Dangerous Crimes Against Children

Crimes against children are more severely punished in the state of Arizona than the same crime against an adult. As an example, some sexual offense crimes against a child under the age of twelve carry an automatic life sentence. The idea behind the Dangerous Crimes Against Children (DCAC) laws is to deter adults from endangering children via much harsher penalties. Under Arizona law, many individuals who see or are made aware of any type of child abuse must report that abuse to the authorities.   When you are being accused or falsely accused of these crimes in the greater Phoenix Arizona area including Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Meza, Gilbert or Maricopa County, contact the Ciccarelli Law Team immediately.  

Those who fall under mandatory reporting laws include medical professionals, teachers, peace officers, parents or guardians, and anyone else who is responsible for the child. Clergy are exempt from this mandatory reporting if they know of the child abuse through confidential information. Being convicted of Dangerous Crimes Against Children can result in the following:

• Requirements to register as a sex offender, probably for the remainder of your life
• Difficulties obtaining employment
• The loss of a family
• Difficulty finding an apartment or home to rent
• An inability to obtain a professional license or government student loan
• The loss of friends and associates
• A reputation left in tatters

Child endangerment laws are meant to keep our children safe. If you have been charged with a crime against a child—particularly a sexual crime—it is imperative that you speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable in this area as quickly as possible. Having an attorney from Ciccarelli Law Offices in your corner as quickly as possible can make a difference in the outcome of your charges. 

Why Choose Ciccarelli Law Offices for Your Charges of a Dangerous Crime Against a Child?

If you find yourself being arrested for any type of child endangerment offense in Arizona, you will likely be scared, anxious about the future, stressed, and unsure of what you need to do next to safeguard your future. You may wonder whether you will go to jail, whether you will still have a job, whether your family will stand by you, and whether your finances can bear the burden of defending your charges. Let’s be honest—you have good reason to be worried. Any crime against a child not only has significant criminal penalties, but also brings the collateral damages mentioned above. 

Sexual offenses against a child can carry a stigma that lasts a lifetime. You do not have to face this frightening future alone. Having an entire team of dedicated criminal defense attorneys fighting for you, your rights, and your future can make a huge difference in the outcome of your charges. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we fully understand the anguish, fear, and anxiety you are experiencing and will do everything legally possible to help you get through this difficult time in the best way possible. 

You can rest assured in the experience, competence, reputation, knowledge, and skills of the legal team at Ciccarelli Law Offices.  We understand that you have choices when choosing a criminal defense attorney. Don’t you want to select the firm that offers the best chance of the most positive outcome possible? 

Consider the following: 

• Our legal team has more than 100 combined years of national experience representing those charged with a criminal offense, including sexual criminal offenses.
• We continuously strive to make a real difference in the lives of our clients, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or how much money they have.
• With hundreds of Five-Star Reviews from our satisfied clients, Lee Ciccarelli has been recognized as:
  • Super Lawyer 
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association
  • TEN Best Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys 
  • Having the highest rating (10.0) by AVVO 
  • One of the Top 100 Litigation Attorneys by the American Society of Legal Advocates. 

At Ciccarelli Law Offices, we are Driven To Serve and Ready to Fight. Success is Our Mission. 

How Do DCAC Laws Protect Arizona’s Children?

Essentially, Dangerous Crimes Against Children modifies sentencing recommendations for existing crimes, implementing much harsher penalties for any crime committed against a child under the age of 15, with even harsher penalties for a crime committed against a child under the age of 12. 

These dangerous crimes include the following:

• Molestation of a child
• Second-degree murder of a child
• Sexual assault of a child
• Commercial sexual exploitation of a child
• Aggravated assault of a child that results in serious physical injury
• Any type of sexual conduct with a child
• Luring of a child for sexual exploitation
• Kidnapping a child
• Taking a child for the purpose of prostitution
• Sexual abuse of a child
• Sex trafficking of a child
• Using a child to commit drug offenses
• Causing the injury of a child while manufacturing methamphetamine
• The unlawful mutilation of a child
• Bestiality with a child

An offense must be an eligible crime, the defendant must be 18 or tried as an adult for the offense, and the victim must be 15 years or younger or an unborn child to qualify under Dangerous Crimes Against Children. 

Penalties for Dangerous Crimes Against Children

Prison sentences for these crimes are served consecutively, rather than concurrently, unless there was only one victim of child molestation or sexual abuse. 

As an example, sexual assault of a minor 12 years old or younger or sexual conduct with a minor 12 years old or younger carry mandatory life sentences. Certain other crimes against children potentially carry a life sentence if the victim is under the age of 12. 

The sentence for one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor under the age of 15 is a minimum of 13 years, a presumptive term of 20 years, and an aggravated term of 27 years. Further, all prison terms must be served in full—there is no early release provision, except in cases of compassionate release or prison employment. 

Your attorney will likely attempt to have your charges reduced to an “attempt” of one of these crimes, which could make the crime probation-eligible, but it is rare that the State will stipulate to probation. 

Many dangerous crimes against a child carry a minimum of 10 years in prison, although luring a minor for sexual exploitation, sexual extortion, and unlawful age misrepresentation have a minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum of 22 years.  

The exact sentencing will depend on the age of the child and the criminal offense, so it is wise to speak to a knowledgeable legal professional from Ciccarelli Law Offices. 

Facing Lengthy Prison Time in Arizona? We Can Help! 

If you are facing charges for a crime against a child in Phoenix, Chandler, or anywhere in Arizona, you must understand how serious these charges truly are. Crimes against children are treated harshly by the courts, and you could find yourself spending the rest of your life in prison if you’re convicted. Don’t trust your future to just anyone. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Arizona Criminal Defense lawyers have the experience and resources needed to win your case.

Call a Phoenix Child Crimes Attorney Today

If you or somebody you love is facing accusations or charges of Dangerous Crimes Against Children in the greater Phoenix metro area, Maricopa County including but not limited to Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale or Gilbert, you need to contact an attorney immediately. Not any attorney will do, and you likely need a team of Smart, Experienced, Aggressive, determined lawyers that fight back at child sex crimes and discuss you or your loved one’s possible defenses and strategies.   Call now. Now is the time for action and the time for Lee Ciccarelli and his team.

Do not speak to law enforcement officials or prosecutors until you have legal counsel by your side. At the Ciccarelli Law Offices, our team has a track record of success helping clients get through incredibly complex criminal defense cases. We know that the stakes are high, and we will use all of our resources to ensure you are treated fairly. When you need a Maricopa County sex crimes attorney, reach out to our team today. We are determined to fight for our clients. It’s in our DNA to have your back and your Success is Our Mission.