Have you been accused of or arrested for indecent exposure? This sex crime is generally considered one of the lesser sexual offenses that you may be accused of committing, but it may still have serious consequences for you in Henrico. Indecent exposure is defined as intentionally making an obscene display of oneself or one’s private parts in public. Breastfeeding in public is not deemed indecent exposure. If convicted of indecent exposure, you can be sentenced to up to 12 months in jail, as well as be required to pay a fine of up to $2,500. Intentionally exposing private body parts to a child under the age of 15 may result in enhanced penalties. Also, keep in mind that if convicted of indecent exposure, you will be required to register with the state’s sex offender registry. This can have important implications for your future employment, housing, and a number of other issues.
Main Provisions Of Virginia’s Indecent Exposure Laws:
Any person who, while in any public place where others are present, intending that he be seen by others, intentionally and obscenely as defined in § 18.2-372, engages in actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Henrico Virginia section code § 18.2-372 has following provisions and penalties:
- What is Prohibited: Intentionally exposing your private parts in a public space or place where other people are present is considered to be indecent exposure in Virginia. Sexual acts between two consenting adults and masturbation can be classified as indecent exposure.
- Penalties:
- Intentionally exposing your private parts can count as a misdemeanor offense carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
- Mandatory registration on Virginia’s Sex Offender List.
- Enhanced Penalties: Intentionally exposing your private parts to a child under 15, or proposition of that child to expose his or her private parts is considered a felony and can lead to fines as well as up to 10 years in prison
- Exceptions: Breastfeeding in public is not considered as indecent exposure according to the Henrico Virginia indecent exposure laws.
If you are facing indecent exposure charges, you may want to consult or retain a Virginia criminal defense attorney familiar with the laws and ordinances relevant to your specific case. Working with a Henrico criminal defense lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take if you have been accused of indecent exposure or any type of sex crime. Your future, freedom, and reputation may be on the line, and acting quickly to secure legal counsel may make a big difference. To prove indecent exposure, the prosecuting attorney must prove that you acted intentionally to expose yourself. Accidentally exposing oneself should therefore not be considered indecent exposure, and your lawyer may be able to use this to your advantage when challenging your charges. Another factor to consider when building a defense against indecent exposure allegations in the Henrico area is the fact that circumstantial evidence or witness testimony may be the only tools the government will have to use against you in an attempt to secure a conviction. A competent attorney may be able to show the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case to ensure guilt cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, thus enabling you to avoid a conviction altogether.