Melbourne Juvenile Sex Offense Lawyer

Florida Defense for Juvenile Sex Offenders Cases

Juveniles can be charged with any one of a number of sexual offenses. In most cases, arrests are the results of complaints by alleged victims or the concerned parents of other children.

Some of the criminal charges that juveniles may face include, but are not limited to:

Sex offenses are some of the most aggressively prosecuted crimes in Florida, but these types of cases become more complicated when the alleged offenders are juveniles. According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), more than 1,000 youths were arrested for sexual battery or other sexual felony offenses each year between Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-12 and FY 2015-16 and another 91 youths were arrested for misdemeanor sex offenses in both FY 2011-12 and FY 2015-16.

While juveniles might not face the same criminal penalties as adult offenders, the consequences of an arrest can still be severe. In more serious cases, juveniles may be required to register as sex offenders—possibly affecting where youths can live or work.

Call (321) 253-3447 today to have our lawyer provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case during a free, confidential consultation.

Juvenile Sex Offenders Registry in Florida

Juveniles are required to register as sex offenders in Florida if they:

• Have been convicted as adults for a qualifying sexual offense and meets the criteria in Florida Statute § 943.0435 or Florida Statute § 775.21 to register as an adult sexual offender or predator; or
• Were adjudicated delinquent for qualifying sexual offenses in this state or similar offenses in other jurisdictions when they were 14 years of age or older at the time of the offenses.

Florida Statute § 943.0435(1)(h)d. establishes that sexual offender means a person who has been adjudicated delinquent for committing, or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit, any of the criminal offenses proscribed in the following statutes in this state or similar offenses in another jurisdiction when the juvenile was 14 years of age or older at the time of the offense:

• Sexual battery;
• Lewd or lascivious battery by encouraging, forcing, or enticing any person less than 16 years of age to engage in sadomasochistic abuse, sexual bestiality, prostitution, or any other act involving sexual activity;
• Lewd or lascivious molestation against a victim less than 12 years of age;
• Lewd or lascivious molestation against a victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age where the court finds the use of force or coercion and unclothed genitals; or
• Any similar offense committed in this state which has been redesignated from a former statute number to one of those listed in Florida Statute § 943.0435(1)(h)d.

All juvenile sexual offenders must report four times a year and will be listed on the public registry website.

Juvenile Sex Offense Resources in Florida

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators | FAQ — Visit this section of the FDLE website to find answers to frequently asked questions about sex offender registration in Florida. Learn more about when juvenile sex offenders/predators have to register. You can also find information about residency restrictions and accounts on social networking websites.

Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and SORNA — SORNA refers to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act in Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, the federal law requiring states to maintain systems for monitoring and tracking convicted sex offenders. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan non-governmental organization, and this section of the NCSL website explains requirements placed on juveniles under SORNA. As the website notes, Florida is one of 37 states that have a statutory law requiring sex offender registration of some juveniles adjudicated delinquent for qualifying offenses and is one of seven states found to be compliant with the SORNA in its entirety.

Find a Juvenile Sex Offenses Defense Attorney in Melbourne, FL

If your child was arrested or could be under investigation for any sexual offense in Eastern or Central Florida, it is in your best interest to exercise your right to remain silent until you have legal counsel.

Law Offices of Bryan J. McCarthy represents individuals in Satellite Beach, Titusville, Viera, West Melbourne, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Rockledge, and many surrounding areas of Brevard County.

Melbourne criminal defense lawyer Bryan McCarthy understands the tremendous stress that these allegations can place on juveniles, and we work to help individuals achieve the most favorable resolutions to their criminal cases.