Houston Sex Offender Registration Lawyer
If you have been accused of failing to register as a sex offender, you need to speak to a Houston sex crimes lawyer. Call the Law Office of Nathaniel Pitoniak today for a consultation. Mr. Pitoniak will explain the charge and the potential consequences. He will also provide you with a game plan on how to minimize the damage and explain any avenues that may exist for a dismissal or resolution of the case against you.
Who is Required to Register as a Sex Offender?
The law in Texas states that anyone with a “reportable conviction” since September 1, 1970 must register as a sex offender. Reportable convictions include many different offenses, including, among others:
- Sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault.
- Child prostitution
- Indecency with a child;
- Continuous sexual abuse of a child;
- Sexual performance by a child;
- Possession of or promotion of child pornography.
- Compelling prostitution.
- Prohibited sexual contact.
- A second conviction for indecent exposure (in some cases).
- Online solicitation of a minor.
- Sex trafficking.
There are numerous additional crimes included in the registration requirement, including conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the included offenses. Registration is also required if you have been convicted of a similar offense under federal law, the law of another state, the law of a foreign country, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
What Happens if I am Required to Register as a Sex Offender?
If you have a reportable conviction, or if required as a condition of parole or community supervision, you must to register with the local law enforcement agency in the municipality in which you reside or intend to reside for more than one week. If you do not reside nor intend to reside in a municipality, then you must register with the county in which you reside or intend to reside. You must generally do so within the later of 7 days after your arrival in the municipality or county.
When you register, you must provide, in addition to your new address:
- your name;
- birth date;
- sex;
- race;
- physical characteristics (height, weight, race, eye and hair color);
- social security number;
- driver’s license number; and
- shoe size.
You are also required to provide any alias you may have used, a recent photo (in color), the specifics of your reportable conviction, employment/educational information, vehicle identification, and other information. Failure to register as required can lead to a felony charge.
What are the Effects of Being a Registered Sex Offender in Texas?
Depending upon the specifics of your case, and the particular requirements imposed on you as the result of your conviction, you may be subject to various restrictions, including restrictions on travel, residency, attendance at events, contact with children, employment limitations, and others. Equally as important, the information concerning your conviction can be accessed on the internet and will be available to the public.
Deregistration: Removal from the Sex Offender Registry
The duration of the registration requirement varies from offense to offense. It depends, in the first instance, on the circumstances and offense(s) involved in your conviction. Some convictions contain a lifetime registration requirement. Others may require registration for a term of years.
There is a procedure that may be available in your case allowing the removal of your name from the sex registry. The procedure is known as deregistration and is applicable only if you meet certain specific criteria. The availability will depend upon a number of factors:
- Only certain crimes are eligible for deregistration. As a general rule, a conviction for a violent crime will not qualify.
- Certain crimes, including possession of pornography, indecent exposure and others may qualify, providing it was your only sex crime conviction.
- Other factors in the court’s decision on deregistration will include the age of the victim at the time the offense was committed, and a professional opinion that you are not likely to commit another offense in the future, among others.
If you have been required to register as a sex offender and would like to know whether you have an opportunity to deregister, contact the Law Office of Nathaniel Pitoniak to speak to an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Sex Offender Registration Lawyer in Houston, TX
The requirement of registering as a sex offender, whether for life or for a term of years, presents serious problems for your future and for your life in general. And while it may in some cases be possible to deregister, the conviction will remain on your record. Obviously, the best way to avoid these problems is to avoid the conviction itself. And your best chance of doing so is to find the right criminal lawyer for your case.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, are required to register as a sex offender, or wish to know if you can deregister, call our office today for a consultation.
