Birmingham Sex Crime Attorney

Experienced Defense Against Sex Crime Charges in Alabama

There is so much at stake when you are facing charges for an alleged sex crime. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can advise you about which steps to take. Our attorney Joseph A. Ingram is here to protect your rights and restore your reputation. We understand that being accused of a sex crime can have a significant impact on your future, which is why we are prepared to fight for you.

Types of Sex Crimes We Handle

We represent people who have been accused of a wide range of state and federal sexual conduct charges, including:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Sexual misconduct
• Crimes related to child pornography

Please call (205) 335-2640 to discuss your case with our sex crimes attorney in Birmingham. All telephone calls regarding your allegations are completely confidential.

What are the Penalties for Sex Crimes in Alabama?

When you have been accused of a sex crime, you can end up facing a lifetime of consequences. More than incarceration, sex crime convictions force you to register as a sex offender. If you are convicted and have to register as a sex offender, registration will affect where you can live for the rest of your life. Our firm is committed to helping our clients avoid these consequences by fighting their charges and convictions. At Ingram Law, LLC, we understand that these types of allegations can lead to fear, anxiety, and loss of sleep.

Sex Offender Registry

If you have convicted of a sex crime and are forced to register as a sex offender, this will have lifelong consequences. The sex offender registry is online database that has your name, age, distinguishing characteristics and details about the crime that you were convicted of. This means you will have a hard time find places to live and work for the rest of you life. That is why you need the help of an experienced sex crime attorney from Ingram Law, LLC.

Further Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions

Due to all of the technology we enjoy today, sex crimes have steadily been on the increase. Smartphones and computer technology have led to the majority of sexual crime cases. These cases make front-page news every day. In fact, it is rare that a day goes by without an educator, medical professional, or high-profile personality being charged with a sex crime. The consequences of a conviction for a sex crime can have a lifetime effect on you and your family. In addition to facing jail time, fines, probation and having to register as a sex offender, you can also lose your job, income, and even your family.

Defense for Internet Sex Crimes

Sometimes, a click of the mouse is enough to bring on charges for criminal sexual activity. If law enforcement says you were involved in a computer or internet sex crime, we will do all that we can to get you the best possible results. Our legal team will independently investigate your case to build a strong defense strategy.

We have represented people charged with the following crimes:

• Solicitation of a minor
• Possession of child pornography
• Distribution of child pornography
• Manufacturing of child pornography

The state or federal prosecutor must prove each element of your case beyond a reasonable doubt. As your sex crime defense, we will fight hard to hold prosecutors to this burden of proof. We thoroughly investigate the facts and laws involved in your case and will use DNA and forensic experts to establish your innocence. Let us stand up for you in court.

List of Sex Crimes

Rape; First Degree §13A-6-61

• (a) A person commits the crime of rape in the first degree if he or she does any of the following:
  • (1) Engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion.
  • (2) Engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of being incapacitated.
  • (3) Being 16 years old or older, engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is less than 12 years old.
• (b) Rape in the first degree is a Class A felony.

An offense for Rape; First Degree would include any forced acts of sexual intercourse, or any acts of sexual intercourse between a person aged 16 years or older and a person less than 12 years of age.

Rape; Second Degree §13A-6-62

• (a) A person commits the crime of rape in the second degree if, being 16 years old or older, he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person who is 12 years old or older, but less than 16 years old; provided, however, the actor is at least two years older than the other person.
• (b) Rape in the second degree is a Class B felony

An offense for Rape; Second Degree would include an act of sexual intercourse between a person aged 16 years or older and a person between the ages of 12 and 16.

Sodomy; First Degree §13A-6-63

• (a) A person commits the crime of sodomy in the first degree if he or she does any of the following:
  • (1) Engages in sodomy with another person by forcible compulsion.
  • (2) Engages in sodomy with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of being incapacitated.
  • (3) Being 16 years old or older, engages in sodomy with a person who is less than 12 years old.
• (b) Sodomy in the first degree is a Class A felony.

An offense for Sodomy; First Degree would include any forced sexual act involving the mouth or anus, or any sexual acts involving the mouth or anus between a person aged 16 years or older and a person less than 12 years of age.

Sodomy; Second Degree §13A-6-64

• (a) A person commits the crime of sodomy in the second degree if, being 16 years old or older, he or she engages in sodomy with another person 12 years old or older, but less than 16 years old; provided, however, the actor is at least two years older than the other person.
• (b) Sodomy in the second degree is a Class B felony.

An offense for Sodomy; Second Degree would include any sexual act involving the mouth or anus between a person aged 16 years or older and a person between the ages of 12 and 16.

Sexual Misconduct §13A-6-65

• (a) A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct if he or she does any of the following:
  • (1) Engages in sexual intercourse with another person without his or her consent, under circumstances other than those covered by Sections 13A-6-61 and 13A-6-62; or with consent where consent was obtained by the use of any fraud or artifice.
  • (2) Engages in sodomy with another person, without his or her consent, under circumstances other than those covered by Sections 13A-6-63 and 13A-6-64; or with consent where consent was obtained by the use of fraud or artifice.
  • (3) Engages in sexual contact with another person without his or her consent under circumstances other than those under Sections 13A-6-66, 13A-6-67, and 13A-6-69.1; or with consent where consent was obtained by the use of fraud or artifice.
• (b) Sexual misconduct is a Class A misdemeanor.

An offense for sexual misconduct could involve a seventeen-year-old minor, or consumption of drugs or alcohol, for example.

Sexual Torture §13A-6-65.1

• (a) A person commits the crime of sexual torture if he or she does any of the following:
  • (1) Penetrates the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person with an inanimate object, by forcible compulsion, with the intent to sexually torture, sexually abuse, or to gratify the sexual desire of either party.
  • (2) Penetrates the vagina, anus, or mouth of a person who is incapable of consent by reason of being incapacitated, with an inanimate object, with the intent to sexually torture, sexually abuse, or to gratify the sexual desire of either party.
  • (3) Penetrates the vagina, anus, or mouth of a person who is less than 12 years old, with an inanimate object, by a person who is 16 years old or older with the intent to sexually torture, sexually abuse, or to gratify the sexual desire of either party.
  • (4) By inflicting physical injury, including, but not limited to, burning, crushing, wounding, mutilating, or assaulting the sex organs or intimate parts of another person, with the intent to sexually torture, sexually abuse, or to gratify the sexual desire of either party.
• (b) The crime of sexual torture is a Class A felony.

An offense that causes physical injury or falls within the boundaries of Rape in the First Degree or Sodomy in the First Degree would be Sexual Torture. 

Sexual Abuse; First Degree §13A-6-66

• (a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree if he or she does either of the following:
  • (1) Subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion.
  • (2) Subjects another person to sexual contact who is incapable of consent by reason of being incapacitated.
• (b) Sexual abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony.

An offense for Sexual Abuse; First Degree would include forcibly touching another person in a sexual manner, for example.

Sexual Abuse; Second Degree §13A-6-67

• (a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse in the second degree if he or she does either of the following:
  • (1) Subjects another person to sexual contact who is incapable of consent by reason of some factor other than being less than 16 years old.
  • (2) Being 19 years old or older, subjects another person to sexual contact who is less than 16 years old, but more than 12 years old.
• (b) Sexual abuse in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (c), or if a person commits a second or subsequent offense of sexual abuse in the second degree within one year of another sexual offense, the offense is a Class C felony.
• (c) If a person violates subdivision (a)(2), and he or she is at least 15 years older than the victim, the offense shall be a Class C felony.

An offense would be classified as Sexual Abuse; Second Degree if someone touched  another person in a sexual manner, but that person still could not consent.

Indecent Exposure §13A-6-68

• (a) A person commits the crime of indecent exposure if, with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire of himself or herself, or of any person other than his or her spouse, he or she exposes his or her genitals under circumstances in which he or she knows the conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm.
• (b) Indecent exposure is a Class A misdemeanor except a third or subsequent conviction shall be a Class C felony.

An offense would be Indecent Exposure if a person exposed their genitals in a public place, for example.

Enticing child to enter vehicle, house, etc., for immoral purposes. §13A-6-69

• (a) It shall be unlawful for any person with lascivious intent to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, or attempt to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, any child under 16 years of age to enter any vehicle, room, house, office, or other place for the purpose of proposing to such child the performance of an act of sexual intercourse or an act which constitutes the offense of sodomy or for the purpose of proposing the fondling or feeling of the sexual or genital parts of such child or the breast of such child, or for the purpose of committing an aggravated assault on such child, or for the purpose of proposing that such child fondle or feel the sexual or genital parts of such person.
• (b) A violation of this section is a Class C felony.

An offense would fall under this section if a person invited a child under 16 years of age into any sort of private space for the purpose of proposing or engaging in a sexual act with that child.

Sexual abuse of child under 12 §13A-6-69.1

• (a) A person commits the crime of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old if he or she, being 16 years old or older, subjects another person who is less than 12 years old to sexual contact.
• (b) Sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old is a Class B felony.

An offense for Sexual abuse of a child under 12 includes any form of sexual abuse or contact from a person over the age of 16 directed towards a child under the age of 12.

Sex Act or Sexual Contact with a Foster Child §13A-6-71

• (a) A person commits the crime of engaging in a sex act with a foster child if he or she is a foster parent and engages in sexual intercourse or sodomy, as defined by Section 13A-6-60, with a foster child under the age of 19 years who is under his or her care or supervision. Engaging in a sex act with a foster child is a Class B felony.
• (b) A person commits the crime of engaging in a sexual contact with a foster child if he or she is a foster parent and engages in a sexual contact, pursuant to Section 13A-6-60, with a foster child under the age of 19 years who is under his or her care or supervision. Engaging in sexual contact with a foster child is a Class C felony.
• (c) A person commits the crime of soliciting a sex act or sexual contact with a foster child if he or she is a foster parent and solicits, persuades, encourages, harasses, or entices a foster child under the age of 19 years to engage in a sex act including, but not limited to, sexual intercourse, sodomy, or sexual contact, as defined by Section 13A-6-60. The crime of soliciting a sex act or sexual contact with a foster child is a Class A misdemeanor.
• (d) Consent is not a defense to a charge under subsections (a), (b), or (c).
• (e) For the purposes of this section a foster parent is an individual approved or licensed by the Department of Human Resources or other child placing agencies who provides care and supervision to a foster child under the temporary or permanent custody of the department.

This offense includes any prior sex offenses where the instigator is a foster parents and the victim is a foster child.

Contact Our Birmingham Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Today

Do not take any chances with your future. At Ingram Law, LLC, we have successfully defended criminal cases in both state and federal courts. Our Birmingham sex crime defense attorney has the expertise to defend your rights and pursue a positive case result. Let Mr. Ingram help you decide the best course of action for your case.

Remember, you do not have to give or sign a statement without having an attorney present. Make sure you protect your rights and future by calling us to discuss your sex crime case today. We understand how to creatively present a defense against government charges and we will work diligently to protect your rights throughout the process.

Contact our firm at (205) 335-2640 to schedule a FREE consultation to talk about what we can do for you.