- 201-766-4800
- 200 Passaic St. Hackensack, NJ 07601
Sex Crime Overview
A New Jersey sex crime conviction can ruin your life. Not only are you facing decades in prison, but once you are released you will be ordered to live under extreme conditions. If convicted of a New Jersey sex crime you will have to register as a sex offender & you will receive parole supervision for life. The judge will order that you be cut off from using a smart-phone, accessing the internet, and perhaps prohibit you from being around children. We strongly urge you to retain a sex crime lawyer for these types of charges. The consequences can be devastating & cannot be undone.
Sex Crime Categories
A sex crime can fall into one of two categories. You can be accused of committing a sex crime against an – 1) adult or against a 2) minor. The penalties & legal defenses are different in each case.
For example, if your sex crime case involves an adult, you may be able to assert the “consent” defense. The consent defense is straightforward and doesn’t require much explanation. Very simply, it means that you did indeed engage in sexual activity with another adult but each person was in agreement. If your sex crime charges involve an adult & you assert the consent defense, the evidence at trial must prove that consent was not given.
This is not true if your sex crime charges involve a minor. When the victim in a sex crime case is minor, the “consent” defense is not available. It is irrelevant whether or not the minor consented to the sexual activity. Even if you have a ton of evidence showing that the minor was in full agreement to engage in sexual activity with you, this evidence never makes it to trial.
A sex crime with a minor is commonly referred to as statutory rape. More on this subject later on.
Adult Sex Crime
A sex crime involving an adult is an indictable offense. These charges cases carry mandatory minimum prison sentences. Prosecutors across New Jersey consider these crimes to be heinous & aggressively pursue maximum punishment.
An example of a heinous sex crime is aggravated sexual assault. This is the term we use in New Jersey for rape. However, this type of sex crime includes serious bodily injury to the victim. For example, during the commission of the sex crime, the victim struggled and suffered a broken nose or black eye.
You may be charged with a single sex crime charge or multiple charges.
Your criminal charges could fall under any of the following:
- Criminal Sexual Contact – involves the unwanted sexual touching of genitalia or other personal areas by the accused.
- Sexual Assault – occurs when you force another to engage in “vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio or anal intercourse” or to be subject to the vaginal or anal “insertion of a hand, finger or another object”.
- Aggravated Sexual Assault – this is a sexual assault (above) involving many factors. This page provides a detailed explanation.
- Internet Sex Crime – These charges include the solicitation for sexual acts with minors, producing, trading, or selling child pornography.
- Lewdness – “lewd acts” include exposing the genitals for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person.
Statutory Rape - Sex crime with a minor
Statutory rape cases involve sexual conduct between an adult & a minor. Even if the minor consents, the “consent defense” is not available. Under NJ law, a 15-year old is considered to not be capable of consenting to sexual activity.
You will be charged with statutory rape under any of the following:
- Criminal Sexual Contact – Sexual contact between a minor 13 to 16 years of age with an individual who is at least four years older.
- Sexual Assault – Sexual contact between someone younger than 13 years of age and an individual at least four years older, or sexual penetration of a minor between 13 and 16 years of age by an individual who is at least four years older.
- Aggravated Sexual Assault – Sexual penetration of someone younger than 13, regardless of the other individual’s age.
sex crime Consequences
A sex crime charge has the potential to devastate your life. These types of charges will land you and prison & leave you with a criminal record. To make matters worse, a sex crime allegation will cause “social abuse” when your name and mug shot get published online & local newspapers. Your circle of friends will judge you for being accused of a sex crime. Your community will perceive you as a sexual predator. If you ever needed to prepare for a fight, it is when you’re facing a sex crime charge.
As you will read below, a sex crime conviction carries not only a mandatory prison sentence, but the judge must impose certain penalties. As you will read below, a sex crime conviction carries not only a mandatory prison sentence, but the judge must impose certain penalties. Since society will consider you to be a sexual predator, New Jersey law requires that upon your conviction, you must register as a sex offender.
For example, a first-degree sex crime carries a ten-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Things get worse depending on the type of sex crime. If your charges involve a minor, then the NJ Megan’s law will apply & the judge will sentence you as a “sex offender”.
Under the No Early Release Act (NERA), you must serve 85% of your sentence. Upon release, the judge will impose Parole Supervision for Life.
Sex Crime Penalties in New Jersey
When facing a sex crime charge, you need to understand the penalties you face. If you’re facing a sex crime charge in New Jersey, you may not be offered a plea deal. Prosecutors are under no obligation to offer you any sort of plea deal. In fact, they could demand that you plead guilty to all charges and still receive the maximum prison term. The penalties range according to the NJ crime degree your facing.
Other States | New Jersey | Degree | Presumption of Incarceration | Prison Time |
Felony | Indictable Offense | First | Yes | 10 + years |
Felony | Indictable Offense | Second | Yes | 5 – 10 years |
Felony | Indictable Offense | Third | No | 3-5 years |
Felony | Indictable Offense | Fourth | No | Up to 18 months |
Sex Crime Defenses
Sex crime cases are “fact-sensitive”. This means that no two situations are alike. A tiny detail could mean the difference between your freedom and a twenty-year prison sentence. When you hire our sex crime lawyers, we know which facts have a “legal significance”. After understanding your side of the story & reviewing the evidence against you, we build a strategic defense for you.
Legal defenses to a sex crime charge include:
- Consent – Although this appears obvious, the facts of your case will determine whether “the agreement” to have sex was reasonable.
- Mistaken Identity – The alleged victim in your case has accused the “wrong person”.
- Alibi – You were nowhere near the scene of the crime & we can prove it.
- Scientific Evidence – DNA evidence cannot place you at the scene of the crime. Or, DNA evidence proves that another person was involved.
- Eyewitness Testimony – We locate witnesses who provide a contradictory account of what the victim alleged.
- Surveillance Evidence – We locate video which proves that you did not commit a sex crime.
- Plea Bargaining – Although this is not a legal defense, it is an important tool to reach an excellent result in your sex crime case.
- Downgrading – This involves reaching an agreement with the prosecutor where you plead guilty to a lower crime degree for the purpose of serving less prison time.
Your legal defense will vary depending on the facts of your case. In some instances, you may only have one defense available while in other situations we use a combination.
Do I need a Sex Crime Lawyer?
As you have read, a sex crime charge carries serious consequences. If you have been charged or are under investigation for a sex crime, we have a few pieces of advice.
There are 3 important things you must do when charged with a sex crime:
- Remain silent – Do not speak with law enforcement. Do not “try to explain” your side of the story. Doing this never helps. If anything, it makes your case weak. A simple comment or statement can become a your “confession” and this cannot be undone.
- Do Not Consent To A Search – You have a 4th Amendment right against unreasonable searches & seizures. This includes your person, your vehicle, and your home. If you consent to a search and the police find damaging evidence against you, the prosecutor can use this evidence at trial.
- Hire an NJ Sex Crime Lawyer – Do not try to represent yourself. You face a lengthy prison sentence. This is not the time to save money with a DIY approach.
Our Experience
You or a loved one have been arrested. Understandably, you are terrified & have a lot of questions. You’ve heard about plea bargains & probation, but the process is overwhelming. You want a local attorney near you to represent you.
Mr. Peyrouton is from Ridgewood & handles all types of criminal matters in New Jersey complex as well as nearby cities. The New Jersey Law Journal recently published one of his articles on the subject of criminal law.
How We Can Help
Regardless of the criminal charges you are facing, we are here to defend & protect you. Whether you are facing a restraining order, drug charge, theft charge, or aggravated assault charge, we are here to help you. Even a DWI case can really complicate your life.
If we can’t get your charges dismissed, we can either get them downgraded or place you in a diversionary program. The point is, our criminal defense lawyers will fight tirelessly to get you the best result possible. Take advantage of our free consultation to see how we can help.
Our Practice Areas:
Below, you will find a few of our practice areas.
Areas We Serve
Our Hackensack criminal lawyers represent clients in Bergen County & nearby counties & cities.
Get Help With Your Case
How Do Your Free Consultations Work?
There are plenty of excellent Hackensack criminal lawyers in our area. Most, if not all of them, offer free, 20-minute, consultations. However, our free consultations do not have a time limit. You will never feel rushed.
The best way for us to help you is to patiently listen to your side of the story. Your version of events will serve as the basis for your legal defense. It is during these initial meetings that your memory of the event is fresh in your mind. Why we would rush you during such an important aspect of your case.
We understand that your choice of attorney could mean the difference between your freedom and spending years behind bars.
When you hire an attorney, you are entering a long-term relationship. For this reason, it is important that you feel comfortable with the team of Hackensack criminal lawyers that will represent you.
What our clients say about us:
Thomas W
03:21 20 Dec 20
My brother-in-law's friend was arrested for a disorderly person's offense. It sounds minor, but in some states other than NJ it is known as a misdemeanor. Often this type of offense is resolved as a municipal ordinance violation, a civil matter. The defendant still must pay a substantial fine, but the criminal charge is dismissed and the defendant has no criminal record. And the municipality gets their money. But in this case Alan Peyrouton had the case dismissed. My brother-in-law's friend had no criminal record, and paid no fine ! There is no better resolution of a case for a criminal defendant than to have a case dismissed. I would recommend Alan to anyone facing any criminal charge in NJ. And so would my brother-in-law and his friend.
Adam Massa
20:04 07 Dec 20
I rarely submit reviews but this law firm deserves 5 stars!Samera & Alan were phenomenal! They are the perfect team to help when you're desperate because they listen and care and explain things patiently and clearly.I called 4 lawyers before I found Peyrouton Law and all 4 lawyers were rude and in a rush.From day one I got VIP treatment and they charged me less than all the other lawyers wanted to charge me. Alan got my case dismissed and is the most humble lawyer I ever met.Samera is an angel and I am very grateful for all of their assistance.I strongly recommend this law firm.
Osi Nwankwo
20:38 04 Dec 20
Very trust worthy firm. The perfect place for legal advice!
Dylan Wazz
00:50 01 Dec 20
If you’re looking for a lawyer and are reading this review, then you can stop your search right here because Alan is without a doubt the best lawyer on the market. His secretary Samera was such a genuine person and you can tell they both actually care about their clients and take each and every case like it was one of their family members cases. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Absolutely a great law firm and I will be recommending them to anyone who digs themself into a sticky situation as I did. We’re all human and they most certainly bring that to life in court and make the prosecutor and judge see that. Thank you for all you guys did I greatly appreciate it!
T Shum
00:20 24 Nov 20
Judy Lawrence
00:59 20 Nov 20
My name is Ms. Judy Lawrence, and I am so excited about posting my opinion of Peyroutin Law; a law firm that is owned and operated by the two most persevering people in my opinion; Mr. Alan and Ms. Cerva. With all the intricate things they have to do to get ready for court, they always received me with smiles in their voice.I was faced with my first criminal case, and my sons told me they had, in their opinion, the perfect law firm. I was sceptical, because everything was done over the phone and email, do to the Pandemic, and I needed that personal touch.I must tell you, I never felt so confident about being in such a bad situation. Ms. Cerva took the time to read my emails and respond promptly; she always kept me informed every step of the way. Its hard for me to trust anyone with such a delicate situation, that I wasn't able to meet in person. Ms.Cerva (Paralegal) took the time to speak to me on the phone when I became anxious. I felt a closeness to her.To make a long story short, because I am a writer, and I can speak volumes about how when I spoke to the Lawyer, Mr. Alan, a feeling of calm and blessed assurance came over me. He told me what to expect, he asked me what I wanted, he treated me as if he knew the very essence of who I was, and he handle himself with such professional and knowledge.Its funny because, when everything was over and done, and I received a very favorable outcome, I kind of missed them. I don't ever want to have to face such a uncomfortable situation like that again. But if I do, God forbid, I have Mr. Alan and Ms. Cerva backing me up.Thank you
Jakeline Jaramillo
17:17 03 Nov 20
Mi experiencia fue muy buena. Debo resaltar un trato muy personalizado y sobre todo la calidad profesional y humana. Se ha planteado el caso y su defensa de la manera más oportuna y efectiva. Agradezco mucho su ayuda para resolverlo de manera exitosa
San Loore kailey Saint jean
17:24 29 Oct 20
orphise saintjean
15:03 29 Oct 20
DAVID ALEJANDRO ROSERO JARAMILLO
14:02 29 Oct 20
Obtuvo el mejor resultado para mi caso, muy recomendado!