Orlando Sex Offenses Law Blog

In recent news, a volunteer assistant girls' basketball coach out of Orange County high school has been arrested for sexual battery.

Under Florida law, the rape of someone who is 12 to 18 is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Furthermore, when prosecuting a sexual battery case, the county looks for ways to enhance the level of the offense. Also, if one is convicted, prosecutors attempt to increase the amount of prison time faced. For example, the following circumstances can be used to enhance an offense.

• The alleged victim was mentally defective
• Use of great force to commit the sexual battery
• Multiple perpetrators

Some people don't realize that anyone can be charged with a crime. While it seems like underprivileged individuals are accused of crimes more often than the privileged, anyone can face criminal allegations. It does not matter if you are a teacher, lawyer or doctor. For example, in recent news, a high-earning and established physician is currently facing charges related to child pornography. If he is convicted, he stands to lose his respected position in Florida's medical community.

The physician is a local anesthesiologist, and he earns half a million dollars a year. Florida police have arrested the doctor and charged him with 33 counts of possession of child pornography.

Many Florida residents do not realize that each and every criminal case is its own. That means that a guilty verdict for one person might have completely different consequences for another convicted of the same crime. In recent news, a 32-year-old man received three years of probation for a conviction involving sexual assault.

The man was found guilty of rape, which stemmed from an incident in 2009. Specifically, he was convicted of trespassing and sexual battery. The incident involved a previous ex-girlfriend. While Florida law mandates a minimum nine-year prison sentence for this type of crime, if this man completes the conditions of his probation, the felony conviction will disappear.

In Florida, lewd and lascivious charges cover a variety of criminal acts. The four main charges for these types of crimes include lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious conduct and lewd or lascivious exhibition.

Last week, a Florida man was charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition. This offense is when a person exposes his or her genitals in a vulgar manner or engages in any other sexual act that does not involve contact with the victim who is under the age of 16.