St. Petersburg Sexual Assault Lawyers

Being accused of a crime like sexual assault is a nightmare. In a moment, something can turn your entire world upside down. You may feel shocked, scared, and completely alone. The police are asking questions, your friends and family may be looking at you differently, and you are terrified about what this means for your job, your reputation, and your freedom. An accusation alone can ruin a person’s life long before a case sees the inside of a courtroom.

We understand your fear and panic. At the Lopez Law Group, everyone has a right to a fair process and a powerful defense. You deserve to have your side of the story heard and your rights protected.

If you are facing a sexual assault allegation in St. Petersburg, you need a legal team that will stand in your corner and fight for you without judgment. As a trusted St. Petersburg sexual assault lawyer, the Lopez Law Group is committed to protecting your future. We are full-service law firm dedicated to providing strong, ethical, and effective criminal defense for people in our community. We know these are not just cases; they are people’s lives. Our mission is to be your advocate and guide through this incredibly difficult time.

We offer free and confidential consultations for all criminal defense cases because you deserve to understand your rights and options immediately. Call us at (727) 933-0015 to speak with a defense attorney who can help.

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St. Petersburg Eviction Guide

• Why Choose Lopez Law Group to Defend You Against Sexual Assault Allegations in St. Petersburg?
• What are the Penalties for Sexual Assault in Florida?
• How St. Petersburg Handles Sexual Assault Cases
• Building Your Defense: How We Fight the Allegations
• Steps to Take If You Face Sexual Assault Accusations
• Call A St. Petersburg Sexual Assault Attorney For Skilled Advocacy

Why Choose Lopez Law Group to Defend You Against Sexual Assault Allegations in St. Petersburg?

St. Petersburg Sexual Assault Attorney, Geoffery Pfeiffer

When your future is on the line, the St. Petersburg sex assault lawyer you choose is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. At Lopez Law Group, we are committed to our clients in a way that sets us apart. We are not here to judge you but to defend you. You deserve to have your side of the story heard and your rights protected. We take the time to listen to you, investigate every detail of the accusation, and build a legal strategy designed to protect you. We know the law can be complicated, so we explain everything in simple, easy-to-understand language. We want you to be an active partner in your defense.

Our criminal defense attorneys have years of experience successfully defending clients in the St. Petersburg and Pinellas County courts. We are not just familiar with the laws; we are familiar with the local system. We know the prosecutors, the judges, and the procedures they use. This local knowledge is a major advantage when we are fighting for you.

Our office is located at 700 7th Ave N, Suite A, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, just steps from the Pinellas County Justice Center, where your case will be heard. We are a part of this community and are dedicated to protecting the rights of its members.

What makes our firm truly different is our deep commitment to you. We know you sometimes need to reach your sexual assault defense attorney when facing a crisis. That is why our clients have our cell phone numbers. Questions and worries don’t keep a 9-to-5 schedule, nor do we. We make sure you stay fully informed about every detail of your case. When you hire the Lopez Law Group, you are not just getting a defense attorney; you are getting a dedicated team that will treat you with respect, fight tirelessly for your rights, and stand by your side every step of the way.

What are the Penalties for Sexual Assault in Florida?

You can’t overstate how serious a sexual assault charge is. A conviction can destroy your life and take away your freedom for a very long time. Florida punishes these crimes with some of the most severe penalties in the legal system. Understanding what you are up against is the first step in preparing to fight back.

If convicted, you can be facing:

• Long Prison Sentences: Depending on the specifics of the charge, a conviction for sexual battery can lead to decades in prison. For some charges, especially those involving a minor or the use of a weapon, the penalty can be life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• Mandatory Sex Offender Registration: A conviction will almost certainly require you to register as a sex offender. They will publish your name, photograph, and address on a public, searchable website for everyone to see. This registration can last for the rest of your life. It can prevent you from living in certain areas (for example, near schools or parks), creating a permanent stigma that can make it nearly impossible to live a normal life.
• Huge Fines and Fees: The court can order you to pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in fines and court costs.
• A Permanent Felony Record: A felony conviction on your record makes it extremely difficult to find a good job, get approved for a loan, rent a home, or even hold certain professional licenses.
• Strict Probation or Community Control: Even after release from prison, the court can place you on a very strict form of probation. This can include wearing a GPS ankle monitor, following a curfew, undergoing regular testing, and not being allowed to use a computer or the internet without permission.

These consequences are life-shattering. But an accusation is not a conviction. You have the right to a defense. With an experienced criminal defense lawyer fighting for you, it is possible to challenge the state’s case and work towards a better outcome, such as reducing charges, acquittal at trial, or even a full dismissal of the case.

How St. Petersburg Handles Sexual Assault Cases

In St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, authorities treat sexual assault accusations with the utmost seriousness. The St. Petersburg Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office have special divisions and trained detectives investigating these claims. Once the investigation concludes, the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit prosecutes cases in this area. These prosecutors are often highly aggressive and have the full resources of the government behind them.

Florida has very specific laws and procedures for handling these cases. There are sexual assault response teams in each county to make sure law enforcement, medical professionals, and victim advocates are all working together. Other laws outline how hospitals must handle the collection of forensic evidence from an accuser. From a defense perspective, closely examine whether these procedures follow the proper protocols. If the police or medical staff made a mistake, it can be a key part of your defense. You need a St. Petersburg sex assault lawyer who understands these local procedures inside and out.

Understanding Sexual Assault Charges in Florida

The term “sexual assault” is a general term. In Florida, the legal term for crimes like rape and sexual assault is “Sexual Battery.” For the state to convict you of sexual battery, a prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there was oral, anal, or genital penetration or union with a sexual organ of another person without that person’s consent.

The most important word in that definition is consent.

You must give consent freely and willingly. A person cannot give legal consent if they are:

• Forced or threatened.
• Mentally disabled or defective in a way that prevents them from understanding the situation.
• Unconscious, asleep, or physically cannot communicate, they do not want the act to happen.
• Drugged or intoxicated to the point where they cannot make a rational decision.

Many sexual assault cases come down to the question of whether or not there was consent. It is often a “he said, she said” situation with no other witnesses. This is where a skilled defense attorney becomes essential.

Charges can include:

• Sexual Battery: This is the main charge and is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
• Sexual Battery with a Weapon or by Multiple People: If a weapon was used or threatened, or if multiple people were involved in the act, the charge becomes a first-degree felony, which can carry a sentence of up to 30 years or even life in prison.
• Capital Sexual Battery: This is the most serious charge. It usually involves a victim who is under the age of 12 and is punishable by life in prison without parole or even the death penalty in some circumstances.

Building Your Defense: How We Fight the Allegations

When you hire the Lopez Law Group, we don’t accept the police report and the prosecutor’s story at face value. We launch our independent investigation into the facts. We aim to find the weaknesses in the state’s case and build the strongest possible defense for you. Every case is different, but some common defense strategies include:

• Challenging the Accuser’s Story: We will carefully examine every statement made by the accuser. Do their stories have holes? Have they changed their story over time? Are there text messages, emails, or eyewitnesses that tell a different story?
• Proving Consent: In many cases, the sexual encounter did happen, but it was completely consensual. We will work to find evidence that proves there was a willing relationship. This can include evidence of a prior relationship, text messages showing affection, or witness testimony about your interactions.
• False Allegations: It is a sad reality that people sometimes make false accusations out of anger, jealousy, or revenge during a bad breakup or custody battle. We can investigate the accuser’s background and motives to see if they have a reason to lie.
• Mistaken Identity: The accuser may have experienced assault, but they might have identified the wrong person. We can use alibis, cell phone records, and other evidence to prove you were elsewhere when the incident happened.
• Challenging the Physical Evidence: We can challenge how DNA and other forensic evidence were collected, handled, and tested. The evidence might not hold up if someone didn’t follow the proper procedures.
• Police Misconduct: We will look at every step the police took during their investigation. Did they have a proper warrant? Did they read you your rights? Did they pressure you into a confession? Violating your rights can cause the court to throw out evidence.

You should also know that an accuser’s conversations with a counselor at a rape crisis center are usually private. While this protects the accuser, it also means a defense lawyer needs to be skilled at finding other ways to get to the truth.

Steps to Take If You Face Sexual Assault Accusations

What you do in the first few hours and days after an accusation is critical. Your actions can either help or seriously hurt your case.

• Do Not Talk to the Police: This is the most important rule. Police officers focus on gathering information to build a case against you. Even if you are innocent and want to explain, your words can be twisted and used against you. Politely tell the police, “I am exercising my right to remain silent, and I want to speak with a lawyer.”
• Do Not Talk to the Accuser: Do not call, text, email, or try to contact the person who accused you in any way. Even if you just want to apologize for a misunderstanding or try to fix things, the prosecutor can use this against you and say you were trying to intimidate a witness.
• Stay Off Social Media: Do not post about the situation or the accuser online. Prosecutors and detectives will read your social media pages, looking for anything they can use as evidence.
• Preserve Any Evidence: Save any text messages, emails, photos, or receipts that can help prove your innocence. This can be evidence of a consensual relationship or proof that you were elsewhere at the time of the alleged incident.
• Call the Lopez Law Group Immediately: The sooner you have a lawyer, the better. We can immediately stop the police from questioning you, protect you from making mistakes, and start building your defense from day one.

An accusation of sexual assault can feel like the end of the world. But with the right legal team, it doesn’t have to be. You have the right to fight back; we are here to fight with you.

Call A St. Petersburg Sexual Assault Attorney For Skilled Advocacy

Your future is too important to leave to chance. Call the Lopez Law Group’s St. Petersburg criminal defense attorneys at (727) 933-0015 or complete our online form to schedule your free, private consultation. Let us be your defenders and your voice for justice.

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• Sexual Violence Injunction in Florida
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