Sex Crimes

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Victim or Accused: Bloom Can Represent You in Sexual Crime Disputes

Whether you have been the victim of a sexual crime or you have been accused of one in Louisiana, you have certain legal rights to which you are entitled. Centrally located in the heart of downtown New Orleans, the law office of Bloom Legal is ideally situated to help clients on both sides of a sexual crime dispute. We handle all types of sexual crimes, whether in state and federal courts, and whether the victims are children or adults. Call Bloom Legal today at 504.599.9997 for a consultation on how we can help defend your rights in your sexual crime case.

At Bloom Legal, we can handle all types of sexual crimes throughout Louisiana. The types of crimes that we are able to address include, but are not limited to:

• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Battery
• Sexual Harassment
• Molestation
• Stalking
• Internet Crimes
• Child Pornography/Exploitation
• Sex Trafficking
• Luring or Enticing a Child
• Prostitution
• Solicitation
• Incest
• Unlawful Sexual Activity
• Lewd or Lascivious Acts or Contact
• Voyeurism

Sex Crimes Can Victimize Either Adults or Children

If you have been the victim of any of these crimes or any other type of sexual crime, the legal team at Bloom Legal understands your trauma and will give you the sympathetic, personalized legal help that you need during this difficult time. We will work to keep you safe by pursuing temporary restraining orders and injunctions against your wrongdoer, both of which are protective measures available to victims of crimes designed to keep their assailant or wrongdoer a safe distance away. Additionally, we will help you seek damages and awards from your assailant through civil actions, which will allow you to sue for the loss of your livelihood and happiness during this traumatic time. Bloom Legal’s attorneys will also assist you and criminal investigators in the criminal investigation against your wrongdoer.

If You Have Been Accused of a Sexual Crime, You Also Have Rights

Any person accused of or charged with a crime in the United States has certain constitutionally guaranteed legal rights, which include the right to competent legal representation and the right to a fair trial. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your charge or accusation, from the time that you hire us, New Orleans’ Bloom Legal will work to ensure that your rights are met.

Sexual crimes typically have two main consequences. The first is the criminal penalties including time spent imprisoned and a lifetime spent on the sex offender registry. The second consequence is the social stigma associated with these crimes, which may lead to job loss, divorce, and estrangement from friends and family. If you have been accused of a sexual crime, the lawyers at Bloom Legal can work to minimize the effects of this second consequence through early intervention and active involvement.

As we progress with your defense, the sexual crime lawyers at Bloom Legal will use several strategies to determine whether prosecutors have a case against you. Several questions we will ask and pursue include:

• Did the alleged victim create a false charge in order to cover up consensual sexual activities that would be damaging to that person’s reputation or family?
• Did the alleged victim create a false charge out of retribution against you?
• Particularly if the alleged victim is a child, did the tactics of parents, teachers, or investigators create an instance of false memory?
• Did the police use appropriate methods of search and seizure, if seizing computer files or other pieces of property? If not, that evidence will be inadmissible in court.

The criminal defense attorneys at Bloom Legal are available for sexual crime cases across Louisiana and the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area. Our clients include locals, tourists, and college students who need help navigating the law or defending themselves. If you have been arrested or assaulted in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, or any other Parishes in Louisiana, contact New Orleans’ Bloom Legal and work to keep yourself free and safe.

About Solicitation/Prostitution

In Louisiana prostitution and solicitation are criminal offenses. For a first offense, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and face potential fines and jail time. The penalties become progressively more serious for each subsequent conviction, including felony charges.

Even an accusation of solicitation or prostitution could have a major impact on your reputation and your relationships. It is important that you are proactive in dealing with the charges and you contact a New Orleans criminal defense law firm as soon as possible.

Louisiana Laws on Solicitation and Prostitution

According to Louisiana law, the legal definition of prostitution includes:

• Having sexual intercourse of any type with another person or persons for compensation.
• One person soliciting another with the intent to engage in some type of sexual intercourse for compensation.

Sexual intercourse is defined broadly to include anal, oral and vaginal intercourse. No actual sexual intercourse is required to be charged with prostitution. The mere act of trying to entice someone to engage in sexual activity for money can be enough for you to face criminal charges.

If you are charged with solicitation, you face a fine of $500 and up to six months of jail time for a first offense. A conviction for a second offense of solicitation results in a fine of $250 to $2,000 and up to two years of incarceration. For a third or a subsequent conviction, you could face between two and four years of prison time and a fine between $500 and $5,000.

The look back period to determine if you will be charged with a second or third offense is five years. So, if more than five years has passed since your prior prostitution or solicitation conviction, you will be charged as if the offense was your first one.

Defending Against Prostitution Charges

Multiple defense options exist if you have been charged with solicitation, including entrapment, mistake, insufficient evidence or lack of proof that you committed the crime. The burden is on the prosecutor to prove that you solicited or engaged in sexual intercourse for money, and it is often difficult for prosecutors to make their case since there may not be any witnesses other than the parties who engaged in the illegal transaction.

An experienced New Orleans criminal defense lawyer can help you respond in the best way possible to your prostitution charges, including negotiating a plea bargain, raising defenses or working to suppress evidence because your rights were violated. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible when you have been charged with prostitution so you can get started on responding to the criminal charges in the smartest possible way.

Getting Help from a New Orleans Criminal Defense Law Firm

Bloom Legal can provide you with compassionate and professional representation when you are charged with solicitation. Call today to schedule a consultation to learn more about the legal assistance that we can provide: (504) 599-9997.