Sex Crimes Defense in Texas, Handled With Care

Barbieri Law Firm is a criminal defense firm based in Frisco, Texas. It defends people accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses in Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and across Texas. The firm practices Texas law, and its office is in Frisco, Texas, serving Collin County, the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Texas. This page explains the charges, the process and what to expect from a first call.

What Sex Crime Defense Covers and Who It Is For

Sex crime defense is representation for a person accused of a sex offense or an assaultive offense. It starts at the investigation stage and continues through the end of the court case.

From the first call, our team works on your side and explains the options available to you. The work includes reviewing the allegation, the evidence and the charging papers. It also includes guiding you through each court date.

This work is for three groups:

• People under investigation who have not yet been charged.
• People who have been told they face a charge by police, a prosecutor or a court notice.
• Families of people who have been charged and need to understand their options.

The firm handles these offenses:

• Sex crimes
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Child sex crimes
• Online sex crimes
• Aggravated assault
• Family violence

Each charge has its own elements, penalties and consequences. Charges often arrive with little warning. Early contact with a lawyer gives you more time to plan.

Where Barbieri Law Firm Practices

Barbieri Law Firm practices in Frisco, Texas. It takes matters in Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and across Texas. That includes Prosper, McKinney, Plano, Allen, Celina, Southlake, The Woodlands, Midland and Dallas.

Texas charges are governed by Texas statutes, and the firm’s work is Texas work.

Sex Crime and Assaultive Charges the Firm Defends

Texas sets the felony level and penalty for each charge by statute, so the exact offense matters.

• Aggravated sexual assault. Under Tex. Penal Code § 22.021, this is a first-degree felony. The minimum prison term rises to 25 years in certain cases involving a child victim.
• Punishment. Under Tex. Penal Code § 12.32, a person adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years, and may also be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.
• It also covers conduct involving a child, whatever the actor knows about the child’s age.
• Child sex crimes. Indecency with a child by sexual contact is a second-degree felony under Tex. Penal Code § 21.11. By exposure, it is a third-degree felony.
• Review often turns on messages, device data and account records.
• Aggravated assault. Tex. Penal Code § 22.02 is a second-degree felony. It can also be a first-degree felony in other listed cases, such as when a deadly weapon is used and causes serious bodily injury to a person with a listed family relationship.
• Defensive measures are excluded. Relationship history and witness accounts often matter.

How the Defense Process Works

The process starts with a confidential consultation. It moves to an evidence review, then to a plan built around your options.

1. Initial consultation. The first consultation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.
2. Document and evidence review. The firm reviews charging papers, police reports, recorded interviews, digital or forensic evidence and witness statements.
3. Explanation of options. You get each option explained in plain language, with what it involves. No lawyer can assure any particular result.
4. Defense planning. Work may include investigation, challenges to evidence, motions and talks with the prosecution where appropriate.
5. Court dates through resolution. The timeline depends on the case, the court’s schedule and the charge. You stay informed at each stage.

Evidence, Speaking With Police, and Collateral Consequences

Talk to a lawyer before you answer police questions or sign a statement. This step matters even if you believe you are only a witness.

Contact with the other person involved can affect a case. Discuss any contact with a lawyer first.

Defense lawyers review timelines, inconsistencies, forensic findings and witness accounts. No single item settles whether an allegation is true.

A conviction can bring consequences beyond jail or prison. Texas defines a reportable conviction to include listed offenses, such as aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. It can also include some deferred adjudications, under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001. Professional licensing and employment effects vary by charge and by licensing body. These effects depend on the facts.

About Barbieri Law Firm

Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women firm. It focuses on defending people accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses.

Heather Barbieri leads the firm. Her certification is stated here exactly:

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

Carrie Thomas is also a lawyer at the firm. Our lawyers include Heather Barbieri and Carrie Thomas. The firm’s support staff, including assistants and office staff, handle administrative work.

Our team concentrates on the charges described above. Each matter is handled under Texas law.

Common Questions About Sex Crime Defense in Texas

Most of these questions come back to one rule: talk with a lawyer before you make any statement.

Talk With a Texas Sex Crime Defense Lawyer About Your Situation

If police have contacted you, or a family member has been charged in Texas, you can talk through your options. You do not need to decide everything at once.

Call (972) 424-1902 or send your case details through the contact page. The firm will review your situation and schedule a consultation.

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