Bensenville, IL Sex Crime Attorneys

Lawyers Helping Clients Defend Against Sex Crime Convictions in Bensenville, Illinois

When a person has been accused of a sex crime, their entire life may be affected. They could lose their job, and their relationships with family and friends may be destroyed. The criminal charges they may face can be serious, and a conviction could lead to a long prison sentence and other harsh penalties. The collateral consequences, including sex offender registration, may continue to affect a person for years, potentially lasting for the rest of their life.

Sex offenses may involve allegations of sexual assault, prostitution, indecent exposure, and other serious charges. Understanding how to respond to these accusations and defend against a criminal conviction can be essential for people in these situations. At Ramsell & Kunowski, L.L.C., we can provide the legal representation needed when addressing sex crime charges. We can begin taking steps to protect our clients' rights from the moment they learn about an investigation for a sex crime, and we will work to resolve these matters while avoiding criminal convictions whenever possible.

Sexual Assault Charges

The offense of criminal sexual assault may apply in situations where a person allegedly had sexual intercourse with another person without consent. These charges may involve accusations of using force or taking other actions that violated consent. Sexual assault is a serious felony offense. Our attorneys can provide guidance on the best options for defense in these cases, including matters involving issues such as:

Sexual Assault Allegations Involving Incapacitation

A person may face charges of sexual assault in a situation where the other party involved in an encounter allegedly was incapable of giving consent. These cases may involve alcohol or drug use, and an alleged victim may claim that they were too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity. A person may also be accused of using a "date rape" drug or taking other actions to incapacitate an alleged victim. These cases will require a careful review of witness statements, toxicology reports, and any available digital evidence.

Charges of Sexual Assault Against a Minor

Children are considered to be incapable of consenting to sexual activity. A person who has allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a minor may face charges of sexual assault. These charges can be especially serious, and they may arise in situations where an adult held a position of trust, such as a coach or teacher. Our lawyers can help clients determine how to address these accusations and defend against charges involving child sexual assault or sexual abuse.

Attorney Spotlight

Attorney Spotlight

Donald Ramsell

Attorney Profile

Donald Ramsell is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney who has represented clients in more than 500 bench trials and 100 jury trials. He is the author of leading publications on DUI defense in Illinois, and he has defended more than 10,000 DUI cases. He has handled numerous appeals in Illinois, and he also argued a case before the United States Supreme Court.

• National College of DUI Defense, Sustaining Member
• Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, National Trial Lawyers
• Super Lawyers
• Elite Lawyer
• Leading Lawyers

Revenge Pornography Charges

When a person is accused of sharing private sexual images without the consent of the person depicted in the images, they could face criminal charges for revenge pornography. Even if a person originally consented to create an image or video, a person could be accused of a crime if they shared the materials with others without consent, such as by uploading explicit materials to a website. The charges in these cases may be based on accusations that a person intentionally shared images or videos with others with the purpose of causing emotional distress, financial harm, or other forms of harm to the alleged victim.

Indecent Exposure Charges

When a person is accused of engaging in sexual conduct in public or exposing their private parts to others for the purpose of sexual arousal, they may be charged with indecent exposure. Public nudity, sexual activities within view of others, or other situations involving indecent exposure could lead to criminal charges. The penalties a person may face may be more serious if an offense allegedly took place within view of a minor.

Prostitution and Solicitation Charges

When someone has been accused of performing or offering to engage in sexual acts in exchange for payment, they could be charged with prostitution. A person who has allegedly offered to pay a person for a sexual act may be charged with solicitation of prostitution. Both prostitution and solicitation are usually classified as misdemeanor offenses, although repeat offenses could lead to felony charges.

Solicitation charges are likely to be more serious if a person is accused of an offense involving a minor. Felony charges will typically apply in these cases. People who are accused of promoting prostitution can also face serious criminal charges, including high-level felony charges in cases involving minors.

Other Sex Crimes Involving Children

When sex crimes allegedly involve child victims, the penalties that people may face are likely to be severe. In addition to sexual assault, prostitution, or indecent exposure offenses, sex crimes against children may include:

Child Pornography

Photographs, videos, or other materials that depict children under the age of 18 engaging in sexual activity may be classified as child pornography. Because the creation of these materials involves the sexual exploitation of minors, child pornography is also known as child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Computer-generated images or videos that appear to depict actual, identifiable minors, including materials created through the use of AI or "deepfake" tools, may also be considered CSAM.

People who are accused of offenses related to child pornography can face harsh penalties. The possession of CSAM is a serious crime, and the specific charges may depend on the number of images or videos that a person possesses, including files downloaded to a computer or accessed online. More serious charges will apply if a person is accused of distributing CSAM by selling it to others, uploading it to websites, or otherwise making it available to other people. The most serious charges will involve the creation of CSAM by taking photographs or videos, since these offenses will consist of direct sexual abuse of children.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

In some cases, adults may be accused of communicating with children in chat rooms, on social media, or through other methods and attempting to engage in illegal sexual conduct. A person may be charged with online solicitation if they attempted to make arrangements to meet a child in person and engage in sexual activities or were involved in other types of sexual conduct, such as sharing explicit images or encouraging children to share sexual materials.

Charges of online solicitation may be based on claims that a person was communicating with someone they believed to be a minor and that they attempted to engage in illegal sexual activities. Even if the person was actually an adult, claims that the person thought the other party was a child can serve as the basis for criminal charges. In many cases, these charges are based on interactions with undercover police officers who pose as children in order to catch people who are suspected of child sex crimes.

Contact Our Bensenville Sex Crimes Lawyers

Whether sex crime charges involve sexual assault, prostitution, indecent exposure, crimes against children, or other offenses, a person will need to make sure they have a strong legal advocate on their side to help defend against a conviction. At Ramsell & Kunowski, L.L.C., we can provide the legal help needed in these situations, and we will work with clients to build defense strategies that will help them resolve these matters successfully. Contact our Bensenville, IL sex crimes defense attorneys at 847-465-8743 to discuss these types of charges in a free consultation.