Sugar Land Indecency With a Child Defense Attorney

Under Texas law, indecency with a child charges encompass two distinct categories of alleged conduct involving minors under 17 years old. Our experienced Sugar Land indecency with a child defense lawyers see these cases prosecuted aggressively throughout Fort Bend County, where prosecutors pursue convictions based on accusations that range from alleged inappropriate touching to exposure.

The distinction between indecency by contact and indecency by exposure determines both the degree of felony charged and the potential penalties you face.

These charges often arise from complex situations where innocent actions are misinterpreted, custody disputes fuel false allegations, or a child’s statements are influenced by outside pressure. Our indecency with a child defense attorneys in Sugar Land, Texas, understand that being accused of this offense threatens not only your freedom but your reputation, career, and family relationships.

Our defense strategies focus on exposing the weaknesses in these cases, which frequently rely on uncorroborated testimony, coached statements, or misunderstandings that escalate into criminal accusations requiring immediate legal intervention.

How Our Indecency With a Child Defense Lawyers Protect You Against False Accusations

When you’re accused of indecency with a child, we immediately step in to protect you from aggressive police tactics and Child Protective Services investigations. Our first priority is preventing your words from being twisted against you while we build a strong defense strategy.

We have successfully defended clients throughout Sugar Land and Fort Bend County by challenging false allegations before they escalate. Our approach focuses on exposing inconsistencies in witness statements, questioning the reliability of evidence, and protecting your constitutional rights from the very beginning.

Facing Indecency With a Child Accusations in Sugar Land? Start Here

The actions you take in the first hours after an accusation can make or break your case. Following these critical steps protects your legal rights and gives us the best chance to defend you successfully.

• Do not speak to police or CPS without us present
• Preserve all messages, photos, location data, and potential alibis, never delete anything
• Avoid any contact with the accuser and their family members
• Call us immediately for confidential legal protection
• We handle Sugar Land and Fort Bend County cases with immediate pre-indictment strategies

Do I Talk to the Police?

You have the absolute right to remain silent, and we strongly advise you to use it. We handle all communications with law enforcement and CPS to ensure you don’t make statements that prosecutors can use against you.

Do I Preserve Evidence?

Never delete texts, emails, call logs, or social media messages, even if you think they might be harmful. We need complete conversation threads with timestamps because the full context often proves your innocence or establishes your alibi.

Avoid Contact With the Accuser

Any contact with the accuser or their family, even with good intentions, can result in additional charges like witness tampering. We manage all necessary communications to prevent costly mistakes that could destroy your defense.

What Is Indecency With a Child in Texas?

Under Texas Penal Code §21.11, indecency with a child occurs when someone engages in specific conduct with a minor under 17 years old with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged act occurred and that you acted with specific sexual intent.

The law doesn’t recognize a minor’s ability to consent, so prosecutors don’t need to prove force was used. This makes the element of sexual intent crucial to your defense, as innocent actions can be misinterpreted without proper legal representation.

Is It Indecency by Contact or by Exposure?

Texas law divides this offense into two categories with different allegations and penalties. Understanding which type you’re facing helps us develop the most effective defense strategy.

Indecency by Contact

This a second-degree felony involving physical touching of a child’s intimate areas or causing a child to touch another person for sexual gratification. The law doesn’t require nudity or penetration, and touching can occur through clothing.

Indecency by Exposure

This a third-degree felony involving exposing your genitals or anus to a child, or causing a child to expose theirs, with sexual intent. No physical contact is required for this charge.

What Penalties and Sex Offender Registration Apply?

A conviction for indecency with a child carries severe consequences that affect every aspect of your life. The penalties vary depending on whether you’re charged with contact or exposure.

Indecency by contact carries 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. In contrast, indecency by exposure carries 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Beyond prison time and fines, you face mandatory sex offender registration. Contact charges typically require lifetime registration, while exposure charges often require 10-year registration. This public listing restricts where you can live and work, potentially destroying your personal and professional relationships.

Can You Stop Charges Before Indictment in Fort Bend County?

The period between arrest and grand jury hearing offers the best opportunity to prevent formal charges. Our primary goal during this pre-indictment phase is securing a “no-bill” from the grand jury, which stops the case against you.

We act quickly during this critical window because once a grand jury indicts your case, defending becomes significantly more challenging and expensive.

Grand Jury No-Bill Strategy and Defense Packets

Our Sugar Land indecency with a child defense lawyers create comprehensive defense packets presenting your side of the story to prosecutors and grand jurors. These packets include witness statements, evidence supporting your innocence, and expert opinions that challenge the prosecution’s narrative.

What Defenses Work in Indecency With a Child Cases?

Every accusation has weaknesses, and we identify and exploit them to build your defense. Our strategies are tailored to the specific facts and circumstances of your case.

• False Allegations: We investigate the accuser’s motives, particularly in custody disputes or family conflicts where children may be coached.
• Lack of Sexual Intent: We argue that contact or exposure was accidental, misinterpreted, or lacked the required sexual motivation.
• Mistaken Identity: We challenge unreliable identifications due to poor visibility, stress, or suggestive police procedures.
• Constitutional Violations: We examine investigations for illegal searches, Miranda violations, or other procedural errors.

What Evidence Do We Challenge and How?

Prosecutors rely heavily on digital, forensic, and medical evidence, but this evidence often contains flaws we can exploit. Our team of skilled Sugar Land sex crime attorneys has specialized training to challenge the state’s case at every level.

Digital Forensics and Device Extractions

We scrutinize search warrants for phones and computers to ensure they’re not overly broad or improperly executed. Our analysis of metadata and evidence handling procedures often reveals tampering or chain-of-custody problems that can exclude crucial evidence.

CAC Interviews and Suggestive Questioning

Child Advocacy Centers conduct forensic interviews with alleged victims using trained professionals. We carefully review these recordings for leading questions, suggestive techniques, or other problems that contaminate a child’s testimony.

SANE Exams and Medical Limits

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners collect physical evidence after alleged assaults, but they cannot determine whether crimes occurred. We file motions limiting SANE testimony to medical facts only, preventing inappropriate opinions about guilt or innocence.

What Happens in Fort Bend County Courts?

The court process can be overwhelming without experienced guidance. We walk you through every step, from arrest to resolution, ensuring you understand what’s happening and why.

Arrest, Bond, and No-Contact Orders

After an arrest, judges set bail and may impose restrictive conditions like no-contact orders or GPS monitoring. We argue for reasonable bonds and file motions to modify unfair conditions that could disrupt your work and family life.

Indictment, Arraignment, and Pretrial Settings

If indicted, you’ll be formally charged at arraignment where you enter a not-guilty plea. The pretrial phase involves negotiations with prosecutors, evidence challenges, and trial preparation through multiple court settings.

Why Choose Our Sugar Land Defense Team?

Grant Scheiner is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by less than one percent of Texas attorneys. This certification demonstrates proven expertise in criminal defense that gives you significant advantages in court.

Our qualifications translate directly into better results for clients facing serious charges. Grant’s advanced training in police procedures and forensic science helps us identify errors other attorneys often miss.

Board Certification, Trial Results, and Forensic Experience

Board certification requires extensive trial experience, peer recognition, and continuing education in criminal law. Grant’s forensic training allows us to challenge scientific evidence effectively, while his courtroom experience helps us anticipate prosecution strategies and counter them successfully.

Our Results in Serious Sex Offense Cases

We have achieved successful outcomes for clients facing the most serious allegations. While past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, they demonstrate our commitment to fighting for the best possible result in every case.

Our recent successes include grand jury no-bills in aggravated sexual assault cases, dismissed charges on trial day for indecency by contact, and not-guilty verdicts in online solicitation cases.

What to Do—and Avoid—Today

Taking the right actions immediately protects your case, while making common mistakes can destroy your defense before it begins.

Do These Things Now:

1. Call an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately
2. Preserve all digital evidence including texts, emails, and photos
3. Write down your detailed account of events while memory is fresh
4. Remain completely silent about the case

Never Do These Things:

• Speak to police, CPS, or investigators without your attorney
• Delete any messages, files, or digital evidence
• Contact the accuser or their family members
• Post anything about your case on social media

Speak With an Indecency With a Child Defense Lawyer in Sugar Land Today

If you’re facing indecency with a child accusations in Sugar Land or Fort Bend County, every moment counts. These allegations don’t disappear on their own, and delays give prosecutors more time to build cases against you.

At Scheiner DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyers, we provide aggressive, intelligent representation to protect your rights, reputation, and future. Our team understands the devastating impact these accusations have on families and careers, which is why we fight tirelessly for the best possible outcomes.

Contact us today to schedule your confidential consultation. We’re ready to start defending you today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sugar Land Indecency With a Child Defense

Can I Get Probation for Indecency by Contact in Texas?

While judges cannot grant regular probation after conviction, you may qualify for deferred adjudication probation in some cases. This option can help you avoid a final conviction if you successfully complete all probation terms.

Will a Grand Jury No-Bill Permanently End My Case?

A no-bill stops the current case, but prosecutors can technically re-present evidence to a different grand jury if new evidence emerges. However, this rarely happens in practice once a grand jury refuses to indict.

What Happens if the Child Recants Their Statement?

A recantation significantly weakens the prosecution’s case but doesn’t automatically result in dismissal. Prosecutors may argue the child was pressured to change their story, so we must present evidence supporting the recantation’s credibility.

Do I Have to Register as a Sex Offender With Deferred Adjudication?

Yes, Texas law requires sex offender registration even with deferred adjudication for indecency with a child charges. This registration requirement applies regardless of whether you receive a final conviction.

Should I Ever Speak to CPS Without My Attorney Present?

Never speak to Child Protective Services investigators without your attorney present. CPS workers are trained to gather evidence for criminal cases, and their friendly approach can trick you into making damaging statements.

Can Bond Conditions Like GPS Monitoring Be Modified?

Yes, we can file motions requesting that unreasonable bond conditions be modified or removed. Courts sometimes impose overly harsh restrictions that we can successfully challenge based on your specific circumstances.

How Long Do Fort Bend County Indecency Cases Take to Resolve?

These complex cases typically take six months to over a year to resolve, depending on evidence complexity and court schedules. Cases that go to trial generally take longer than those resolved through negotiation.

How Much Does an Indecency With a Child Defense Cost?

Defense costs vary based on case complexity, evidence volume, and whether the case goes to trial. We discuss all fees and payment options during your confidential consultation to help you understand the investment in your defense.