Child Molestation Attorney in Irving, TX

The Full Weight of a Conviction Under Texas Law

The penalties vary based on the specific charge, the age of the alleged victim, and any aggravating factors the prosecution can establish.

Penalty ranges for common charges:

• Indecency with a child by contact (second-degree felony): 2 to 20 years in prison, up to $10,000 fine
• Indecency with a child by exposure (third-degree felony): 2 to 10 years in prison
• Aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10, or under 14 with aggravating factors: Mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison

Sex offender registration follows conviction on these charges. Under Texas law, a conviction for indecency with a child by contact requires lifetime registration, while indecency with a child by exposure carries a 10-year registration requirement. Higher-grade offenses such as aggravated sexual assault of a child also carry lifetime registration. Even deferred adjudication for indecency with a child by contact still requires sex offender registration under Texas law.

Residency restrictions may prohibit a registered sex offender from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, and parks, depending on supervision conditions and local ordinances. Beyond housing, a conviction can result in loss of employment, loss of professional licenses, and the inability to work in positions involving children. Texas courts may also presume against appointing a convicted offender as a managing conservator of a child, directly affecting parental rights. For non-citizen defendants, a conviction may trigger deportation under federal immigration law, depending on individual immigration history and case facts.

Defense Strategies in Irving Child Molestation Cases

Every case turns on its own facts. I review all available discovery thoroughly and communicate honestly about what the evidence shows, so clients can make informed decisions rather than react under pressure.

False Accusations & Forensic Interview Challenges

False accusations are a recognized defense avenue in Texas child sexual abuse cases. They can arise from custody disputes, family conflict, or improper suggestion during forensic interviews. Texas law governs forensic interview protocols, and deviation from those protocols is grounds for challenging the reliability of a child’s statement. In many prosecutions, the state proceeds on an uncorroborated statement from the alleged victim, which makes credibility analysis and inconsistency in testimony central to the defense.

Statutory Affirmative Defense

Texas Penal Code section 21.11 includes an affirmative defense that may apply when the accused was no more than three years older than the alleged victim and of the opposite sex, no force or duress was used, and the accused wasn’t required to register as a sex offender at the time.

Suppression of Evidence

Motions to suppress evidence obtained without a warrant, outside warrant scope, or after a client invoked Miranda rights can remove key prosecution evidence from trial. I analyze every step of the investigation for constitutional violations.

Pre-Charge Intervention

Early intervention before charges are formally filed may allow the defense to present exculpatory evidence to law enforcement or directly to the grand jury. A grand jury no-bill effectively ends the prosecution before trial. Contacting a child molestation attorney in Irving before charges are filed can open options that aren’t available after indictment.

The Irving & Dallas County Legal Process

Irving falls within Dallas County. Child sexual abuse charges originating in Irving are prosecuted by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Crimes Against Children Division, which files approximately 700 cases per year and is staffed by 17 attorneys and 12 investigators. These prosecutors are experienced and trained specifically in the dynamics of child abuse cases.

Felony cases proceed through the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, which houses 17 Criminal District Courts. Bond amounts for child sex offense charges in Dallas County can range from approximately $50,000 for indecency with a child by contact to $100,000 or more for aggravated sexual assault of a child. An arrest can also trigger a separate investigation by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which can affect parental rights independent of the criminal case outcome.