Children’s Wellbeing and Safety Come First in Oklahoma
No child, regardless of their actions, deserves physical punishment, and the state of Oklahoma agrees. Under no circumstances does the state of Oklahoma find it reasonable to compromise the safety of a child. This means children should always have protection from violence, sexual deviancy, or other kinds of physical harm. When it comes to child sex crimes, the penalties for lewd molestation of a minor are severe. If you find yourself caught up in charges of lewd molestation in Oklahoma, contact an Oklahoma lawyer immediately.
Lewd Molestation of Minors in Oklahoma Defined
Molestation of a minor is a violation that occurs in many ways. First, any oral, written, electronic, or computer-generated sexual proposal to an individual under the age of 16 is a felony offense. This applies to. any attempt to view, touch, or feel the body of a minor is also a felony.
Attempts to invite, lure, entice, or persuade a minor under the of 16 to relocate to a secret or remote place with the intention of performing sexual acts is a felony. Looking upon, touching, or feeling the body of a minor in any sexually suggestive manner is illegal as well.
Any person attempting to excrete urine, feces, or ejaculate upon a minor under the age of 16 is illegal. Particularly, making a child urinate or defecate is illegal, and ejaculating in the presence of a child is illegal. As one might expect, forcing a minor to expose themselves or their private parts is also illegal in Oklahoma.
Forcing or condoning a child to view obscene materials such as pornography is illegal. Likewise, allowing a child to view live sexual acts or performances is prohibited. Finally, forcing a child to touch their private parts or that of another person is a felony crime under Oklahoma law.
The Cost of Lewd Molestation of Minors in Oklahoma
Under Oklahoma law, a conviction for any charge of lewd molestation of a minor under 16 years of age carries a mandatory prison sentence ranging from a minimum of three years, all the way up to twenty. If the minor was under the age of 12 age at the time of the offense, a conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1123
Any subsequent lewd molestation violation can result in revocation of probation, suspension, or deferment of your sentence. Three or more can land you in prison for life without parole. Any combination of three lewd molestations of minor violations will also result in life in prison without parole.
Lewd molestation will normally not apply if both parties are within three years of each other. For example, a sexual relationship between a high school freshman and a senior may not be considered an instance of lewd molestation. This clause is normally referred to as the Romeo and Juliet rule. Teenagers might have a valid argument if they use this rule in court. However, it is best to speak with an Oklahoma criminal defense attorney first.
Initial Consultation With an Oklahoma Criminal Defense Attorney
Child sex allegations are career-enders. Even worst, if a judge finds you guilty and convicts you, life in prison will be miserable. Having a strong legal defense is vital. Call a criminal defense attorney in Muskogee, Okla for legal assistance. Our office phone number is (918) 884-7774. Feel free to fill out the contact form on this page.