Charged With a Child Sex Crime in Texas? Start With a Confidential Conversation.

Plano Child Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer | Barbieri Law Firm

If you need a child sex crimes defense law firm in Plano, start by knowing which Texas statute is alleged. Each child-related offense has its own age rules, elements and felony grade. Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women criminal defense firm in Frisco that represents people charged in Plano, Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and across Texas.

What a Child Sex Crimes Charge Means in Texas

A child sex crimes charge is an accusation under a specific Texas Penal Code section. Each section sets its own conduct, age limit and punishment range.

• Indecency with a child. Under Texas Penal Code § 21.11, the child must be younger than 17. Sexual contact is a second-degree felony. Exposure is a third-degree felony.
• Sexual assault of a child. The base grade is a second-degree felony, but the grade can change depending on the facts of the case. Some facts raise the grade.
• Aggravated sexual assault. Under Texas Penal Code § 22.021, this is a first-degree felony. The minimum prison term rises to 25 years in certain cases, such as a victim younger than 10.
• Sexual performance by a child. The base grade is a second-degree felony, but the offense is a first-degree felony if the child is younger than 14 at the time the offense is committed. It becomes a first-degree felony if the child is younger than 14.
• Online solicitation of a minor. Under Texas Penal Code § 33.021, messages sent online or by text count. Soliciting a minor to meet for sexual contact is a second-degree felony.

An allegation can start in several ways. It may come from a report at school or at home, a police investigation, or a report about online activity. A child welfare inquiry is a separate matter. Texas explains how CPS civil investigations differ from law-enforcement criminal investigations. This page is for adults in Plano and Collin County who are under investigation or charged, and for the family members helping them. For a related guide, see the indecency with a child defense guide.

What the Defense Covers

The defense starts with the exact statute alleged and the evidence behind it. A review typically includes these areas.

• The charging document. The lawyer reviews the charge as written and the facts the State would need to prove.
• Reports and interviews. This includes recorded or forensic interviews, medical records and the timeline of the allegation.
• Digital evidence. This covers phones, computers, cloud accounts and messages, and how police collected them.
• Statements to police. The lawyer reviews what the accused said and the circumstances of each statement.
• Bond conditions. Under Texas law, knowingly or intentionally violating certain bond conditions or protective orders in a family violence, sexual assault or abuse, indecent assault, stalking, or trafficking case can be its own offense.
• Indecency with a child includes an affirmative defense with specific conditions that must all be met: the actor was no more than three years older than an opposite-sex child, no duress, force, or threat was used, and either the actor was not required to register for life or was not a person who, under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section. A spousal defense also applies under § 21.11.
• Negotiation and trial preparation. Motions and trial work are part of the plan when a case goes that way.
• Registration. Sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault appear on the sexually violent offense list when committed by a person 17 years of age or older. Under art. 62.101, the duty to register for some of these offenses lasts for life. For many other reportable offenses, it ends on the 10th anniversary of a release, discharge or dismissal date.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process begins with a confidential intake and moves to records review, then to negotiation or trial preparation. Each step depends on the facts of the case.

1. Contact the firm. Call (972) 424-1902, use the online form, or send your case details. The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.
2. Confidential intake. Share the charge or allegation, any notice or warrant, and any upcoming interview, court date or bond deadline.
3. Case review. The lawyer reviews available records and explains the charges, the known evidence and your options.
4. Protective steps. The lawyer advises on contact with investigators and the complaining witness, and on keeping records intact.
5. Discovery and investigation. The defense requests the State’s file and reviews key evidence independently.
6. Negotiation, motions or trial. The path depends on the evidence and the court’s schedule. No fixed timeline can be promised at the start.

If You Are Under Investigation Right Now

The most useful step is to speak with a lawyer before answering questions about the allegation. These steps help protect your position while you arrange that call.

• Do not give a statement yet. Tell police, a forensic interviewer or a CPS investigator that you want to speak with your lawyer first.
• Do not delete or change anything. Leave phones, accounts, messages and devices as they are. Deleting material can create new problems even when the allegation is disputed.
• Do not contact the complaining witness. Avoid contact with their family or school staff about the allegation.
• Write down the facts. Note dates and names while they are fresh. Keep these notes private and bring them to your lawyer.
• Bring every document. Bring any notice, warrant or court setting to the first call so the deadline can be checked.

Why Barbieri Law Firm

Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women criminal defense firm in Frisco, Texas. The firm defends people accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses in Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and across Texas.

• Founding attorney. Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
• Lawyers and staff. Attorney Carrie Thomas is also a lawyer with the firm. Our team includes lawyers and support staff.
• Case types. The firm handles child sex crimes, online sex crimes, sexual assault, aggravated assault and family violence cases.
• Review process. The lawyer will review the evidence, including reports, recordings and digital records, and explain your options.

No lawyer can promise how a case will end. The firm can explain the charge, the evidence reviewed so far and the choices available.

Questions People Ask Before Hiring a Child Sex Crimes Lawyer

Talk to a Plano Child Sex Crimes Lawyer Today

The first days after an allegation often shape what comes next. If investigators have contacted you, or you have received a notice about a child-related allegation or an arrest, don’t wait to get advice. Call (972) 424-1902 or send your case details to schedule a first consultation with the firm.

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