Facing a child sex crimes allegation in Dallas? Speak with a defense lawyer before you answer more questions.

If an allegation involving a child has reached you in Dallas, your first steps matter most. Write down what you remember, avoid casual interviews, and talk with a criminal defense lawyer before you answer more questions. A child sex crimes defense lawyer in Dallas starts by sorting out the exact charge, the timeline and the evidence. Barbieri Law Firm is based in Frisco, Texas, and represents clients in Dallas, Collin County and across Dallas-Fort Worth. This page is general information, not advice about your specific facts.

What to Know If an Allegation Involving a Child Has Reached You in Dallas

A child sex crimes matter often starts with a phone call, a school report or a knock on the door, not a formal charge. An allegation can come from a school counselor, a family member, a child advocacy center referral or a police officer. The first contact is often informal. A friendly request for a quick interview can feel routine, but anything you say can become evidence later.

A criminal investigation and a child protective services (CPS) investigation are separate processes. They have different rules and different goals. What you say in one can affect the other, so think carefully before speaking with either.

Start a written timeline today. Record the dates, names, places and exact words of each contact while you still remember them. Bring this timeline to your consultation. Do not share it with the complainant or their family.

Which Texas Child Sex Offenses Are Charged in Dallas County?

The most common child sex charges in Texas are indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child and online solicitation of a minor. The details of what is alleged matter in every case.

Indecency with a child applies to a child younger than 17. Under Texas Penal Code § 21.11, sexual contact is a second-degree felony, and certain exposure-based conduct is a third-degree felony. Texas sorts felonies into five categories, so the category matters to the case (Texas Penal Code § 12.04).

Sexual assault of a child is defined in Texas Penal Code § 22.011. Aggravated sexual assault adds factors such as the child’s age and the use of a weapon. Texas Penal Code § 22.021 raises the minimum prison term to 25 years in certain cases, depending on the child’s age at the time of the alleged offense and, in some situations, on whether specific aggravating conduct is also alleged.

Online solicitation of a minor covers online messages, even when no meeting happens. Under Texas Penal Code § 33.021, it is not a defense that the meeting did not occur.

The same facts can support more than one charge. Read the exact wording in the complaint or indictment with your lawyer. We review the penalty range for your specific charge during a consultation.

How Does a Dallas County Child Sex Crime Case Generally Move Forward?

Most Dallas County child sex crime cases move through investigation, possible arrest or summons, bond, review by a grand jury, indictment and then pretrial steps. Each stage can change the options available to you.

Investigators may interview the child, the family and other witnesses. A child may also be interviewed at a child advocacy center in a forensic interview. These interviews are often recorded. The recording, the interviewer’s notes and any medical or school records become key items to review.

Timing varies by case and by court. No one can give you a fixed schedule at the start. Ask about each step during your consultation, and write down any dates you receive.

Early theories are not the final story. Errors happen in interviews, records and identifications. The National Registry of Exonerations tracks wrongful convictions and lists causes such as false accusations and mistaken identification. That is why the early evidence deserves careful review.

How Do Online Messages and Digital Evidence Affect a Charge?

Online messages, images and device data often form the core of an online or child-related sex crime case. The defense review starts with the full message thread, not a short screenshot.

Context matters. The review asks who started the chat, what was said before and after each message, and what age was stated. Texas law reaches a person the actor believes is a minor, so the age claimed in a chat can matter (Texas Penal Code § 33.021).

Account records, IP data, device contents and metadata show when and where activity happened. The review also asks how police collected the evidence and whether a warrant or consent covered it.

Follow these rules now. Do not delete messages, accounts or devices. Do not contact the complainant or their family. Do not hand over passwords or devices until you have talked with a lawyer. We review the digital evidence, including how it was obtained, and explain your options.

What Are the Sex Offender Registration and Other Consequences in Texas?

Registration can apply to some child sex offenses in Texas, depending on the charge and the final outcome. The statutes refer to registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

For example, the affirmative defense in indecency with a child depends on registration status. An affirmative defense is a reason the defendant raises, and it must match specific facts. Under Texas Penal Code § 21.11, the actor must have been no more than three years older than the child, of the opposite sex, and must not have used duress, force or a threat. The actor also must not have been required to register for life.

Collateral consequences are the effects outside the courtroom. They can include work, housing, school access, custody and parenting time, and travel. Each depends on the facts and the final disposition. Ask about these early, because they can shape your decisions from the start.

How Can You Protect Your Position Early in a Child Sex Crime Matter?

The most useful early step is to speak with a criminal defense lawyer before you answer detailed questions or contact anyone involved. Early advice helps you avoid avoidable mistakes.

Keep your statements short until you have advice. You can decline a detailed interview until a lawyer reviews the case. Do not post about the allegation online, and do not discuss it with coworkers or neighbors.

Keep records that help explain your side. Useful items include calendars, schedule texts, location records and the names of people who can confirm where you were. Early requests for records can matter, because some information is harder to recover later.

Do not contact the child, the child’s family or witnesses about the allegation. Even a kind message can create new problems in the case. Bring any paperwork, bond conditions, police notices and court dates to your consultation.

How Does Heather Barbieri Approach a Child Sex Crimes Defense?

Heather Jean Barbieri leads our defense work, and we review each case from the charging papers forward. Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

We review the charging documents, forensic interview recordings, medical and school records, digital evidence, search warrant papers and the timeline of events. Then we explain your options at each stage. The firm handles sex crimes and assaultive offenses, including aggravated sexual assault, online sex crimes, aggravated assault and family violence.

No lawyer can ensure a particular result. We explain what the evidence shows, what the law allows and what choices you have.

Quick Answers

Is indecency with a child a felony in Texas? Yes. Under Texas law, sexual contact with a child is a second-degree felony, and certain exposure conduct is a third-degree felony.

Can online messages support a charge? They can. Texas law covers sexually explicit messages to a minor and online solicitation to meet.

Does a CPS case affect a criminal case? It can. The two processes are separate, and statements in one can affect the other.

Should I talk to police first? You can speak with a lawyer first. A short call to a defense lawyer before any interview is a reasonable step.

Talk With a Dallas Child Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer About Your Situation

If police, a child advocacy center or a school has raised an allegation involving a child, you may be deciding right now whether to speak. That decision deserves a careful review. Bring your timeline, your paperwork and your bond conditions.

Call (972) 424-1902 to schedule a consultation, or send your case details through our secure contact form.

Attorney responsible for this site: Heather Barbieri, Barbieri Law Firm, Frisco, Texas.