Syracuse Sex Crime Lawyer
Facing Sex Crime Allegations in New York?
Syracuse sex crime lawyer George F. Hildebrandt, Attorney at Law, has over 4 decades of experience defending clients facing criminal charges across New York. He understands that allegations of illegal sexual acts are possibly the most serious legal issue a person can face. Hiring a Syracuse sex crime attorney immediately after you’re accused can mean the difference between imprisonment, having to register as a sex offender, and damage to your personal life and reputation, or the chance to protect your future.
If you’re facing sex crime charges, the stakes are high. Contacting a Syracuse criminal defense lawyer early offers the best chance of success. Call Syracuse, New York sex crime attorney George Hildebrandt for a free consultation today by filling out the contact form, calling the law firm directly at (315) 303-6533, or calling toll-free at (800) 672-3523.
Types of New York Felony Sex Offenses That Criminal Defense Lawyer George Hildebrandt Defends Against
If you’re facing allegations and criminal charges that carry severe penalties, you need the help of Syracuse sex crime lawyer George Hildebrand. Consult his law firm for a free consultation to discuss your circumstances and learn how he can protect your legal rights and future.
First-Degree Rape
In New York, first-degree rape is one of the most serious sexual crimes in the state. First-degree rape applies when a person engages in sexual intercourse with another individual through forcible compulsion or physical force, with a person who is physically helpless, or with a minor under eleven. Under New York Penal Law §130.35, first-degree rape is classified as a Class B violent felony. If convicted of first-degree rape, the defendant faces a prison term of up to 25 years, thousands of dollars in fines, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and other penalties. First-degree rape allegations demand a skilled attorney to provide legal help. Contact Syracuse sex crime lawyer George Hildebrandt to discuss the legal issues you’re up against and how he can fight first-degree rape accusations in New York courts.
Second-Degree Rape
Second-Degree Rape occurs when an adult engages in sexual intercourse with someone under 15 or a person who’s mentally disabled or incapacitated without using physical force. Under New York Penal Law §130.30, defendants convicted face a maximum of 7 years in prison. Those convicted are also subject to up to a five-thousand-dollar fine and must register as a sex offender. If you’ve been accused of Second-Degree Rape, you need an Onondaga County sex crime defense attorney to manage this difficult situation.
Third-Degree Rape
Under New York Penal Law §130.25, Third-Degree Rape occurs when a person engages in sexual intercourse without the consent of the individual. These rape cases also include circumstances where the person is incapable of consent due to a lack of mental capacity or age, but do not require forcible compulsion. Third-degree rape is a Class E felony. Sex crime convictions for Third-Degree Rape include maximum penalties of 4 years in state prison, $5,000 fine, and mandatory inclusion on the state’s sex offender registry. An Onondaga County sex crimes attorney can challenge the evidence, negotiate rape charges with prosecutors, and fight to mitigate the severe consequences of a rape conviction.
Predatory Sexual Assault
Under New York Penal Law §130.95, Predatory Sexual Assault is one of the more serious sex crime charges in the state. These cases occur when a person commits first-degree rape, aggravated sexual abuse, or a comparable sexual act, while also engaging in aggravating circumstances. Examples can include sexual assault using a deadly weapon, causing serious injury, or having previous sex crime convictions. It carries mandatory prison terms of 10 to 25 years to life, along with fines and sex offender registry requirements. If you’ve been charged with Predatory Sexual Assault, consult a Syracuse sex crime lawyer to discuss the allegations against you.
Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child
Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child involves repeated sexual acts with a child over a period of at least three months. First-degree applies when the child is under 13. Second-degree applies when the child is under 15. If convicted, the defendant must register as a sex offender for either criminal charge. Contact Central New York sex crime defense attorney George Hildebrant if you’re up against these legal issues.
Child Pornography Offenses (Possession, Distribution, and Production)
Child pornography offenses carry some of the most severe penalties. Under New York Penal Law § 263, child pornography charges encompass producing, distributing, or possessing sexual images or videos involving minors. Child pornography possession, distribution, and production range from Class C to Class E felonies. Convictions can result in several years of prison time, mandatory sex offender registration, and lasting damage to a person’s reputation and future. If you are facing any form of child pornography charges, consult Onondaga County sex crime attorney George Hildebrandt to protect your interests and present a strong case on your behalf.
Internet Sex Crimes (Online Solicitation of a Minor, Child Luring, Online Enticement)
Internet sexual crimes, including Online Solicitation of a Minor, Child Luring, and Online Enticement, involve using electronic communication to contact or persuade a minor for sexual purposes. These offenses are charged as felonies and can lead to lengthy prison sentences, mandatory sex offender registration, and permanent criminal records. Prosecutors often use digital evidence such as messages, emails, and social media activity to build their cases. If you are being investigated, consult Central New York internet sex crime lawyer George Hildebrandt for immediate legal defense.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking involves recruiting, coercing, or controlling another person for commercial sexual activity through force, fraud, or manipulation. Basic sex trafficking is a Class B felony, while aggravated sex trafficking, which includes serious injury, drugs, or prior offenses, is a Class A-I felony. Both sex crime charges carry lengthy prison sentences, mandatory sex offender registration, and significant collateral consequences. If you’re facing allegations, contact Syracuse sex crime lawyer George Hildebrandt.
Misdemeanor Sex Crime Defense in Syracuse, New York
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct covers non‑consensual vaginal sexual contact, oral sexual contact, or anal sexual contact, plus sexual activity with an animal or dead body. In New York, this is charged as a class A misdemeanor under Penal Law § 130.20. It carries up to 1 year imprisonment or probation, and can require mandatory sex offender registration.
Forcible Touching
Forcible Touching under New York Penal Law §130.52 is a Class A misdemeanor that occurs when an individual intentionally and without consent touches another person’s sexual or intimate parts for the purpose of sexual gratification or to degrade or abuse them. This offense often involves unwanted groping or sexual contact and can result in jail time, probation, and mandatory sex offender registration, depending on the severity or number of instances. If you are facing a forcible touching charge, call Syracuse sex crime lawyer George Hildebrandt.
Public Lewdness and Indecent Exposure
Public Lewdness and Indecent Exposure involve exposing intimate parts or engaging in sexual conduct in a public place. Public Lewdness under Penal Law §245.00 is a Class B misdemeanor that applies when a person intentionally exposes their private parts or engages in lewd acts where others can see. Repeat sex offenses can be charged as a felony. Indecent Exposure is not separately defined under state law, but prosecutors generally use the same statute. Both offenses can lead to jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record.
Syracuse Sexual Abuse Defense
Aggravated Sexual Abuse
Aggravated sexual abuse involves the non-consensual penetration of another person’s sexual or anal opening with a finger or foreign object. Under New York Penal Law §130.65-A–130.70, aggravated sexual abuse charges are classified as Class B to Class E felonies and require those convicted to register as a sex offender. Convictions can lead to lengthy prison sentences, post-release supervision, and lifelong consequences.
The degrees differ by severity and circumstance:
- Fourth-Degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse (§130.65-A): Occurs without forcible compulsion or serious injury. Punishable by up to 4 years imprisonment.
- Third-Degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse(§130.66): Applies when the act occurs without consent but without serious injury or weapon use. Punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment.
- Second-Degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse (§130.67): Involves forcible compulsion or a victim under 13 when the offender is 18 or older. Punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment.
- First-Degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse (§130.70): Involves serious physical injury, use of a weapon, or assistance from another person. Punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment.
If you’ve been accused of aggravated sexual abuse, contact a Syracuse sex crime attorney to discuss the matter.
First-, Second-, and Third-Degree Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves unlawful sexual contact without consent and is prosecuted under New York Penal Law § 130. These sex offenses cover a range of conduct from sexual touching to acts committed by forcible compulsion against individuals incapable of consent due to age or incapacity. It does not cover penetration-related offenses.
First-Degree Sexual Abuse is a felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison, while lesser degrees can be charged as misdemeanors. In all cases, prosecutors consider this a serious criminal offense, and judges typically hand out severe penalties. If you’ve been accused, contact Syracuse sexual abuse lawyer George Hildebrandt for experienced legal defense.
Persistent Sexual Abuse
Persistent Sexual Abuse under New York Penal Law §130.53 is a Class E felony that applies when an individual commits Forcible Touching or Third-Degree Sexual Abuse two or more times within a 10-year period. The prosecution sees this as a repeat pattern and carries a penalty of up to four years in state prison, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration. If there are accusations against you, contact sex crimes defense attorney George Hildebrandt.
Prostitution-Related Sex Crimes Defense in Central New York
Prostitution-related charges are outlined in Article 230 and encompass different forms of commercial sexual activity:
- Prostitution: offering or agreeing to perform sexual conduct for a fee.
- Patronizing a Person for Prostitution: paying or agreeing to pay someone for sexual activity.
- Promoting Prostitution (First, Second, and Third Degree): profiting from, directing, or coercing another person in prostitution. Penalties increase with the level of control or force used, ranging from managing prostitution businesses to using threats, intimidation, or coercion.
- Compelling Prostitution: causing another person to perform prostitution through force, intimidation, or threat.
- Sex Trafficking: recruiting, coercing, or profiting from an individual in prostitution through fraud, manipulation, or control.
- Aggravated Sex Trafficking: committing sex trafficking with aggravating factors such as serious injury, use of drugs, or prior offenses.
Syracuse Rape Defense Strategies
Rape defense strategies focus on challenging every element the prosecution must prove. Because rape charges in New York require proof of sexual intercourse, meaning penetration, however slight, a criminal defense attorney may dispute whether penetration occurred, whether consent was present, or whether identification was accurate. Experienced sex crime attorney George Hildebrandt can also question forensic evidence, witness credibility, and investigative procedures. Since a rape conviction can lead to several years or even decades in prison, a strong, evidence-based defense is critical to protect your rights and reputation.
Consent and Age-Related Defense in Syracuse Sex Crime Cases
In New York, the individual must be 17 to consent. Anyone younger is incapable of consenting to sexual activity. The severity of criminal charges increases when the alleged victim’s age is under that, though Romeo and Juliet provisions may apply. A person is also considered unable to consent if affected by mental incapacity, intoxication, or physical helplessness. In cases involving forcible compulsion, prosecutors must prove the use of physical force or threats. These factors are central to building an effective consent defense in sex crime cases.
Additional Penalties if Convicted of a Sex Crime in New York
New York Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentence For Sex Offenders
Mandatory minimum prison sentences vary by the severity of the alleged offense and the victim’s age. For example, first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault carry mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5 years but can extend several years to decades past this, with higher penalties when the alleged victim’s age is under 13. Even lower-level felony sex offenses generally mandate incarceration and long post-release supervision.
Requirements to Register as a Sex Offender in Onondaga County
Under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA), individuals convicted of qualifying sex crime convictions must register as sex offenders and are assigned one of three SORA levels based on risk to the community. Level 1 offenders are subject to mandatory registration for 20 years, while Level 2 and 3 offenders are required to be on the sex offender registry for life. Defendants subject to sex offender registration must verify their address annually, report changes within ten days, and comply with restrictions near schools, parks, and childcare centers. In certain cases, Syracuse sex crime attorney George Hildebrandt can provide legal help for individuals seeking a SORA level reduction through the courts.
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in New York
Failure to register as a sex offender in New York is a serious offense under Penal Law §168-t of the Sex Offender Registration Act. It occurs when a registered offender knowingly fails to report a change of address, employment, or other mandated information. First-time offenders face a Class E felony, while repeat offenders are subject to a Class D. A conviction can result in imprisonment, extended sex offender registration requirements, and increased SORA level classification.
Professional License, Immigration, Family Court, Gun Rights, &Other Restrictions for New York Sex Crime Convictions
A sex crime conviction in New York can have serious collateral consequences that reach beyond a prison sentence. Individuals may lose professional licenses, face immigration consequences, encounter custody and visitation restrictions in family court, and have their gun rights revoked. Convictions can also result in employment prohibitions, professional disciplinary actions, and residency restrictions that limit where a person can live or work.
What a Syracuse Sex Crime Attorney Can Do to Defend Your Legal Rights
A Syracuse sex crimes attorney defends your case at every stage of the process, from pre-trial motions through courtroom litigation. Criminal defense attorneys may challenge the prosecution’s evidence, question witness credibility, and identify police violations during arrest under New York law. Sexual crime defense strategies often include analyzing forensic results, proving the absence of forcible compulsion or sexual intercourse. The right legal team works to reduce or have criminal charges dropped if possible to safeguard clients’ freedom, reputation, and future.
If you’ve been arrested for a sexual crime, consulting a sex crime attorney is essential. Getting legal help immediately improves your chances of protecting your rights in court.
Criminal Defense Lawyer for Sex Crime Charges in Syracuse, NY – Call for a Free Consultation
Criminal defense attorney George F. Hildebrandt represents clients facing violent crime charges in New York, including sex crimes and cases involving previous sex crime convictions, working to help them avoid severe potential penalties. To schedule a free consultation, call (800) 672-3523 or use the contact form.