Taking Indecent Liberties with a Minor in Charlotte, North Carolina

If you are facing charges for taking indecent liberties with a minor, your entire future could be at risk. Under North Carolina law, taking indecent liberties with a minor is a Class F felony in North Carolina. Class F felonies come with severe consequences, including serious jail time and the requirement to register as a sex offender. Additionally, the stigma involved in facing such a charge can have significant negative effects on your life.

The defense lawyers at Arnold & Smith Attorneys at Law have extensive experience representing clients on a wide variety of criminal charges. If you are facing charges for taking indecent liberties with a minor in Charlotte, the sooner you speak to a lawyer, the better. Contact Arnold & Smith Attorneys at Law as soon as possible to schedule your free case evaluation. After investigating our clients' cases, we develop an effective legal strategy for our clients' defense.

Taking indecent liberties with a child is a serious sex crime in North Carolina. Under North Carolina law, it is unlawful to behave in an immoral, improper, or indecent manner with a child who is under the age of 16. The actions must be for the purposes of sexual gratification and the defendant must be at least five years older than the child who is the alleged victim. This law also criminalizes committing a lewd or lascivious act on the body of a child who is under the age of 16.

What does it mean to take indecent liberties with a child ? The statute is somewhat confusing and difficult to understand. North Carolina lawmakers were intentionally vague when it came to writing the statue. They intended for the statutory to cover a wide variety of lewd acts with a child.

What actions actually constitute taking indecent liberties with a minor child? What many people consider to be child molestation usually meet the definition of taking indecent liberties with a child, to include:

1. French kissing a child
2. Soliciting a child for sexual intercourse
3. Taking a child's clothes off in a sexual manner
4. Touching or fondling the genitalia of a child in a sexual manner
5. Sexually graphic conversations with a minor
6. Masturbating in the child's presence.

Taking indecent liberties with a child does not require touching to take place. Keep in mind that many of these actions lead to statutory rape or forcible rape charges. Statutory rape occurs when a person at least four years older than the child engages in sexual intercourse with the child. When the sexual activity constitutes intercourse, prosecutors will add these charges to the original charges.

Seven men are facing charges for sexually abusing a group of young boys at a YMCA branch. One of the men pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with a minor child. The man picked his favorite boys for his group and made sure the other boys respected him. He even picked up male strippers to present to the boys and sexually abused the boys.

Grooming is a practice in which an adult takes actions that make children rely on them or become inappropriately bonded to them in order to sexually abuse them or use them for sexual gratification. Engaging in grooming activities can often meet the legal requirements for taking indecent liberties with a minor child.

Penalties for Taking Indecent Liberties with a Minor Child in North Carolina

Taking indecent liberties with a minor child is a Class F felony according to the felony sentencing guidelines for North Carolina. Additionally, if you are convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor, you will be required to register as a sex offender in North Carolina for decades. Not only could you lose work opportunities and other opportunities, but

Many people in North Carolina are wrongfully accused of sexually-based crimes. At Arnold & Smith Attorneys at Law, we believe that every client is innocent until proven guilty. Our lawyers conduct a thorough investigation into all of the allegations. We understand that sometimes innocent people are charged with stigmatizing crimes. That is why we fight hard to present the best possible defense strategy for our clients, according to their goals. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to receive a case review. Call our lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to evaluate your options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.