‘Molestation of a child’ is generally charged as a sex crime under Arizona law. Individuals in the Phoenix metro area can be accused of ‘molestation of a child’ if they intentionally or knowingly engage in, or force someone else to engage in, sexual contact with a child who is 15-years-old or younger.
Arizona law also states that child molestation can be charged as a class 2 felony. Depending on the location of the crime and the circumstances of the case, felonies for child molestation can be tried in Federal or Arizona state court. If convicted, child molestation offenders can face severe penalties, such as time in state prison, hefty fines and/or numerous hours of community service. In addition, convicted child molestation offenders can also have a permanent criminal record that will follow them for the rest of their lives.
Since the consequences of a child molestation conviction in Arizona can be very severe, make sure that you talk to a criminal defense attorney if you’ve been charged with a sex crime involving a minor. A conviction for any form of child abuse in Arizona can result in imprisonment, fines, loss of custody, loss of visitation rights, lifetime sex offender registration, and more. If you are facing these charges or believe that you are under investigation contact the Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys today. It is extremely important to address these charges from the beginning of the investigation to ensure the best possible results. We will take the time to thoroughly investigate and evaluate all the evidence the State intends to bring against you.