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Fighting allegations of sex crimes charges can be difficult, even when the accusations are false. These cases often turn on one person’s story against another’s, with little hard evidence available to prove what actually happened. Law enforcement officers tend to focus their investigations on building a case against an accused, rather than examining the possibility that the allegations may be distorted, exaggerated, mistaken, or manufactured. To safeguard your freedom and reputation, you need a criminal defense lawyer who has experience with sex crime investigations and prosecutions. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Wichita sex crimes attorneys have the experience and skill you need to present the best defense.

If You Are Accused of a Sex Crime, Consult an Attorney Immediately

If you are accused of a sex crime, police will try to interview you. They may tell you it is your opportunity to “tell your side of the story,” but the goal of that interview is not to clear your name. Police want to obtain a statement to be used against you in a future prosecution. To protect your rights and interests at this initial stage of the investigation, reach out to an attorney before you are contacted by law enforcement if possible. If an attempted interview is the first you’re hearing of an allegation, get the officer’s contact information and call an attorney.

When you hire JHC’s Wichita sex crime defense attorneys during the investigation stage, we interface with law enforcement on your behalf. We advise you regarding the scope and severity of the charges that may follow and help you decide whether and when to speak to law enforcement. Whenever possible, we endeavor to help you prevent the allegations from turning into formal criminal charges.

We Work With You to Build Your Best Defense

Hiring counsel early is also important to building your defense. JHC’s Wichita sex crime defense attorneys can help you quickly locate and preserve exculpatory evidence, initiate an independent investigation, and identify gaps in the case against you that would be helpful for your defense. Our skilled investigators ensure that the evidence of our clients’ innocence is not lost so we can demonstrate to law enforcement, prosecutors, the court, or even the public, that there was no crime. Our Wichita sex crime lawyers will take prompt, decisive action to defend your rights, your reputation, your freedom, and your dignity.

In the event you are charged with a sex crime, JHC’s Wichita sex crime defense lawyers do much more than react to the evidence offered by the prosecution. We work with private investigators and online research databases to evaluate the evidence against you, find evidence in your favor, and identify gaps in the case resulting from law enforcement’s investigative errors or shortcomings. Our Wichita sex crime defense lawyers know that a complete defense includes addressing the direct claims against you as well as the truth that law enforcement might have ignored.

Accusations and Charges We Defend

JHC’s sex crime defense attorneys in Wichita represent clients facing accusations of or charges for the full range of sexual offense:

• rape
• statutory rape
• unlawful sexual relations
• “Jessica’s Law” cases, including aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy
• child molestation
• sexual assault
• sexual abuse
• sexual battery
• sexual exploitation

There are dozens of “sex crimes” that can be charged, and we have experience defending all of them. That includes non-contact offenses, such as indecent solicitation, lewd and lascivious behavior, sexual exploitation, and electronic solicitation. We also defend charges for child pornography possession, receipt, distribution, or production. Our Wichita sex crime defense attorneys handle everything from federal sex trafficking to misdemeanor sexual battery.

Ready for Anything in Your Sex Crime Case

Our significant experience defending sex crime cases makes us ready for anything. Whether you have been wrongly accused and need help clearing your name; you are seeking an agreed resolution that reasonably accounts for the facts of your case; or are most concerned about obtaining just sentence, JHC’s Wichita sex crime defense lawyers know how to handle it.

Our Wichita sex criminal defense lawyers represent men, women, and juveniles facing charges for sex crimes across the state of Kansas in both state and federal court. We will vigorously defend your case—on the facts and the law.

Contact one of our Wichita sex crimes defense attorneys now.

Top Questions About Sex Crime Defense in Kansas

What does lack of consent mean under Kansas sex offense laws?

Lack of consent or inability to consent is critical to many Kansas sex offenses. When consent is mentioned in a statute, it often refers to one person’s express lack of consent, either through words or actions. However, Kansas laws also prohibit sexual contact with a person who cannot legally consent due to a mental or developmental disability, intoxication, or age. In Kansas, the age of consent is 16, so no person under the age of 16 can legally consent to sexual contact.

How can I be charged with rape when we did not have sex?

The Kansas rape law is codified at K.S.A. 21-5503. It defines the following conduct as rape:

(1) Knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse with a victim who does not consent to the sexual intercourse under any of the following circumstances:

• (A) When the victim is overcome by force or fear; or
• (B) when the victim is unconscious or physically powerless;

(2) Knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of mental deficiency or disease, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of the effect of any alcoholic liquor, narcotic, drug or other substance, which condition was known by the offender or was reasonably apparent to the offender;

(3) sexual intercourse with a child who is under 14 years of age;

(4) sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim’s consent was obtained through a knowing misrepresentation made by the offender that the sexual intercourse was a medically or therapeutically necessary procedure; or

(5) sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim’s consent was obtained through a knowing misrepresentation made by the offender that the sexual intercourse was a legally required procedure within the scope of the offender’s authority.

The answer to why you can be charged with rape when you did not “have sex” is that the legal definition of “sexual intercourse” includes more than coitus. Under Kansas law (K.S.A. 21-5501(a)), “sexual intercourse” means any penetration of the female sex organ by a finger, the male sex organ or any object. Any penetration, however slight, is sufficient to constitute sexual intercourse. “Sexual intercourse” does not include penetration of the female sex organ by a finger or object in the course of the performance of:

(1) Generally recognized healthcare practices; or

(2) a body cavity search conducted in accordance with K.S.A. 22-2520 through 22-2524, and amendments thereto.