A public lewdness charge is often one of the toughest legal issues out there. Public lewdness is considered a sex crime by law. The social stigma associated with a sex crime is an added negative effect on top of the already legal consequences. If you are charged with public lewdness, you can suffer other outcomes such as job loss, employment difficulty, family alienation, or negative social reputation. These can take a hard effect on your mental health, on top of having to pay fees and possibly endure jail time.
Additionally, the most significant public lewdness charges are ones we might not even consider as severe, such as performing a sexual act inside your property. Public lewdness charges are formed more by the public’s perspective than by the action itself. Sexual crimes like public lewdness are situational and take into account privacy and individual reaction.
At The Gonzalez Law Group they understand how serious it’s to get charged with a sex crime legal representative to guide you through the court process. Their team of experienced lawyers can help you navigate the difficult path ahead, working tirelessly to ensure the best outcome. In sex crime cases, it is swift, decisive action that most often curtails the adverse effects of public lewdness accusations.
The legal team at The Gonzalez Law Group values the time of their clients. The legal experts at The Gonzalez Law Group communicate with their clients about the next steps in the legal process. They never leave any individual in the dark.
If you or a loved one is accused of public lewdness in Houston or Harris County (or the surrounding area), don’t hesitate to call The Gonzalez Law Group for a free (and confidential) consultation at (832) 530-4070.
Overview of Public Lewdness
- What is Public Lewdness?
- What Are the Penalties for Public Lewdness?
- Other Common Sex Crimes
- Additional Resources
What is Public Lewdness?
According to the Texas Penal Code section 21.07 of public lewdness means engaging in any of the following acts either in public or non-public (with a person present) without any concern for who may be offended by the followings acts:
- Sexual Intercourse: the penetration of female genitalia by male genitalia.
- Act of deviate sexual Intercourse: contact between any genitals or mouth or anus of another person; it can also mean the penetration of the genitals or the anus of another person by an object.
- Act of Sexual Contact: touching of any part of the genitals, breast, or anus of another person with the intent to arouse or sexually gratify the desire of another person.
What Are the Penalties for Public Lewdness?
Public lewdness is a Class A Misdemeanor, carrying a potential penalty of:
- A fine up to a maximum of $4000
- Up to a maximum of 1 year in jail
- Both a fine (<$4000) and sentence (< 1 year) to jail
The legal consequences of public lewdness are not the only thing an individual charged with this crime has concern over. It’s also the personal and professional repercussions that often sting the worst. Public Lewdness convictions can result in a sex offender registration, the establishment of a permanent criminal record, or other ramifications.
Other Common Sex Crimes
Public lewdness is still a sex crime no matter how minor the accident. However, there are different sex crimes with more severe offenses than a public lewdness case. Other acts considered a sex crime under Texas law includes the following:
- Indecency with a Child
- Sexual Assault
- Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Child Pornography
- Indecent Exposure
- Improper Relationship
- Invasive Visual Recording
- Child Sexual Abuse
- Online Solicitation a Minor
- Revenge Porn
- Continuous Sexual Abuse
- Sex Offender Registration
- Sexually Violent Predator
Additional Resources
Texas Legal Statutes – This page is the official website housing the legal statutes for the State of Texas. On this website, you can browse the specifics of the laws regarding sexual offenses, including Public Lewdness. You can also learn about the distinctive vocabulary involved in classifying various sexual crimes and what exactly they mean according to Texas Law.
Penal Code Offense Published Journal– The published document states the punishments according to the type of crime. You can search for any crime in the state of Texas and now its punishment right away, including fees. Offense category varies by severity.
Sex Crimes Lawyer for Public Lewdness in Houston, TX
If you’re charged with public lewdness, you shouldn’t face this alone. Lawyers at our firm possess both the drive and experience to guide you through this challenging time in your life. If you are in Harris County, or any of the surrounding counties such as Montgomery County, Galveston County, Liberty County, or Brazoria County, The Gonzalez Law Group would like to advocate for you.
There are many different options for defending oneself against the specific charge of public lewdness. The Gonzalez Law Group can utilize every defense at their disposal to obtain the best possible outcome for you. With their highly experienced legal team, they will handcraft the highest quality legal defense.