Sex crime charges often carry severe criminal penalties—including mandatory prison time and lifetime registration as a sex offender—as well as devastating consequences for your reputation, career, and personal relationships. Even a mere allegation can result in social stigma, job loss, and irreversible damage to your standing in the community. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the legal system alone.
Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. has over 50 years of combined experience defending clients against serious criminal charges, including sex crimes in Florissant. With a team that includes a former prosecutor and former military attorney, we are uniquely positioned to anticipate the strategies of the government and respond with an aggressive, informed defense.
If you’re under investigation or have already been charged with a sex offense in Florissant, contact our qualified defense attorneys immediately. The earlier you involve experienced legal counsel, the more options you may have to protect your rights and begin building a strong defense.
Our Florissant attorneys prepare every case as if it will go to trial. We conduct exhaustive investigations, challenge unlawful searches and seizures, and fight to protect your rights. Whether you are facing a state-level charge in St. Louis County Circuit Court or a federal indictment in the Eastern District of Missouri, we are ready to stand by you. Call today for a consultation.
Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. defends clients against a wide range of sex crime charges. If you are facing investigation or formal charges in Florissant, understanding your charges will help you determine what consequences you’re facing. Below are some of the most common Missouri sex crime charges we defend:
First-Degree Rape (RSMo § 566.030)
This statute encompasses non-consensual sexual intercourse through the use of force, threat of force, or when the victim is incapacitated. Incapacitation may be due to drugs, alcohol, or a mental condition. Attempted rape in the first degree is also prosecuted under this statute.
Rape in the first degree is a felony offense punishable by life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five. However, the law provides for significantly enhanced penalties in certain situations, including:
Anyone convicted of rape in the first degree cannot receive a suspended sentence. Conviction also results in mandatory sex offender registration.
In Missouri, statutory rape charges apply even if the minor appears to consent. These are strict liability offenses—a defendant’s lack of knowledge about the minor’s age is not a defense.
First-degree statutory rape involves sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14 and is classified as a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to life in prison. Second-degree statutory rape applies when the victim is under 17 and the defendant is over 21, carrying a Class D felony penalty of up to seven years in prison.
Missouri law defines sodomy in the first degree as engaging in deviate sexual intercourse—any sexual act involving the genitals of one person and the mouth, tongue, hand, or anus of another—either by forcible compulsion or with a victim who is under the age of 14. This offense is classified as a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
Second-degree sodomy involves deviate sexual intercourse with another person without their consent, but without aggravating circumstances such as force or the age of the victim. It is a Class D felony, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
Child Pornography: Possession or Control (RSMo § 573.037)
Possessing or controlling any visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexual conduct is a felony offense in Missouri. Simple possession is classified as a Class D felony. Charges may be elevated to a Class B felony if the material was distributed or if aggravating factors are present—such as prior convictions or possession of a large volume of illegal content. A conviction under this statute requires mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Enticement of a Child (RSMo § 566.151)
Enticement of a child occurs when a person uses the internet, text messages, mobile apps, or any form of communication to solicit or attempt to persuade a child under the age of 15 to engage in sexual conduct. This offense is a felony, carrying a penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
First-Degree Sexual Misconduct (RSMo § 566.093)
This charge includes exposing genitals with the intent to arouse or alarm another person, often in public spaces or in the presence of a minor. This charge is generally a Class B misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months in jail, but can be enhanced for repeat offenses or if a child is involved. Convictions can carry mandatory sex offender registration in some cases.
First- and Second-Degree Sexual Abuse (RSMo § 566.100 and 566.101)
First-degree sexual abuse (RSMo § 566.100) involves subjecting another person to sexual contact by force or when the person is incapacitated and is charged as a Class C or B felony based on the severity and context of the offense. Second-degree sexual abuse (RSMo § 566.101) involves subjecting someone to sexual contact without their consent and is generally classified as a Class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to one year in jail, though it may be elevated to a felony if the accused is a repeat offender or if the victim is a minor.
The consequences for sex crimes are severe. Reach out to Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. to find out how we can help.
You deserve the strongest defense possible. Our firm will review all the evidence in your case, looking beyond what the prosecution presents. We’ll examine police procedures and search warrants to identify any flaws or violations that could lead to excluding evidence.
Next, we’ll aggressively pursue pretrial motions to protect your rights. This includes filing motions to suppress evidence that was unlawfully obtained or challenging requests to introduce prejudicial information that could unfairly influence a judge or jury. Our goal is that only legally admissible, fair evidence is considered throughout your case. Depending on the circumstances, we can work with psychologists, forensic analysts, and computer experts to analyze evidence and provide professional insight.
Every case at Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. is handled with a trial-ready approach. We will prepare as though your case will be decided by a jury, focusing on cross-examination and witness impeachment to challenge the prosecution’s case. Our attorneys are skilled at managing sensitive and complex allegations with professionalism and care.
When the evidence is strong, we’ll also explore negotiation options. Our team will consider plea deals that may help you avoid registration as a sex offender or incarceration. We can also advocate for diversion programs, particularly for younger clients or those facing charges for the first time, to seek alternatives to traditional prosecution.
If you’ve been charged with a sex crime in Florissant, MO, call Frank & Juengel Law Group P.C. for a consultation right away.
