Facing an Indecency with a Child Charge in Dallas County? Talk With a Defense Lawyer First.

What does an indecency with a child attorney Dallas County do? In short, the lawyer reviews the charge, the evidence, and the bond terms, then explains the options and risks. Indecency with a child is a felony in Texas, so the stakes are high. This guide covers what the law says, how a case usually moves, what a family member can do now, and what a defense review looks at. Barbieri Law Firm is based in Frisco and handles cases across Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas.

What Indecency with a Child Means Under Texas Law

Indecency with a child is a sex offense against a child younger than 17. The statute is Texas Penal Code § 21.11. It covers two kinds of conduct: sexual contact and exposure.

The touching must be done with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. The offense also covers causing a child to make that contact.

Exposure means exposing one’s own anus or genitals while knowing a child is present, again with that intent. It also covers causing the child to expose the child’s own anus or genitals.

Both are felonies. The State must prove the act, the child’s age, and the intent behind it.

The statute also lists affirmative defenses. These include a limited age-gap rule and a spouse defense. Each has strict conditions, so a lawyer checks whether any of them could fit the facts.

Why the Charge Is a Felony and What Penalties Can Apply

Indecency with a child is a felony in Texas, and the grade depends on the subsection charged. Under Penal Code § 21.11(d), sexual contact is a second-degree felony. Exposure is a third-degree felony.

For a second-degree felony, Texas Penal Code § 12.33 allows prison from 2 to 20 years. A fine of up to $10,000 may also apply.

Penalty ranges are a starting point. The exact charge comes from the indictment and the facts alleged. That is why the charging papers are the first document to review.

The Texas Attorney General publishes a Attorney General offense chart that lists felony ranges by offense.

A conviction brings consequences beyond the sentence. Under art. 62.001, a conviction or deferred adjudication for indecency with a child is a reportable conviction. Registration is tied to that status.

How long registration lasts depends on the subsection and the person’s record. Under art. 62.101, the duty can last for life in some cases. In others, it ends on the 10th anniversary of the date the disposition is made or the person completes its terms (for a juvenile adjudication), or of the date of release, discharge, or dismissal (for a conviction or deferred adjudication), whichever date is later.

Families often focus on the arrest first. The registration question can matter just as much, so ask about it early.

How a Dallas County Case Usually Moves From Report to Court

A case usually starts with a report, then an investigation, then an arrest or charge and a bond decision. Investigators may interview the child, the accused, and other witnesses. They may also collect recorded interviews, medical records, and digital evidence. Some of this can happen before anyone is charged.

After an arrest, a judge sets bond and may add conditions. Bond conditions can include no-contact terms. Follow them exactly, even when they feel unfair.

Felony cases usually go to a grand jury, then to a district court. From there, the case may move through arraignment, pretrial hearings, and possibly trial. A felony case can take months, and sometimes longer.

Each step may bring new papers. Keep them in order, because they help the defense review later. Check court dates and bond terms against the paperwork the accused received. Dates can change, so keep every new notice.

What a Family Member Can Do Right Now

A family member can help most by writing things down, keeping papers safe, and staying out of the case itself.

• Write a dated timeline. List what you know and when you learned it. Keep facts separate from guesses.
• Keep the paperwork. Save bond papers, notices, court dates, and letters in one place.
• Stay away from the allegation. Do not contact the child or the child’s family about it, and do not carry messages between them and the accused.
• Stay off social media. Do not post or comment about the case, and skip group chats about it.
• Keep every device and message. Do not delete messages, photos, or devices. They may be evidence.
• Let a lawyer handle questions. Ask the accused to speak with a lawyer before answering any investigator’s questions.

Bond terms bind the accused. Penal Code § 25.07 makes it a crime to knowingly violate certain bond conditions in a sexual abuse case. That section counts indecency with a child as sexual abuse. It covers contact with the protected person when the order bars all communication, except through the accused’s attorney or a court-appointed person.

How a Defense Lawyer Reviews an Indecency With a Child Case

A defense review starts with the charge, the bond terms, and the evidence the State plans to use.

An indecency with a child attorney in Dallas County looks at the charging papers first. The subsection charged sets the grade of the offense.

Next comes the evidence. That can include recorded interviews, medical records, phone and computer data, texts, and witness statements. The lawyer checks the timeline and asks where each statement came from.

The lawyer also asks how the evidence was collected. Was it obtained properly? Do the statements match each other and the records? These questions show the strengths and gaps in the State’s case.

Then the lawyer explains the options, the risks, and the decisions ahead. The accused makes the final choices, including whether to plead or go to trial.

No lawyer can promise a particular result. Every case turns on its own evidence and facts.

Talk Through Your Dallas County Case With Barbieri Law Firm

Barbieri Law Firm can talk through the charge and next steps with you, whether you are the accused or a family member.

You may be a parent, spouse, or relative facing a frightening situation you did not choose. The first days after a charge are often confusing, and that reaction is normal.

Frequently asked questions