In the state of Virginia, there is extreme strictness on the crimes of sexual nature. That strictness multiplies many folds if the victim in the case under consideration is a minor. A minor is someone who is below the age of consent. Even if a minor gives consent, it will not be counted because they are underage. An adult on the other hand is someone who is above the age of 18.
Taking indecent liberties with a child in the state of Virginia accounts for any act of a sexual nature that an adult caries out with a minor. The minor or child in this case should be below the age of 15 for this charge to count. In case if it is pornography, a victim below the age of 18 will be considered as a child or minor. Most of these sex crimes are counted as class 5 felonies. In certain cases they can be treated in an even harsher manner depending on the situation at that time.
This charge will only be put in place with its full intensity if it is proved that the suspect committed the crime within full senses and knowingly that the victim is a minor and child. In that case the suspect will be dealt with in the strictest manner. Some smart sex crimes defense lawyers will be able to create reasonable doubt in the mind of the judge and the jury that the suspect never knew that the victim was a minor. This is one of the most common defense moves. It does take a bundle of evidence to prove.
An individual who is convicted with a sex crime in the state of Virginia has to face a bulk load of different repercussions. These are damaging to both their professional and personal reputations. Understanding these laws and the penalties in case of violations of these laws is very important when you are fighting a case. There are certain acts that are included under the indecent liberties heading. If an adult exposes his or her genitals in front of a minor or encourages a minor to that or makes a minor expose him or herself in front of someone else then that is counted as taking indecent liberties. If the adult fondle himself or herself in front of minor or encourages a minor to do the same or to do that in front of someone else then that is also included in the same category of crimes and will be most probably charged as a class 5 felony.
Any repeat offense of the same kind will be charged as a class 4 felony. These charges are the kind that can make a person land themselves on the state’s sex offender’s registry. In that case the person will have to suffer with this tainted image for years to come. In many cases the court puts offenders on this registry for an indefinite time period so that the offender has no idea when the ordeal will end.