Crimes Against Children

Texas Crimes Against Children Defense Attorneys Dotzel Calhoun

Justin Dotzel and Luke Calhoun of Dotzel Calhoun represent individuals accused of crimes against children, including Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child, Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with a Child, and Injury to a Child, in Collin County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County, and throughout North Texas. Our attorneys are former Collin County Chief Felony Prosecutors who have handled thousands of cases and nearly 200 jury trials.

What are Common Crimes Against Children in Texas?

The Texas Penal Code outlines many crimes against children, including Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child, Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with a Child, and Injury to a Child.

What are the Punishment Ranges?

Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child: 25 years to Life in prison and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000

Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child: 5 years to 99 years or Life in prison, and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000

Sexual Assault of a Child: 2 years to 20 years in prison and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000

Indecency with a Child: This offense can be charged as a second or third degree felony, meaning the range of punishment can be 2 years to 10 years or 2 years to 20 years in prison with an optional fine not to exceed $10,000

Injury to a Child: the range of punishment varies greatly depending on the facts of the case and the nature of the injury, but can including First Degree Felony range, meaning 5 years to 99 years or Life in prison with an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

Will I have to register as a sex offender?

Convictions or guilty pleas result in mandatory sex offender registration for Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child, Sexual Assault of a Child, and Indecency with a Child

What is a Forensic Interview?

A forensic interview is a structured interview of a child who may have witnessed or experienced abuse. In Texas, these interviews are often conducted at a Children’s Advocacy Center by a specially trained interviewer while law enforcement observe remotely.

The goal is to obtain the child’s account in a way that minimizes unnecessary repeated questioning and avoids, as much as possible, suggesting answers to the child. The interview may later become an important part of a criminal investigation and prosecution.

Forensic interviews can also be important to the defense. A criminal defense attorney may carefully examine the questions asked, the child’s answers, prior statements, inconsistencies, the timing of the allegation, and whether outside influences may have affected what was reported.

What happens after an outcry?

An “outcry” generally refers to a child telling another person that abuse occurred. The person receiving the initial disclosure may be a parent, teacher, counselor, relative, friend, or another trusted adult.

After an outcry, the allegation may be reported to law enforcement or Child Protective Services. Investigators may arrange a forensic interview of the child, interview family members and other witnesses, obtain medical records, collect phones or other digital evidence, and attempt to interview the person accused.

The investigation may continue for weeks or months before an arrest or charging decision is made.

Because important evidence can be created or lost very early in the process, an attorney can sometimes begin investigating and preserving evidence before charges are formally filed.

Should I speak with detectives?

A person accused of abusing a child should be extremely cautious about giving a statement to law enforcement without first speaking with a criminal defense attorney.

Detectives frequently contact suspects before an arrest has been made. The conversation may sound informal, and the detective may say that he or she simply wants to “hear your side of the story.” However, anything said during that interview may later be used as evidence.

Even an innocent person can create problems by guessing about dates, attempting to explain facts without knowing the full allegation, making an inaccurate statement, or agreeing with an investigator’s characterization of events.

Declining to participate in an interview until you have consulted with an attorney is not an admission of guilt. A defense attorney can first determine what is known about the allegation, assess the risks and potential benefits of making a statement, and advise whether speaking with investigators is in the client’s best interest.

What should someone do immediately after being accused?

The first steps after an accusation can have a major impact on the rest of the case. A person accused of abusing a child should avoid confronting the accuser, contacting witnesses about the allegations, deleting messages or other evidence, or attempting to explain the situation to law enforcement before speaking with an attorney.

It is often important to preserve text messages, emails, photographs, social media records, location data, calendars, and other information that may later become relevant. Even evidence that initially seems unimportant can help establish timelines, relationships, motives, or inconsistencies in the accusation.

If detectives request an interview, search a phone, or ask for consent to search a home or other property, the accused should generally speak with a criminal defense attorney before deciding how to respond.

An experienced defense attorney can begin investigating the allegations immediately, identify and preserve favorable evidence, communicate with law enforcement when appropriate, and help prevent avoidable mistakes while the investigation is still developing.

What experience does Dotzel Calhoun have with these types of cases?

Both founding partners have experience handling these cases from both sides of the courtroom (meaning as prosecutors as well as defense lawyers). Specifically, Mr. Dotzel, while a prosecutor with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office was assigned to a unit for two years in which his sole prosecutorial responsibility was handling these cases.

Take Action Now

Dotzel Calhoun regularly represents clients in Collin County, including Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and Allen, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County, and throughout North Texas. If you or a loved one is facing a charge or accusation of a crimes against a child, time is everything. The prosecution is already building its case—don’t wait to start building yours.

Contact Dotzel Calhoun today at (972) 372-9383, or info@dotzelcalhoun.com for a free and confidential consultation and case evaluation.