The Napier Law Firm defends people accused of sex crimes across Texas from offices in Houston and Conroe, led by former Harris-area and Montgomery County prosecutors. An accusation alone can upend your life before any conviction. Early defense work can protect your rights, preserve evidence, and address the case before it gains momentum. You have the right to remain silent, to counsel, and to a fair trial.
Our Texas sex crimes defense lawyers approach these cases without judgment and with the presumption of innocence at the center of the defense. The earlier counsel is involved, the sooner your attorney can advise you about police contact, requests for interviews, search warrants, subpoenas, and communications that could affect the investigation.
Your defense should start with your rights, not public assumptions. Call The Napier Law Firm to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Contact us today at (713) 470-4097.
Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Texas
The Napier Law Firm represents people facing a broad range of allegations, including the following criminal defense practice areas:
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Indecency with a child
- Continuous sexual abuse of a young child
- Online solicitation of a minor
- Child pornography
- Indecent exposure
- Public lewdness
- Prostitution and solicitation
- Failure to register
Whether the allegation involves a stranger, acquaintance, dating partner, or family member, the case deserves a serious defense from the beginning. Early intervention can shape the investigation and may create opportunities to challenge allegations before charges are filed.
How Texas Classifies Sex Crime Charges
Misdemeanor Sex Offenses
Not every sex-related allegation is charged as a felony. Indecent exposure under Penal Code §21.08 is generally a Class B misdemeanor, while public lewdness under §21.07 is generally a Class A misdemeanor. Repeat indecent-exposure convictions can increase the classification. The facts, prior record, and circumstances involving an alleged victim can change the potential exposure.
Felony Sex Offenses
Sexual assault under Penal Code §22.011 is generally a second-degree felony. Aggravated sexual assault under §22.021 is a first-degree felony. Indecency with a child under §21.11 can be a second-degree felony when the allegation involves sexual contact and a third-degree felony for certain exposure-related conduct. Continuous sexual abuse of a young child or disabled individual under §21.02 is a first-degree felony punishable by life imprisonment or a term of 25 to 99 years.
These classifications matter because felony charges can carry prison exposure and long-term consequences beyond a sentence.
Online Solicitation and Federal Exposure
Online solicitation of a minor is addressed by Penal Code §33.021 and can involve communications, electronic messages, sexually explicit material, or an alleged attempt to arrange a meeting. Internet-based allegations can also attract federal attention, creating the possibility of parallel prosecution for state and federal sex crimes charges. A defense strategy must account for both possibilities when federal authorities become involved.
Penalties for a Sex Crime Conviction in Texas
Penalties run from misdemeanor jail time to life in prison depending on the charge and the alleged victim's age.
Texas generally authorizes up to 180 days in county jail for a Class B misdemeanor and up to one year for a Class A misdemeanor. A state jail felony carries 180 days to two years in state jail. A third-degree felony carries two to 10 years, a second-degree felony carries two to 20 years, and a first-degree felony carries five to 99 years or life. Felony convictions can also carry fines of up to $10,000, depending on the offense classification.
The consequences do not necessarily end with incarceration or a fine. A conviction can affect sex offender registration, employment, housing, family or custody matters, immigration status, professional opportunities, and reputation. The defense therefore must consider the consequences of the charge and potential resolution from the beginning, not only the immediate punishment.
Sex Offender Registration Under Chapter 62
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62 governs the sex offender registration program. Many reportable convictions and adjudications can trigger registration requirements, and the statute includes certain deferred adjudications among reportable matters. Depending on the offense and circumstances, registration may last for a term of years or for life.
Registration can affect where a person lives and works and can create significant consequences during background checks and other routine screening. Restrictions and reporting obligations can become part of daily life.
For that reason, registration exposure is a core defense issue that should be considered from day one. A sex and violent crimes defense lawyer should evaluate the precise offense, charging language, prior history, and possible disposition before you make decisions that could affect registration.
Sex Crime Charges in Harris County and Houston
Sex crime investigations in Harris County can move quickly. Investigators may build a case around an accuser's statement, a forensic interview, phone records, messages, social media, photographs, or other digital evidence before the accused is ever contacted. That makes early Harris County criminal defense representation vital.
The Napier Law Firm has handled serious allegations in Harris County. A Sexual Assault charge and an Indecency with a Child charge were both no-billed by a Harris County grand jury. A no-bill is case-specific and does not mean every allegation will receive the same result, but it shows why a careful defense begins before the State's case is fully developed.
If you are facing an investigation or charge in Houston or Harris County, contact our Houston office promptly so we can discuss the allegations and your legal options. Our case results demonstrate our formidable record of successfully defending clients.
Sex Crime Charges in Montgomery County and Conroe
The Napier Law Firm has deep experience in Montgomery County criminal defense. Attorney Monica Cooper Napier tried sex-crime and online-solicitation jury trials as a Montgomery County prosecutor before leading the District Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit. Attorney George Napier spent six years prosecuting felonies in the same courts before moving into private criminal defense.
That prosecution experience gives our team insight into how serious allegations may be investigated, charged, and presented. We use that perspective to build a defense while protecting the accused person's constitutional rights. If you are facing a sex crime investigation or charge in Conroe or Montgomery County, contact our Conroe office to discuss your case with our team.
How We Defend Sex Crime Allegations
A sex crime accusation can create enormous pressure, but the State still carries the burden of proving its case. An allegation is not a conviction. Our defense may examine:
- False allegations: Claims can arise in custody disputes, breakups, interpersonal conflicts, or other contentious situations. We examine the surrounding circumstances and whether the evidence supports the accusation.
- Mistaken identity: Identification can be challenged when witnesses, photographs, digital accounts, or other evidence do not reliably establish who committed the alleged conduct.
- Insufficient evidence and burden of proof: The prosecution must prove the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. We scrutinize whether the evidence actually establishes each required element.
- Constitutional violations: Illegal searches, improper interrogation, Miranda violations, or other constitutional problems can affect whether evidence may be used.
- Alibi and digital evidence: Location information, messages, account records, photographs, device data, and other evidence may support an alibi or contradict the State's theory.
We conduct an independent investigation and look for opportunities for early, pre-indictment intervention when the circumstances permit.
Why Choose The Napier Law Firm
The Napier Law Firm brings former-prosecutor experience from both sides of the courtroom to serious criminal defense. Attorney George Napier and Monica Cooper Napier have prosecution and trial backgrounds that inform how we analyze evidence and anticipate the State's approach. We maintain offices in Houston and Conroe and remain available 24/7. We also provide free, confidential consultations.
When you need a Texas sex crimes defense lawyer, you need someone prepared to protect your constitutional rights, challenge the evidence, and pursue the strongest available defense. Contact The Napier Law Firm or request a free consultation to speak with our team. To learn more, look at our frequently asked criminal defense questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a sex crime charge show up on a background check if my case is dismissed?
Yes, a dismissed case can appear on private background checks until it is eligible for and receives an expunction. Texas law now governs expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A. Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the arrest and disposition, so dismissal alone does not automatically mean every record disappears.
Do I have to register as a sex offender if I am convicted?
It depends on the offense. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62 identifies convictions and certain deferred adjudications that trigger sex offender registration. Because registration consequences vary by offense and circumstances, a defense lawyer should evaluate registration exposure before you accept a plea or other resolution.
What should I do first if I am accused of a sex crime in Texas?
Say nothing to investigators about the allegations, do not contact the accuser, and call a defense lawyer immediately. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel. Do not delete messages, alter devices, or destroy potential evidence. Let your attorney advise you about the next step.
When the stakes are high, choose aggressive legal representation from our top-rated sex crimes defense lawyer in Texas. Call The Napier Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. We are available 24/7 at (713) 470-4097.