When a person is faced with criminal accusations of a sexual nature, the consequences can be serious, and the potential prison sentence if found guilty is just the beginning. Those convicted of sex crimes can find the road to rebuilding their life more difficult. And the loss of reputation among one’s neighbors, friends, and even family, can begin even before the trial. What a defendant needs most is to have a smart Little Rock sex crimes lawyer—one who understands how to handle a criminal defense and who further understands that being charged with a crime certainly doesn’t mean one is guilty. 

Have you been accused of a sex crime? Call Omar F. Greene, Attorney at Law, today at (501) 600-0451 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our sex crimes lawyer in Little Rock.

What Are The Penalties for Sex Crimes in Arkansas?

The potential sentence for a guilty verdict will depend on the specific crime involved. Sex crimes cover a wide range of possible offenses. Rape—forcing another person to perform intercourse or other deviant activity—is the most serious charge. A conviction of rape can result in life imprisonment. Rape is also a crime where, if the victim dies, a prosecutor may also bring 1^st-degree murder charges, even if the death was not intended by the defendant. In the state of Arkansas, murder connected to rape can result in the death penalty. 

Sexual assault charges could be brought when the defendant is alleged to have used a position of authority to leverage a sexual act by someone else. These charges can be brought in the 1^st-degree if the victim was a minor. Moreover, whether the victim consented to the act is not a viable defense. 

The sentence for a sexual assault conviction depends on whether it is in the 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd degree. A 1^st-degree conviction can result in a 30-year prison term. The maximum sentence for 3^rd-degree sexual assault is 10 years behind bars. 

There are situations where the available evidence weighs heavily against the defendant, and a Little Rock sex crimes attorney may advise a guilty plea. The extreme difference in sentences means that prosecutors have some flexibility to plea bargain. Is it better to plead guilty to a lower charge and accept a shorter prison stay, or should a defendant risk a trial on more serious charges? Those are questions unique to the circumstances of each case, and an experienced lawyer, who has seen more than their share of similar situations unfolds in court, can offer good counsel.