Carmel Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers

Serving Clients Throughout Carmel & Valparaiso. Available 24/7!

Sex crime accusations are among the most serious criminal accusations a person can face. Not only is the criminal court system unforgiving towards these charges, but your own friends and family can turn against you, even though your accusation is simply an accusation, not a conviction. If it feels like no one is on your side during this difficult time, we urge you to think again.

At Blankenship Law, LLC, we are far more than just lawyers to our clients: We are their friends and advocates. Thus, you can count on us to aggressively defend your rights and freedom while treating you with the respect and compassion you deserve. Attorney Eric Blankenship is a former prosecutor with over 17 years of experience. He has key insider knowledge of how the other side of the courtroom operates and can recognize when prosecutors are bluffing. As such, we can expose flaws in their arguments and prepare defenses in anticipation of their attacks.

Indiana Sexual Battery Laws

Indiana defines sexual battery as a person, with intent to arouse or satisfy the person’s own sexual desires or the sexual desires of another person:

• Touching another person when that person is:
  • Compelled to submit to the touching by force or the imminent threat of force; or
  • So mentally disabled or deficient that consent to the touching cannot be given; or
• Touching another person’s genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast when that person is unaware that the touching is occurring

If convicted, you may face a Level 6 felony punishable by 6 months to 2.5 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 fines.

Your charge may be increased to a Level 4 felony if the alleged crime involved:

• using or threatening to use deadly force
• a deadly weapon
• drugging the victim with a controlled substance

A Level 4 felony is punishable by 2 to 12 years in prison with a 6-year advisory sentence and/or up to $10,000 fines.

Sexual Misconduct with Minors

Sexual misconduct with minors is defined as a person of at least 18 years of age performing or submitting to sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct with a child 14 or 15 years old. The offense is a Level 5 felony, punishable by 2 to 8 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 fines.

However, you may get charged with a Level 4 felony if you are at least 21 years old. Penalties include 2 to 12 years in prison with a 6-year advisory sentence and/or up to $10,000 fines.

You may face a Level 1 felony if the alleged crime involved:

• using or threatening to use deadly force
• a deadly weapon
• serious bodily injury
• drugging the victim with a controlled substance

Level 1 felony punishments include 20 to 40 years in prison with a 30-year advisory sentence and/or up to $10,000 fines.

Get Proven Defense for Your Sex Crime Charges

It’s important to retain legal defense as soon as you’re aware of a sex crime accusation or investigation against you, as prosecutors waste no time building their cases. With Attorney Eric Blankenship’s experience as a prosecutor for Marion County, the largest county in Indiana, we know what the other side of the courtroom can do and will aggressively defend your best interests in response.