Charged with aggravated sexual assault? Speak with a Frisco defense lawyer first.

Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony in Texas, with a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison. If your loved one has been arrested or is under investigation, the decisions made early can matter. Barbieri Law Firm is based in Frisco and handles these charges across Texas. This guide is for families whose loved one faces an aggravated sexual assault charge in Texas. It explains the charge, the process and the questions families ask most.

What an Aggravated Sexual Assault Charge Means in Texas

The offense is defined in Texas Penal Code § 22.021.

The State must show that a person caused penetration of another person’s anus or sexual organ without consent. For a child, the law applies regardless of whether the person knew the child’s age. The State must also prove an aggravating factor. Under Texas Penal Code § 22.021, the offense is aggravated when the person causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause death, places the victim in fear of or threatens certain listed offenses, death, serious bodily injury or kidnapping, uses or exhibits a deadly weapon, acts in concert with another against the same victim, or administers an impairing substance to facilitate the offense, or when the victim is younger than 14 or is an elderly individual or a disabled individual.

The offense is a first-degree felony. The minimum term of imprisonment rises to 25 years when the victim is younger than 10 years of age at the time of the offense, or when the victim of the offense is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is committed and the actor commits the offense in a manner described by Subsection (a)(2)(A).

A charge is an accusation, not a conviction.

Texas also tracks this offense for sex offender purposes. For a person 17 or older, it is also a sexually violent offense under that article.

What Our Aggravated Sexual Assault Defense Law Firm Covers

Our aggravated sexual assault defense law firm covers the case from the first paperwork through trial preparation. Each part below is tied to a real stage of the case.

• Paperwork review: the charging papers, the probable cause affidavit, and the State’s evidence, including forensic, digital and witness material.
• Bond and release: how bond terms and no-contact limits affect your loved one’s daily life.
• Protective orders: a magistrate may issue an emergency protection order after an arrest for this offense (Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 17.292). The victim of certain listed offenses may also apply for a protective order.
• Investigation: the timeline, locations, messages and any consent-related facts the case presents.
• Motions: challenges to evidence, including statements and searches.
• Negotiation and trial preparation: we explain each option, and your loved one makes the key decisions.

How the Defense Process Works, Step by Step

The process starts with a free initial consultation, then moves through document review, investigation and a clear set of options. Each step builds on the one before it.

1. Free initial consultation. You describe what happened and bring the paperwork you have. The consultation is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.
2. Document review. We review the charge, the arrest or indictment papers, and any evidence the State has shared so far.
3. Client meeting and investigation. We speak with your loved one, look for witnesses and records, and begin building the defense.
4. Options. We explain the realistic paths, including the strengths and risks of each.
5. Next stage. Negotiation, motions or trial preparation follow, depending on what the facts support.

Timing. Each stage depends on the court’s schedule, how quickly the State produces evidence, and how complex the evidence is. We give a timeline estimate after we review the case.

What families can do now. Gather the paperwork you have. Write down dates and names while they are fresh. Avoid posting about the case on social media or discussing details with people outside the defense.

Why Families Choose Barbieri Law Firm for This Charge

Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women criminal defense firm in Frisco, Texas, that defends people accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses.

• Certification: Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This describes Heather Barbieri individually.
• Our lawyers: our lawyers include Heather Barbieri and Carrie Thomas.
• Plain explanations: our team explains each stage in everyday terms, so your family knows what is happening and why.
• Scope: we handle sex crimes and assaultive offenses, including aggravated sexual assault, child sex crimes, online sex crimes, aggravated assault and family violence.
• Confidentiality: we do not share case details outside the representation without your loved one’s consent.
• Across Texas: our office is in Frisco, and we handle these charges across Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions Families Ask

Families looking for an aggravated sexual assault defense law firm often ask these questions first.

Talk With Our Team About Your Loved One’s Case

Talking with a defense lawyer early helps a family understand the charge, the bond terms and the next steps. If your loved one has been arrested or is under investigation, you do not have to work out those steps alone. Call (972) 424-1902 or send your case details through our contact form. Share the charge, the county and the stage of the case, and we will schedule a consultation.

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