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Parnham and Associates

440 Louisiana St. Suite 200
(The Lyric Centre)
Houston, TX 770021
Phone: 713.224.3967
Fax: 713.224.2815

Parnham & Associates offers multi-lingual staff; we speak English, French and Spanish.

Parnham & Associates

Criminal Law Attorneys in Houston, Texas

No other area in Criminal Law creates public outrage the way sex crimes do. The mere allegation of a sexual offense is sufficient to destroy reputations, careers, families and lives.
At the same time, there are very few areas of Criminal Law where we have seen such a high percentage of convictions overturned because the person was actually innocent and subsequently cleared by DNA or witness recantation.

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Sex Offenses Criminal Defense

Sex crimes cover a wide array of potential offenses ranging from Misdemeanor Public Lewdness to Super Aggravated Sexual Assault. Often times, these allegations can come about as the product of a nasty divorce, child custody issues or vindictive individuals. Included among these crimes are "Romeo and Juliet" relationships, which can lead to Statutory Rape charges.

As one might expect, the penalties are severe and most carry special obligations, which can last long after the case is completed and any sentence has been satisfied. The requirement to register oneself as a sex offender is often more devastating than any particular sentence that a person might receive. Other collateral consequences may include deportation, loss of child custody, prohibition on where you can live and work as well as the loss of professional licenses.

Child Pornography Defense:

As computers have become a part of daily life, so have prosecutions involving the use of computers as a vehicle for child pornography. Otherwise innocent people may find themselves caught up in overzealous government investigations of internet sex crimes. Internet sex crimes such as possession of child pornography or online solicitation make media headlines, especially when business owners, teachers, or other prominent citizens are facing these accusations. Using the internet to solicit sexual acts from a minor is an incredibly serious offense. Any sex crime charge, even if false, can be extremely damaging. That's why it's important to seek immediate and aggressive legal representation.
Some pornography web sites can install software on your computer or come looking for you without your knowledge, and can then send you to another web site containing potentially illegal content. In addition police officers often pose as minors and seek to entice visitors to Internet chat rooms. In many of these situations, there are several legal means by which to challenge the legality of the this process.

 

 

The following is a non-exclusive list of the types of cases that Parnham and Associates has successfully defended:

  • Aggravated Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Assault
  • Child Pornography (possession and/or distribution)
  • Solicitation
  • Prostitution
  • Public Lewdness
  • Sexually Oriented Business violations

Sexual Assault:

Allegations of sexual assault in Texas are very serious and can result in severe repercussions, even if the allegations or accusations are false. Sexual Assault Offenses are referred to as "3g Offenses", and are especially dangerous because a judge cannot grant probation if a defendant is found guilty: only the jury has the right to sentence the defendant to probation, if the defendant is eligible.
Sex assault charges can sometimes result from false accusations or from situations of confusion; in example, an alleged offender may believe they had the consent of the alleged victim, but the victim later claimed the sexual relations were not consensual. These types of allegations may occur when someone is trying to seek revenge on another person by trying to damage their reputation, or in cases of bribery or blackmail.

The most important difference between aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault is the severity of the penalties. If someone is convicted of aggravated sexual assault, he or she can be sentenced anywhere between 5 – 99 years, or life in prison. Additionally, a person could face a minimum of 25 years in prison if the victim is younger than six years old or younger than 14 and is subjected to actual violence.
A person convicted of sexual assault could face a prison sentence of 2 – 20 years. Both of these offenses carry a requirement to register as a sex offender if a person is convicted.

Solicitation and Prostitution:

Texas law enforcement has recently upped its sting operations and prosecution for sex crimes; but in doing so, the police can often err in judgment or make mistakes. Law enforcement officers often target individuals on the street, in nightclubs or massage parlors, and in online venues such as backpage classifieds and Craigslist.
In these cases there are several defenses that an experienced criminal defense attorney can use to fight the charges. It is not sufficient that law enforcement simply presents the defendant with the opportunity to commit a crime, then arrests them if they respond. If the defense attorney can show that the defendant would not have perpetrated the crime without the conception and planning of the offense by a law enforcement officer, and the officer procured the offense by use of trickery, persuasion, or fraud, then a successful entrapment defense may be possible.

 
If you have been charged with sexual assault, posession of child pornography or prostitution related crimes you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Contact Parnham & Associates today at (713) 224.3967 or use our convenient online submission form. Depending on the circumstances, we have many options in mounting a strong defense for you.
 

Our attorneys are intimately familiar with all facets of criminal defense and may help clients with the following:

  • Work to get the charges dropped or lowered
  • Interview police, involved parties, and any possible witnesses to expose any lies or exaggerations
  • Make sure that no evidence against our client was obtained illegally
  • Conduct a thorough pre-trial investigation
  • Employ a private investigator, ballistics expert, polygraphist, or any other experts that may be able to help strengthen our client's defense
  • Obtain expert witnesses to testify on behalf of our clients
  • Negotiate with prosecutors to make sure our clients face the minimum possible penalties

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The Law Office of Parnham & Associates
440 Louisiana St., Suite 200 (The Lyric Centre), Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 224.3967 | Fax: 713.224.2815

 

This is for general informational purpose only. This information: • DOES NOT represent a legal advice or opinion, • DOES NOT create an attorney-client relationship, • DOES NOT account for community-supervision eligibility, special punishment issues, mandatory minimum confinement, enhancements, and "Exceptional Sentences" under Chapter 12 Subchapter D of the Texas Penal Code, • DOES NOT apply Corporations & Associations. • DOES NOT represent the unique circumstances of your case.