When Does a Sex Crime Become a Federal Offense?

Posted By The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 26-Jul-2014

Often, sex crimes are charged as offenses under state law. Examples of these types of crimes include sexual assault, molestation of a child, sexual conduct with a child, sexual assault of a spouse, failure to register as a sex offender, incest, and lewd and lascivious acts. However, sometimes a prosecutor may charge a suspected sex crimes offender under federal law. The sex crimes that may fall under federal jurisdiction are spelled out in Title 18 of the United States Code.

Sex crimes typically become a federal offense when the suspected offender crosses state lines or international borders for the purpose of committing or while committing a sex crime. Federal law applies to offenses committed in federal prison and inside the territorial jurisdiction of the country. It also applies to the transmission of indecent materials over the Internet. Some examples of federal sexual offenses can include transporting an individual over state lines for the purpose of prostitution, buying or selling children, transmitting material that depicts the sexual exploitation of children, and travelling across state lines for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a child.

Jeffrey C. Grass is a criminal defense attorney who has defended individuals in the Plano and Dallas areas for almost 20 years. If you’ve been charged with a sex crime, contact the Law Offices Of Jeffrey C. Grass at .