Florida Lewd or Lascivious Acts Lawyer

The terms lascivious and lewd are used to describe offensive or inappropriate sexual behavior. Florida law dictates that sexual conduct that falls into certain categories is criminal behavior. Depending on the way the defendant’s behavior is prosecuted, the accused can be looking at anything from probation to years in state prison. Additionally, there is a heavy social stigma that goes with a conviction of lewd and lascivious behavior that can cause serious detriment to your marriage, career and social standing. The Florida lewd and lascivious defense lawyers at Katz & Phillips, P.A. are experienced and time tested in fighting to clear their clients’ names. Call today for you completely confidential and no cost initial consultation where one of our attorneys can give your case an in depth evaluation.

Statutes Explained by a Florida Lewd or Lascivious Acts Attorney

Florida law with regard to lewd and lascivious behavior encompasses many types of conduct. The severity of the crime in large part depends on the age of the perpetrator and the victim. Among the prescribed conduct and associated penalties are:

• A person who is convicted of a lascivious or unnatural act with another individual is guilty of a 2nd-degree misdemeanor and can be sentenced to as many as sixty days in prison.
• A person who exposes his sexual organs in public, where he can be observed by others, or on someone else’s property, can be convicted of a misdemeanor in the first degree which is punishable by as much as 365 days in prison.
• A person convicted of masturbating, exposing their genitals or engaging in other sexual exhibitionism in front of an employee is guilty of a third-degree felony and faces up to five years of incarceration.
• A person who is convicted of touching the buttocks, breasts or genital areas of someone under 16 or who entices someone under 16 to touch him in these areas is guilty of a felony. Depending on the ages of the victim and the person convicted, penalties can range from a third degree felony carrying a sentence up to 5 years in prison to a life sentence.

Work With a Florida Lewd or Lascivious Acts Law Firm

Because of the nature of the crime there are generally no witnesses other than the alleged perpetrator and the alleged victim. Generally speaking, prosecutors are loath to take to trial a case they don’t think they can win. Therefore, it is vitally important to you future, to your very freedom itself, that your case be handled by an attorney that will fully develop the facts of your case and present all exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor, and ultimately to a jury, to convince them of your innocence. While not all cases are winnable, all deserve the very best efforts. Oftentimes a deal can be struck to greatly reduce the penalties faced. The Florida lewd and lascivious defense lawyers at Katz & Phillips, P.A. are known for their thoroughness and skilled advocacy. Call today for your free and confidential appointment.