Texas Sex Offense Accusations Can Be Defended

January 26, 2013

Texas law enforcement officials are proud of their accomplishments in apprehending offenders in the Texas 10 Most Wanted program, including people suspected of sex offenses. The Texas Department of Public Safety recently announced that new records were set for this program during 2012.

A record year

People who are wanted in Texas for an offense in any of several categories can be included in the Texas 10 Most Wanted. Records were set in 2012 for the total number of suspects who were apprehended, gang members apprehended and suspected sex offenders apprehended.

A record was also set for rewards paid by the Texas Crime Stoppers Program, $93,000 for tips that have resulted in an arrest.

As of December 2012, law enforcement agencies had arrested 30 people during the year who have appeared on a Texas 10 Most Wanted list, including 20 gang members.

The director of the DPS praised agencies at federal, state and local levels for working together aggressively to catch Most Wanted suspects. He also gave credit to members of the public who assisted by providing tips.

In 2010 the 10 Most Wanted program experienced a resurgence in effectiveness after being revamped, with more success in arrests and awards paid than the program had had in the previous three years combined.

A recent 10 Most Wanted capture

In early December 2012 a man who had been listed as a sex offender on the 10 Most Wanted list was captured in South Austin. The 67-year-old man was found and taken into custody by members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force without incident, around the middle of the day.

The man who was arrested had been sought in the area for several days. Dallas police had notified the task force of his approximate whereabouts.

He had been placed on the Texas 10 Most Wanted list in November 2012 after he failed to follow through on registering as a sex offender, as required under Texas law. He had been charged before with the sex offenses of indecency with a child and indecent exposure, along with burglary of a residence. Law enforcement officials believed that he was armed and dangerous and that he was likely to re-offend.

Although he had completed serving time in state prison in 2010, he was required to register as a sex offender whenever he changed residence. He did not register after moving to Fort Worth, and that triggered arrest warrants for him.

For others who are suspected of sex crimes

Anyone who is charged with a sex crime in Texas needs a capable defense attorney. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. It is best not to try to run away from law enforcement, as that behavior does not help support the accused person's claim of innocence.

Being arrested for a sex crime in Texas can be a confusing experience. The accused person may be certain there was no crime, because the incident involved consenting adults. However, the other party may claim there was not consent, perhaps because of alcohol or drugs. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can investigate and determine the best approach to defending against such accusations.

Article provided by Joe D. Gonzales Law Office
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