Philadelphia Indecent Exposure Lawyer

While you might have thought that indecent exposure was a minor offense, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania says differently. If you are convicted of indecent exposure, your freedom could be on the line. The penalties that follow a guilty verdict could be devastating.

It is crucial that you take the necessary steps to clear your name of the charges against you. Fortunately, with the support and resources of a reputable Philadelphia indecent exposure lawyer from Ciccarelli Law Offices, you can safeguard your future. Contact our Philadelphia criminal defense attorneys to request a confidential consultation today and learn more about how your life could be affected by an indecent exposure conviction and which defenses may be most viable in your case.

Penalties for An Indecent Exposure Conviction in Philadelphia

Indecent exposure is most frequently tried as a first-degree or second-degree misdemeanor. If convicted of first-degree indecent exposure, Meaning you are accused of exposing yourself to someone under the age of 16, you could be fined up to $10,000 and spend as much as five years in jail. If you are convicted of second-degree indecent exposure, you could spend as much as two years in jail and be fined up to $5,000.

Philadelphia Indecent Exposure FAQ 

Being accused of a crime as serious as indecent exposure could destroy your reputation and future opportunities. Your Philadelphia sex crimes lawyer understands how intimidating the criminal defense process must be. For this reason, we have included a detailed FAQ below that goes into some of the most common questions and answers regarding the criminal justice system and the processing of indecent exposure charges in Philadelphia. If you have additional questions or concerns we did not cover here, do not hesitate to contact our law office to schedule a confidential case assessment today.

Will I be required to register as a sex offender If I’m convicted of indecent exposure?

Yes, according to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and Megan’s law, if you are convicted of indecent exposure, you could be required to register as a sex offender. You will be assigned a tier based on the likelihood of recidivism or the likelihood that you will commit indecent exposure or another crime again in the future. If you are designated a tier one sex offender, you will be required to register on the sex offender registry for a minimum of 15 years. However, if you are designated a tier three sex offender, you will be required to register for the rest of your life.

You will be required to register with the Pennsylvania State Police within 10 days of your release from prison. Failure to do so could be considered a violation of the state’s sex offender registration requirements as described under 18 PA C.S. § 4915.1. This could result in additional fines and imprisonment.

Is there a statute of limitations for indecent exposure charges in PA?

Yes, there is a statute of limitations for most criminal offenses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Generally, district attorneys have up to two years from the date of the alleged offense to file formal charges for indecent exposure according to 75 PA Chapter 55. However, if the defendant is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, the prosecution may be able to initiate charges at a later date.

If the district attorney does not file charges before the statute of limitations expires, formal charges should not be filed. If they are, we may be able to file a motion to get them dismissed before you ever have to step foot inside a courtroom.

Can indecent exposure be expunged from my criminal record?

No, if you are convicted of indecent exposure, you will not be able to get your conviction expunged from your record. Under 18 PA C.S. § 9122(b.1), sex crime convictions are not eligible for expungement. This is, in part, due to the requirement that you register as a sex offender upon your release. However, if you were arrested but never formally charged or were charged but the charges against you were dismissed, or you were acquitted, the allegations against you could be expunged from your criminal record.

How much does it cost to hire a Philadelphia indecent exposure lawyer?

Hiring a reputable indecent exposure attorney in Philadelphia should not cost an arm and a leg. However, we may need to use considerable resources to introduce reasonable doubt in the minds of the judge and jury. For this reason, we often require a retainer before we can start working on a case and work for our clients either on a fee or hourly basis, depending on each client’s specific circumstances. 

You have the right to an attorney if you cannot afford one, as described by the Sixth Amendment. You may be able to work with a public defender, but that does not necessarily mean you will get the results you were hoping for. This may be partly because public defenders are often overwhelmed by caseloads they cannot handle and do not have access to the resources they need to build a powerful defense strategy in your favor.

Which defenses can be used to avoid an indecent exposure conviction?

You may be able to avoid an embarrassing trial by securing a plea arrangement or entering pre-trial diversion. However, the prosecutor will not necessarily allow you to enter a pretrial diversion program unless you meet specific requirements as outlined by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. 

If you are disqualified from pretrial diversion or the state is unwilling to work out a plea, several potential defenses could be used to help you clear your name of the charges against you. Some of the most common defenses our clients have utilized over the years include:

• Accidental exposure caused by wardrobe malfunctions
• Lack of lewd intent
• Lack of actual exposure of genitalia
• The alleged act did not occur in a public location
• There was no one around who could have been offended by the conduct in question
• Your identity was mistaken
• False accusations

Trust In a Dedicated Indecent Exposure Lawyer in Philadelphia for Help Today

The fallout of an indecent exposure conviction will be life-changing. When your future is in jeopardy, and you are unsure of how to clear your name, look no further than our leading Philadelphia indecent exposure attorneys with Ciccarelli Law Offices. Our team will closely evaluate the prosecutor’s case against you to identify the best possible defense strategy.

In some cases, pretrial diversion or plea agreements may be the better option. In any case, the choice will be yours to make once you understand every possible legal option. When you are ready to schedule your initial defense strategy session, fill out our confidential contact form or call us to get started with a free consultation as soon as today.