled a number of high-profile cases.

If you have been accused of committing a sex crime in Phoenix, you’re up against some serious consequences. To protect your freedom and future, it’s essential for you to craft the strongest possible defense strategy to fight back against your charges. While the only way to really know which strategy is most likely to be successful in your situation is to consult with a knowledgeable Phoenix criminal defense attorney, it can also be valuable to make yourself aware of the resources available to you and the typical strategies that are used to combat sex crime charges.

Sex Crimes Defense Strategy

With every case she takes, she closely scrutinizes every piece of evidence the prosecution intends to use against her clients. Armed with a thorough understanding of each case, she drives the case towards the best possible outcome, whether that is convincing the state of Arizona to dismiss or reduce the charges against her clients or crafting a successful defense at trial.

Arizona Sex Crime Defenses

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case several defenses may be available. This includes:

Offering proof that someone else committed the crime
False accusations
False witness testimony
Mistaken identity
Inappropriate misleading witness interviews
Faulty forensic testing conclusion
Witness, prosecution, or police bias

Furthermore, there may be mitigating circumstances such that the facts only support a lesser charge. Belén has the skill required of a sex crimes attorney to bring these defenses to life in the courtroom, whether this be through withering cross examination of a Government witness or a compelling closing arguments demonstrating the deficiencies in the State’s proof.

Sex crime cases often come down to whose version of events is more believable. In most cases, the opportunity is available to convince prosecutors that justice can be served by a lesser charge or sentence. When the state’s charges don’t hold up, the charges may be dismissed.

In other cases, it may be in the client’s best interest to accept a plea deal, and Belén Olmedo Guerra will make sure that her client is well aware of the consequences of accepting the deal and will advise either for or against it.

We Defend Sex Crime Charges

A criminal sexual act normally involves non consensual or forced physical intimacy with another person. It is also a crime to engage in sexual activity with someone who cannot consent, such as a child or person who lacks mental capacity, including someone who is intoxicated.

Belén Law Firm has extensive knowledge but is not limited to the following range of charges:

Indecent Exposure: ARS §13-1402

Exposing genitals, anus or a woman’s breast (with the exception of breastfeeding) is considered indecent exposure in Arizona. This holds true particularly when the defendant commits the act knowing that someone would be offended or alarmed. Depending on the severity of the offense, a conviction can lead to 6-15 years in prison, in Arizona. Indecent exposure charges are as follows:

Class 1 Misdemeanor– Indecent exposure to someone 15 years old or older
Class 6 Felony- Indecent exposure with two or more priors
Class 6 Felony– Indecent exposure to someone under 15 years old

Public Sexual Indecency: ARS §13-1403

A person commits public sexual indecency in Arizona by intentionally or knowingly engaging in the following acts, if another person is present and the defendant is reckless about whether such person, as a reasonable person, would be offended or alarmed by the act:

sexual contact
oral sexual contact
sexual intercourse
bestiality

Sexual Abuse: ARS §13-1404

The Arizona Revised Statutes defines sexual abuse as intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual conduct with another person without his or her consent. The sexual abuse charges in Arizona are as follows:

Class 5 Felony– Sexual abuse is a class 5 felony if the alleged victim is 15 years or older
Class 3 Felony– Sexual abuse is a class 3 felony if they victim is under 15 years old.

Statutory Rape: ARS § 13-1405

The Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-1405, sexual conduct with a minor, also known as “statutory rape”, defines the act of intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with someone who is under the age of consent in Arizona, which is 18 years old. For minors 15 and older, typical charge is class 6 felony. for minors under the age of 15, charges are typically class 2 felony.

Sexual Assault (and Date Rape): ARS §13-1406

In Arizona, sexual assault, more commonly known as rape, is engaging in sexual acts without consent. This is typically a class 2 felony. Those convicted of sexual assault assisted by drug administration or those with one or more previous charges. If a date rape drug is used, an additional 3 years is added to the sentence.

Molestation of a Child: ARS §13-1410

In Arizona, molestation of a child is intentionally or knowingly engaging or causing someone to engage in sexual contact (except sexual contact with a female breast) with a child who is under fifteen years old. This is a class 2 felony punishable to section 13-705.

Sexual Misconduct: ARS §13-1418

Sexual misconduct, in Arizona, involves misconduct by a behavioral health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Behavioral health professionals may not legally engage in sexual relations unless the physician-patient relationship has been dissolved. This is a class 6 felony in Arizona.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ARS § 13-3553

Arizona law defines sexual exploitation of a minor as a person knowingly filming, recording, photographing, or duplicating any depiction of a minor participating in sexual acts. Distributing and transmitting sexually explicit material is also covered under the law. This crime is a Class 2 felony and carries enhanced penalties if the minor is younger than 15 years old. This also includes luring a minor for sexual exploitation, or “online solicitation of a minor.”

Violent Sexual Assault: ARS §13-1423

Violent sexual assault is sexual assault in its aggravated form. The use of a deadly weapon is what makes a sexual assault violent or aggravated.

Voyeurism: ARS §13-1423

Voyeurism is unlawfully and knowingly invading the privacy of another person without the other person’s consent for the purpose of sexual stimulation.

Pandering: ARS §13-3209

Pandering involves someone convincing or coercing another to be a prostitute. This is typically closely related to “pimping”. However, pandering is a separate crime with separate charges.

Child Pornography: ARS §13-3553

Child pornography in Arizona, or sexual exploitation of a minor, is a class 2 felony. More severe punishments arise for cases involving alleged victims under the age of 15.

Arizona’s child pornography law states that an individual may be charged if he or she knowingly:

Recorded, filmed, photographed, or showed a minor engaging in sexual behavior
Distributed sexually explicit material involving a minor

Solicitation for Prostitution: Phoenix Municipal Code 23-25

Phoenix, Arizona has its own code against soliciting prostitution. According to this municipal code, anyone who offers, agrees, commits or solicits prostitution is guilty of a misdemeanor in Phoenix, Arizona. This usually holds the charge of class 1 misdemeanor.

Consequences for Sex Crime Convictions

By definition, Arizona sex charges generally involve sexual contact without consent. They can include sexual abuse, assault, battery, trafficking, or child pornography. Prostitution is another type of sex charge, even though it may involve consent.

If you are charged with a sex crime in Phoenix, you will find yourself up against serious consequences like a prison sentence, high fines, and the loss of basic rights. Moreover, your reputation can be permanently marred by a sex crime conviction, which can affect your income, relationships, and future opportunities.

Additionally, certain sex crimes, such as sexual abuse or sexual assault, require registry on the Arizona sex offender list. When you are on the list, your photo, address, and information about your criminal conviction is available to the public. This requirement can take a heavy toll on your ability to live a normal life.

Since the consequences can have a long-lasting, negative impact, you need to know the best defenses a skilled Phoenix sex crimes attorney can use to get your charges reduced or dismissed.

Call for a Free Initial Consultation

Sex crime cases are often difficult because the accuser and alleged perpetrator are often the only ones who actually know what happened. Additionally, there are some who use these types of allegations as weapons. They can be used to create leverage in child custody cases and sometimes even used as a method of retaliation. Once these allegations have been made, it can be impossible for the accused to fully recover his or her reputation.

Regardless of the accusations against you, you always have the right to be presumed innocent until the state of Arizona proves its charges.

Contact our sex crimes attorney at Belén Law Firm today to discuss your sex crimes case. We offer free case evaluations and are available 24/7. After we review your case, we’ll give you an overview of what’s to come for your case and provide you with an aggressive criminal defense. We offer flexible payment plans, so don’t hesitate to call! You can reach us at 602-715-0908.

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What Our Clients Say

"We first hired Belen and her highly esteemed team of expert litigators. For her integrity and professionalism, but during the course of our representation, we gained a degree of personal trust and reliance far exceeding our expectations. Belen demonstrated an amazing level of genuine care and compassion and an implicit desire to keep us informed and knowledgeable of each step in the process. She is a diligent and hard worker and leaves no stone unturned. Our representation was nothing short of brilliant, creative and successful! She is without a doubt the Lady I want in my corner. I would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone interested in winning their case with the least amount of headaches throughout the process."

"Belén is hands down the BEST defense attorney out there. She has the heart, compassion, determination, backbone and most of all, the desire to help her clients. Belén’s expertise and experience helped mitigate our case to receive a reduced sentence. She spent thousands of hours over the year and a half she represented our family to challenge the prosecution at every corner and on every angle. She went above what most attorneys do by hiring her own experts and investigators to ensure she went to battle fully loaded. Due to her dedication, determination and commitment, my family felt extremely satisfied and confident that she obtained the best outcome with a reduced sentence. Belén is a stand up human being who, not only represented our family, but became family. If you want the best defense attorney, Belen is your choice!"

"At a time where we felt helpless and, quite frankly traumatized, Belen stepped in and reassured us that we had options and assured us she would work her hardest for a satisfactory resolution. My teenage son needed defense against law enforcement and my family needed legal advice and support in the worst way. Despite being beaten black and blue by police officers that said he was resisting arrest, they also charged him with two felonies. We were all at a loss and Belen was able to keep us grounded as we went through the process explaining every step along the way. She worked extremely hard to expose the truth about the officer involved, and because of her hard work, the felonies were dropped. My son can go on with his life without having his record and character tarnished by these unjust accusations."

"Hire this one! I spoke to several firms before using Belen. Every other firm connected me to a sales person who refused to allow me to speak with an attorney. Belen was put on the phone when I called at 7pm on a Saturday. Belen cared about my son. He had a warrant for his arrest and did not know until he was pulled over and hauled off to jail. Belen went to the jail on Saturday, stood with my son in jail in front of the jailhouse court judge and told that judge how it was. My son walked out 2 hours later without paying for bail. The following week, she called the prosecutor and was able to get the plea reinstated from years prior that resulted in the case being fully dismissed. Also, her fees for everything were lower than the other attorneys who were trying to get me to pay over the phone. I highly recommend Belen!"