If you face charges related to alleged sex crimes in Green Bay, Brown County, WI, you already know the stakes are high. Even if a jury finds you not guilty or prosecutors dismiss your charges, merely being accused of a sex crime can destroy your reputation. Should a jury find you guilty of a sex crime, the potential penalties range from fines and jail time to having to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life.
Attorney Jeffrey P. Kippa of J. Kippa Law Office understands the grave consequences of sex crime charges, and our team can provide the robust defense you need. We understand the nuances that can make or break these cases, and we’ll fiercely protect your rights and reputation. We’ll deal with the police and prosecutors for you, examine the case against you for possible weaknesses, and explore every possible option to contest or reduce your charges. Call J. Kippa Law, LLC, now or reach out online for a free case evaluation with a sex crimes defense attorney serving Green Bay.
Some sex crime charges our Brown County criminal defense attorneys can help you with include:
Sexual assault – There are four degrees of sexual assault in Wisconsin, with first-degree sexual assault being the most severe offense and fourth-degree sexual assault being the least severe. What separates the different degrees of sexual assault are the specific circumstances of the alleged offense. For example, first-degree sexual assault applies in cases involving severe injuries to the alleged victim or the use of a deadly weapon during the assault. By contrast, fourth-degree sexual assault involves unwanted sexual contact without intercourse.
Sex acts with minors – Illegal sex acts with minors include everything from sexual assault of a child and soliciting a minor using a computer to exposing minors to pornographic materials. These offenses carry harsh penalties, including a requirement to register as a sexual offender in many cases.
Child pornography – Possessing or viewing child pornography is a felony in Wisconsin, even if the offender didn’t know the children depicted in the materials were minors. There’s also a separate statute for possessing, producing, or distributing virtual child pornography.
Lewd and lascivious behavior – Wisconsin law prohibits people from engaging in “indecent acts” of sexual gratification in the presence of others, along with exposing their genitals or pubic areas. This is one of the few Wisconsin sex offenses that isn’t a felony, though a lewd and lascivious behavior charge can still have drastic consequences.
As you would expect, the penalties for sex crimes in Wisconsin are among the harshest found in state law. However, the secondary consequences of a sex crime conviction can be just as severe. The legal penalties and other consequences you could face in these cases include:
Most sex crimes in Wisconsin are felonies, which means they carry a minimum sentence of a year in prison and a large fine. For example, first-degree sexual assault is a Class B felony, and the penalties include up to 60 years in prison. Possessing child pornography is a Class D felony (unless the offender is under 18), and the penalties include up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The other significant penalty that comes with many sex offenses in Wisconsin is the requirement to register as a sexual offender. How long you must register as a sex offender depends on the specific offense, but some offenses require you to register with the authorities for the rest of your life.
The ripple effects of a sex offense conviction in Green Bay can have consequences as drastic as the baseline legal penalties. For example, many employers won’t hire someone with a felony conviction on their record, especially if the felony is a sex offense. Along similar lines, you may be ineligible to perform some kinds of work if you’ve been convicted of a sex offense involving children. Having to register as a sex offender may also keep you from living or spending time in certain areas, such as near schools and playgrounds.
The right strategy for a sex crime case in Green Bay depends on the charges you face and the evidence against you. For offenses involving adults, it may be possible to argue the alleged acts were consensual, which would mean you committed no crime. Challenging the physical evidence may also be a viable strategy in some cases.
For sex crimes involving minors, consent or saying you didn’t know the victim’s age are not valid defenses. In these cases, arguing that the police made an improper arrest or that they violated your rights could be viable defenses. Finally, a plea bargain to reduce your charges and penalties may be your best choice, though you should never accept a plea bargain without talking to a lawyer first.
Crimes like sexual assault, solicitation of a minor, and possessing child pornography carry some of the harshest penalties under Wisconsin law, including decades in prison and a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender in some cases. When the stakes are that high, you need an experienced and determined ally in your corner.
First and foremost, a sex crime defense attorney can protect you from making mistakes that could worsen your situation. For example, a lawyer can help make sure you don’t say anything to the police or prosecutors that could implicate you or damage your defense. Your attorney can also review the evidence against you and seek to dismiss anything obtained through an illegal search or confession.
Sex crime cases in Wisconsin also involve complicated rules, definitions, and procedures. Your defense lawyer can explain every step and critical concept so you always know what’s happening in your case.
Finally, a sex crime defense lawyer can evaluate possible defense strategies to find the best way forward. Your attorney can craft the right strategy for your situation, whether we take your case to trial, negotiate a plea bargain, or look for procedural errors by the police or prosecutors.
Your freedom, future, and reputation are all on the line when you face sex crime charges in Green Bay. Getting seasoned legal representation and aggressively contesting your charges are the best steps you can take to avoid the worst possible outcome. Call J. Kippa Law, LLC, now, or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a sex crimes defense lawyer serving Green Bay.
From the North:
Take I-41 S towards Appleton
Take exit 137 for WI-125 S/College Ave.
Turn left onto E College Ave.
Your destination will be on the left
From the South:
Take I-41 N towards Appleton
Take exit 137 for WI-125 S/College Ave.
Turn right onto E College Ave.
Your destination will be on the left
From the East:
Take US-10 W towards Appleton
Take the I-41 N exit
Take exit 137 for WI-125 S/College Ave.
Turn right onto E College Ave.
Your destination will be on the left
From the West:
Take WI-96 E towards Appleton
Turn left onto N Lawe St.
Turn right onto E College Ave.
Your destination will be on your right
