{"id":416,"date":"2026-10-13T00:03:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T00:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbierilawfirm.com\/guides\/sex-crimes-defense-lawyer\/sex-crime-charges-collin-county\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T01:15:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:15:51","slug":"sex-crime-charges-collin-county","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/barbierilawfirm.com\/guides\/sex-crimes-defense-lawyer\/sex-crime-charges-collin-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex Crime Charges Collin County Texas: A Plain Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sex Crime Charges Collin County Texas: A Plain Guide<\/h1>
Schedule a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Schedule a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By Heather Barbieri \u00b7 Published October 12, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Sex crime charges Collin County Texas cases usually move in stages: an investigation, an arrest or contact from detectives, a bond hearing, and then a case in court. Each stage can change the charge, the bond conditions, and the choices you face. This guide explains that process in plain terms. It does not predict how any case will end.<\/p>\n

If you are reading this because you were contacted, arrested, or a family member was, you want clear answers. Here they are, starting with how these cases begin.<\/p>\n

How Sex Crime Investigations Start in Collin County<\/h2>\n

Most sex crime investigations begin with a report to police. The report can come from several places.<\/p>\n

A parent may call the Collin County Sheriff’s Office or a city police department after a child says something concerning. Cities such as McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, and Celina have their own police departments. A school or child-protection referral can also start an investigation. Sometimes a digital platform reports content to law enforcement, and investigators follow up.<\/p>\n

Detectives then gather what they can before any charge is filed. That often includes witness statements, a forensic interview of a child, and phone or computer records obtained through a warrant or subpoena. Investigators may ask you for an interview. They may also serve a warrant without warning.<\/p>\n

Not every investigation leads to charges. Some end with no arrest at all. Anyone contacted by investigators should know that choices about speaking with them carry legal weight. Words spoken early can shape the rest of the case.<\/p>\n

For an overview of how this firm handles these matters, see the sex crimes defense overview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Common Sex Offense Charges Under the Texas Penal Code<\/h2>\n

Charges in these cases usually fall under a few sections of the Texas Penal Code. The section number is a starting point, because the felony level can also depend on the subsection and the facts, such as the victim’s age.<\/p>\n

Texas Penal Code \u00a7 22.011<\/a> defines sexual assault. The offense is generally a second-degree felony. Certain listed situations raise it to a first-degree felony.<\/p>\n

Under Texas law, aggravated sexual assault is charged as a first-degree felony. The statute requires at least one aggravating fact. Under Texas Penal Code \u00a7 22.021<\/a>, the offense includes intentionally or knowingly causing the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means without that person’s consent, and it also covers certain acts involving a child regardless of whether the person knows the child’s age at the time of the offense. It also sets a higher minimum prison term in some cases involving very young children.<\/p>\n

Penal Code \u00a7 21.11<\/a> covers indecency with a child. Sexual contact is a second-degree felony. Exposure is a third-degree felony. The statute also lists defenses, and each one depends on several conditions, such as the age gap and whether force was used.<\/p>\n

Penal Code \u00a7 33.021<\/a> covers online solicitation of a minor. Sexually explicit messages to a minor are generally a third-degree felony. Soliciting a minor to meet for sexual contact is a second-degree felony. The law also reaches someone the actor believes is a minor. It is no defense that the meeting never happened.<\/p>\n

Penal Code \u00a7 43.25<\/a> covers sexual performance by a child. The felony level depends on the conduct. Under subsection (c), employment or inducement is a second-degree felony, or a first-degree felony if the child is younger than 14. Under subsection (d), producing, directing, or promoting a sexual performance is a third-degree felony, or a second-degree felony if the child is younger than 14.<\/p>\n

Charges can change as a case develops, so the label on early paperwork is not final. Check the current statute text before you rely on any summary, including this one.<\/p>\n

Arrest, Magistration, and Bond in Collin County<\/h2>\n

After an arrest, a judge sets bond and decides the conditions of release. Those conditions can matter as much as the dollar amount.<\/p>\n

The usual order is arrest, booking, a hearing before a magistrate, and then bond. The judge sets the amount and any conditions. In sex offense cases, conditions can limit contact with a named person, a child, or certain places.<\/p>\n

Texas treats bond violations seriously. The covered conduct includes going to or near a protected person’s home or job, or a child’s school, as the order describes. It also includes possessing a firearm.<\/p>\n

One point about arrests is worth knowing. The same statute says an officer investigating a possible violation may not arrest the protected person for that violation.<\/p>\n

Read every condition in writing, and ask about anything unclear. Knowingly or intentionally violating a covered condition, such as going near a school named in the order, can create a new charge. No lawyer can control how a particular judge sets bond or rules on conditions.<\/p>\n

How a Case Moves Through Collin County Courts<\/h2>\n

A sex crime case usually moves from a police referral to prosecutors, and then to court. Not every case reaches trial.<\/p>\n

Police send their findings to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. That office decides whether to seek charges and which charges to present to a grand jury, since felony charges generally proceed by indictment unless the defendant waives it. Once a case is filed, it moves through a set of stages. These usually include the formal charging document, arraignment where the defendant enters a plea, pretrial motions, discovery, plea talks, and a trial setting. Discovery means the evidence the State shares with the defense, such as reports, recordings, and digital files.<\/p>\n

Some cases can end with deferred adjudication community supervision, but Texas law bars it for certain sex offenses and for certain defendants previously placed on supervision, so eligibility depends on the specific offense and history. A judge may place a defendant on that supervision after a guilty or nolo contendere plea and a hearing that substantiates guilt. The judge does not enter an adjudication of guilt in that case. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 42A.101<\/a> also requires the judge to explain the possible consequences of violating that supervision.<\/p>\n

Early in a case, the most useful work is reading discovery closely. Dates, messages, and interview notes often need careful checking.<\/p>\n\n

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What Evidence Gets Reviewed in These Cases<\/h2>\n

Evidence in sex crime cases often includes recordings, medical or exam records, and digital messages. A lawyer reviews all of it, not just the parts the State highlights.<\/p>\n

Common items include forensic interview recordings of a child, exam records, text and social media messages, phone extraction reports, and account or location data. Each item raises its own questions. Who had access to the device? Was the chain of custody for the digital files kept? Were the interview methods recorded and followed?<\/p>\n

Timing matters too. Reviewers compare when a statement was made with when a message was sent. They check whether later accounts match earlier ones. A phone extraction report shows what the tool pulled. It may not show the full context around each message.<\/p>\n

A lawyer reviews the State’s material, looks for gaps and inconsistencies, and explains what the evidence does and does not show. No one can say ahead of time how that review will come out.<\/p>\n

Penalties, Registration, and Other Consequences<\/h2>\n

Penalties depend on the specific offense and its felony level, which is why the statute number matters. A felony conviction can bring prison time and long-term consequences.<\/p>\n

Registration is one of the most serious consequences. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure definitions article<\/a> in Chapter 62 defines terms used in that chapter. For example, “Department” means the Department of Public Safety, and “released” includes being discharged, paroled, or placed on community supervision. The reportable offenses are listed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 62.001(5), and they include sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and any violation of Penal Code \u00a7 21.11 (indecency with a child), which covers both indecency by contact under \u00a7 21.11(a)(1) and indecency by exposure under \u00a7 21.11(a)(2). Whether registration applies depends on the offense and the facts. Ask for that answer in writing before you decide anything.<\/p>\n

A charge or conviction can also affect employment, housing, and school enrollment. Questions about immigration consequences would likely be referred to another firm. For non-citizens, immigration effects deserve early review.<\/p>\n

Any plea offer should be explained in writing before you decide. Ask for the full terms, including supervision and registration effects.<\/p>\n

When the Allegation May Be False or Mistaken<\/h2>\n

Being accused of a crime can feel overwhelming, and talking with a defense lawyer can help you understand what may come next. Some accusations are mistaken, and some are false. The National Registry of Exonerations<\/a> studies wrongful convictions. It tracks causes such as false accusations and mistaken identification.<\/p>\n

Accounts can shift over time. The way an interview is conducted can also shape what a witness says. A careful review usually looks at:<\/p>\n