{"id":356,"date":"2026-10-12T23:16:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T23:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/35-229-99-24.nip.io\/?page_id=356"},"modified":"2026-10-12T23:16:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T23:16:09","slug":"child-sex-crimes-defense-sexual-assault-of-a-child","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/barbierilawfirm.com\/guides\/child-sex-crimes-defense\/child-sex-crimes-defense-sexual-assault-of-a-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Assault of a Child Defense Lawyer in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sexual Assault of a Child Defense Lawyer in Texas<\/h1>
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By Heather Barbieri \u00b7 Published October 12, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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For anyone searching for a sexual assault of a child defense lawyer in Texas, the first step is understanding the charge. Sexual assault of a child is a felony, and the penalties can be severe. This page explains what the offense means, how these cases move through Texas courts, and what a defense involves. Barbieri Law Firm, based in Frisco, defends people accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses in Collin County, across Dallas-Fort Worth, and throughout Texas.<\/p>\n

What Sexual Assault of a Child Means Under Texas Law<\/h2>\n

Sexual assault of a child is a felony that covers certain sexual contact or penetration with a child younger than 17. Under Texas Penal Code \u00a7 22.011<\/a>, a “child” is anyone younger than 17. Texas courts have held that the accused’s belief about the child’s age is not a defense to this charge (for example, Fleming v. State, Tex. Crim. App. 2014).<\/p>\n

The statute covers several kinds of conduct. It includes penetration of a child’s anus or sexual organ by any means, and penetration of a child’s mouth by the accused’s sexual organ. It also includes causing a child’s sexual organ or anus to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, and causing a child’s mouth to contact the anus or sexual organ of another person. The accused must act intentionally or knowingly.<\/p>\n

Sexual assault is a second-degree felony in many cases. The statute also makes it a first-degree felony in certain listed situations. That means the grade must be checked against the exact allegations, not assumed from the headline charge.<\/p>\n

An accusation is not a conviction. We review the evidence behind each part of the accusation and explain what it does and does not show. Knowing the elements is the starting point for any defense.<\/p>\n\n

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Who This Defense Is For<\/h2>\n

A sexual assault of a child defense is for adults who have been accused, are under investigation, or have received notice of a grand jury proceeding. It is also for the parents, spouses, and relatives trying to understand the charge for someone they love.<\/p>\n

Common situations include:<\/p>\n