Dallas Sex Crimes Lawyer for Indecency Charges

If you need a Dallas sex crimes lawyer for a public lewdness or indecent exposure charge, start with one question: what must the State prove? Texas Penal Code § 21.07 defines public lewdness as knowingly engaging in an act of sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse or sexual contact in a public place or, if not in a public place, being reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed by the act. This page explains those rules, what a charge can affect, and how a defense review works in Dallas County and beyond.

Who This Page Is For and What a Dallas Indecency Charge Means

This page is for adults in Dallas County who were arrested, cited, or are under investigation for public lewdness or indecent exposure.

These are sex-related offenses under Texas law. They are criminal cases that move through court. A charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt, and every case turns on its own facts.

People facing these charges often worry about three things. They ask whether the charge is a felony or a misdemeanor. They wonder whether it will show up on a background check. They fear losing a job, a license, or a place at school.

Early decisions matter. A statement to police, a missed court date, or a job disclosure made without advice can change the picture before the case even begins.

Barbieri Law Firm is based in Frisco, Texas. We represent clients in Dallas County, Collin County, and across Texas.

Public Lewdness vs. Indecent Exposure: What the State Must Prove

Public lewdness covers sexual conduct in a public place. Indecent exposure covers showing certain body parts with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire.

• Public lewdness (Texas Penal Code § 21.07): the person knowingly engages in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or sexual contact in a public place. If not in a public place, the person must be reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed.
• Indecent exposure (Texas Penal Code § 21.08): the person exposes the anus or any part of the genitals with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. The person must also be reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed.

The main difference is focus. Public lewdness turns on the sexual act and where it happened. Indecent exposure turns heavily on intent, which makes evidence of the person’s purpose central. Where the alleged conduct took place is often an important part of the facts we review with you.

Penalty ranges depend on the class of offense:

• Public lewdness is a Class A misdemeanor, except a third-degree felony if the person was civilly committed as a sexually violent predator under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code.
• Indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor, a Class A misdemeanor after one prior conviction under that section, and a state jail felony after two or more prior convictions.
• A Class A misdemeanor carries a fine up to $4,000, jail up to one year, or both (Texas Penal Code § 12.21).
• A state jail felony carries 180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000 (Texas Penal Code § 12.35).
• A court may punish a state jail felony with Class A misdemeanor confinement if it makes the findings required by Texas Penal Code § 12.44.

Each element is a separate question. We review each one against the evidence.

How a Charge Can Affect Your Job, License, and Record

A charge can reach your job, license, and record before a court decides anything. The effects depend on the exact offense and the outcome.

Court records are public, and background checks often search them. Employers and licensing boards may also ask about arrests or charges on applications, so the wording of each question matters. Four terms matter, and each means something different:

• Arrest or charge: an open accusation while the case moves forward.
• Dismissal: the case ends without a conviction, though it may still appear in records.
• Deferred outcome: the case follows terms the court sets, and the result depends on those terms.
• Conviction: a final finding of guilt, which sets the penalty range discussed above.

If you have questions about sex offender registration, we can go over them with you in light of your specific charge. We don’t assume registration applies, and we don’t assume it doesn’t.

Bring any employer, school, or licensing letters to your first meeting. That lets us review timing and reporting questions early.

What Our Defense Review Covers

Our defense review tests the paperwork, the location, the video, and the State’s proof of intent or recklessness.

• Charging papers and police report: checked against the exact statute charged, word by word.
• The location: lighting, distance, visibility, and whether anyone could actually have seen the conduct.
• Video and timeline: body-camera, dash-camera, and surveillance footage, plus times and places.
• Witnesses and identification: who saw what, from where, and how certain they were. Research on wrongful convictions lists false accusations and mistaken identification among recurring causes, so we test each identification closely.
• Intent and recklessness: what the evidence shows about the person’s purpose and awareness of others nearby.

After the review, we explain your options in plain terms, including possible pretrial steps. No lawyer can ensure a particular outcome, and we won’t predict one. What we can do is show you what the evidence supports and where it falls short.

What to Expect: From First Call to Resolution

The process runs in four stages: a consultation, document gathering, evidence review, and court steps.

1. Free initial consultation. We review the charge, your timeline, and your concerns about work or licensing.
2. Document gathering. You bring charging papers, bond or court paperwork, police reports, and any employer or licensing letters.
3. Evidence review. We go through the stop or contact, the video, the witness accounts, and the location, then explain your options.
4. Court steps. We handle court settings and talks with the prosecutor. You make the final decisions after we explain each one.

Timing varies by county court and case complexity. We explain the expected steps for your case rather than give a fixed schedule.

Why Barbieri Law Firm: Credentials and Scope

Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women criminal defense firm in Frisco. We serve clients who need a Dallas sex crimes lawyer in Dallas County, Collin County, and across Texas.

Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Our practice areas include sex crimes defense, aggravated sexual assault, child sex crimes, online sex crimes, aggravated assault, family violence, and theft defense for students and non-citizens. Our approach starts with the facts. We match the charge to the evidence first, then explain your options in plain language.

We are based in Frisco and do not have a Dallas office. This page includes no case results and no client reviews, and we don’t use rankings or awards here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Indecency Charges

These short answers cover the questions readers ask most often. Your case still needs a review of its own facts.

Talk Through Your Charge With Our Team

If you were cited or arrested for indecent exposure or public lewdness in Dallas County, and a job or license now feels at risk, you don’t have to sort out the next steps alone. Call (972) 424-1902, request a free consultation, or send your case details through our contact form. Bring your charging papers and any employer or licensing letters. No lawyer can ensure a particular outcome, but a review of the evidence can clarify your options.

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