{"id":844,"date":"2023-08-10T23:13:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T05:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/?page_id=844"},"modified":"2024-01-22T22:07:35","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T05:07:35","slug":"fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Worth Sexual Assault Attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"830\" src=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Fort-Worth-Criminal-Attorney-Cole-Paschall-Law-Criminal-Defense-Attorney.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1504\" style=\"width:280px\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Have you been charged with sexual assault in Fort Worth, Texas?&nbsp;Sexual assault is a serious crime, and with a serious crime comes serious penalties. If you have been arrested and charged with sexual assault in Texas, contact us immediately to begin working on your case with an experienced sexual&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/attorney\/casey-cole\/\" data-type=\"attorney\" data-id=\"234\">assault attorney in Fort Worth<\/a>. Before you speak with law enforcement in any interviews or make any statements, make sure that you have an attorney present. You have a legal right to counsel provided by the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/wex\/right_to_counsel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution<\/a>, and it is important that you exercise these rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During your consultation, you will be able to speak with an attorney about the circumstances that led to your arrest, and the charges you are facing, and get to know our approach to sexual assault cases like yours. This is a great opportunity for you to understand how working with us will be, and what our style is when defending clients through cases such as your own. Read more about sexual assault charges and penalties in Texas, and <a href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/contact\/\">contact us now<\/a> to get started on your\u00a0legal criminal defense.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#What_is_Sexual_Assault\" title=\"What is Sexual Assault?\">What is Sexual Assault?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#Allegations_of_Sexual_Assault\" title=\"Allegations of Sexual Assault\">Allegations of Sexual Assault<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#Penalties_for_Sexual_Assault\" title=\"Penalties for Sexual Assault\">Penalties for Sexual Assault<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#Second-degree_Felony_Sexual_Assault\" title=\"Second-degree Felony Sexual Assault\">Second-degree Felony Sexual Assault<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#First-degree_Felony_Sexual_Assault\" title=\"First-degree Felony Sexual Assault\">First-degree Felony Sexual Assault<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-sexual-assault-attorney\/#Contact_a_Fort_Worth_Sexual_Assault_Lawyer_for_a_Free_Consultation\" title=\"Contact a Fort Worth Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation\">Contact a Fort Worth Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Sexual_Assault\"><\/span>What is Sexual Assault?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1100\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sexual-assault-1100x732-1.webp\" alt=\"What is Sexual Assault?\" class=\"wp-image-1004\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sexual-assault-1100x732-1.webp 1100w, https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sexual-assault-1100x732-1-960x639.webp 960w, https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sexual-assault-1100x732-1-768x511.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Texas Penal Code, under <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/tx\/penal-code\/penal-sect-22-011\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a7 22.011<\/a>, defines sexual assault, generally, as non-consensual and unwanted sexual contact against another person. Depending on the situation, it may or may not involve penetration, but is applied to non-penetration situations where unwanted sexual contact takes place as well. In addition, any sort of sexual contact with a child is sexual assault and is treated differently than <a href=\"https:\/\/statutes.capitol.texas.gov\/Docs\/PE\/htm\/PE.21.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sexual assault between two adults<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The charges of sexual assault are increased to aggravated sexual assault if the sexual assault also involves physical injury, fear of injury or death, the use of weapons during the assault,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/a-z-topics\/date-rape-drugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">date rape drugs<\/a>&nbsp;were used in the assault, there was an additional accomplice in the assault, or if the victim was a minor, disabled, or elderly. <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/tx\/penal-code\/penal-sect-22-021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aggravated sexual assault<\/a> carries even greater punishments than charges of sexual assault, which includes the possibility of more prison time, as well as greater fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Allegations_of_Sexual_Assault\"><\/span>Allegations of Sexual Assault<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In many cases, sexual assault cases are heard in&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.txcourts.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas courts<\/a>&nbsp;without concrete evidence, instead relying on the testimony of the victim. It is important as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/our-attorneys\/\">criminal defense attorney&nbsp;<\/a>to ensure that our client\u2019s Constitutional rights are upheld throughout the trial and that any evidence brought against them is sufficient and truthful. For our defense, we may offer our client\u2019s perspective on the matter. For instance, there are some situations where consent was given, but later regretted, and ultimately led to a false accusation of rape. In addition, if our client did not have the intent or knowledge that the contact was unwanted, we will make this very clear in court as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Penalties_for_Sexual_Assault\"><\/span>Penalties for Sexual Assault<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The penalties for sexual assault can vary depending on the situation. In many cases, sexual assault is a second-degree felony. However, if the assault was found to be an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/fort-worth-assault-lawyer\/aggravated\/\">aggravated sexual assault<\/a>, the charges are increased to a first-degree felony, and the penalties increase as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Second-degree_Felony_Sexual_Assault\"><\/span>Second-degree Felony Sexual Assault<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/tx\/penal-code\/penal-sect-12-33\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">second-degree felony<\/a> sexual assault can be punished with 2 to 20 years in prison, as well as the possibility of a fine of up to $10,000. However, a second-degree felony can be elevated to a first-degree felony even if it is not an aggravated charge if the defendant was prohibited from contacting the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First-degree_Felony_Sexual_Assault\"><\/span>First-degree Felony Sexual Assault<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sexual Assault may be elevated to a first-degree felony if it was found to have been an aggravated assault, or if it meets the criteria of the aforementioned second-degree felony. The penalties for a first-degree sexual assault range from 5 years to life in prison, as well as fines of up to $10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-contact-a-lexington-sexual-assault-battery-lawyer-for-a-free-consultation\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contact_a_Fort_Worth_Sexual_Assault_Lawyer_for_a_Free_Consultation\"><\/span>Contact a Fort Worth Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you are accused of a serious sex offense, you face extremely harsh penalties. Prosecutors and judges in Fort Worth are more likely to take a harsh approach when dealing with people accused of sexual assault compared to other offenses. You deserve the best possible legal defense to fight for your future and protect your reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Cole Paschall Law, we will put our decades of experience to work for you. Call our law office today at <a href=\"tel:817-477-4100\" data-type=\"tel\" data-id=\"tel:817-477-4100\">(817) 477-4100<\/a> to schedule a free case review with an experienced Fort Worth sexual assault lawyer to discuss your case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been charged with sexual assault in Fort Worth, Texas?&nbsp;Sexual assault is a serious crime, and with a serious crime comes serious penalties. If you have been arrested and charged with sexual assault in Texas, contact us immediately to begin working on your case with an experienced sexual&nbsp;assault attorney in Fort Worth. Before you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page_practice-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/844"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=844"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2388,"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/844\/revisions\/2388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/colepaschalllaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}