Sex Crimes Defense in McKinney

Few accusations carry the same immediate, life-altering weight as a sex crime allegation. Even before charges are formally filed, sometimes before you even know an investigation has begun, your reputation, your relationships, your career, and your freedom can be at risk. If you or someone you love has been accused of a sex offense in McKinney or anywhere in Collin County, the most important thing you can do right now is call an experienced sex crimes lawyer and say nothing to anyone else.

Kent Starr has practiced criminal defense in Collin County and across the DFW Metroplex for 30 years; sex crime defense is part of that practice. He works these cases from his McKinney office in the county seat, where most of them are heard. He understands the personal stakes, and he takes the presumption of innocence seriously: it is the reason the State has to prove its case, and he holds them to it.

Sex Crime Charges Under Texas Law, An Overview

Sex offenses in Texas are primarily governed by Chapter 21 (Sexual Offenses) and Chapter 22 (Assaultive Offenses) of the Texas Penal Code. The range of charges is broad, and the penalties are severe.

Indecency with a Child (Texas Penal Code §21.11) occurs when a person engages in sexual contact with a child younger than 17, or exposes their genitals to a child with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. Indecency by sexual contact is a second-degree felony; indecency by exposure with intent to arouse or gratify is a third-degree felony. A conviction requires sex offender registration.

Sexual Assault (Texas Penal Code §22.011) includes any intentional or knowing sexual penetration without consent, as well as any sexual penetration of a person younger than 17 (regardless of consent). Sexual assault is a second-degree felony, carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Aggravated Sexual Assault (Texas Penal Code §22.021) elevates sexual assault to a first-degree felony when the victim is younger than 14, when serious bodily injury occurs, when a deadly weapon is used, when certain drugs are administered without consent, or when the victim is elderly or disabled. A conviction can mean 5 to 99 years or life in prison. The minimum sentence rises to 25 years when the victim is younger than 10, or when the victim is younger than 14 and the offense involved an aggravating factor such as serious bodily injury, a threat of death or serious harm, or a deadly weapon. Texas raised that first threshold from 6 to 10 in HB 1422, effective September 1, 2025; the under-6 rule still governs offenses from before that date.

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (Texas Penal Code §21.02) applies when two or more acts of sexual abuse occur over a period of 30 days or more against a child younger than 14. This offense is a first-degree felony with a punishment range of 25 to 99 years or life in prison. A person convicted of continuous sexual abuse is not eligible for parole and serves the sentence day for day.

Online solicitation of a minor (Texas Penal Code §33.021) covers electronic communication with a minor for sexual purposes. A third-degree felony for communicating sexually with someone you believe to be a minor; a second-degree felony if you solicit a minor to meet for sex.

Possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) (Texas Penal Code §43.26). Texas overhauled this law effective September 1, 2025. It now treats material depicting a real child and AI- or computer-generated child material as separate offenses. Possession ranges from a state jail felony up to a first-degree felony depending on the number of images, the age of the child depicted, prior convictions, and whether the material is of a real or a computer-generated child. Promotion is punished more harshly. A conviction requires sex offender registration.

Indecent exposure (Texas Penal Code §21.08) covers exposing the genitals or anus with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire, while reckless about whether another person is present who would be offended or alarmed. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. A prior conviction raises it to a Class A misdemeanor, and two prior convictions make it a state jail felony. A single conviction does not require sex offender registration; a second one does.

Failure to register as a sex offender (Code of Criminal Procedure §62.102) is a separate felony for a person already required to register who misses a verification, moves without reporting, or otherwise falls out of compliance. The degree tracks the underlying duty to register: a state jail felony for a ten-year registrant, a third-degree felony for a lifetime registrant who verifies once a year, and a second-degree felony for a lifetime registrant who must verify every 90 days.

Statutory sexual assault and the age of consent. The age of consent in Texas is 17. Sexual contact or penetration with a person younger than 17 can be charged as indecency with a child or sexual assault regardless of whether the younger person agreed, because the law treats a person under 17 as unable to give legal consent. Texas does recognize a limited affirmative defense, sometimes called the Romeo and Juliet defense, under Penal Code §22.011(e). It can apply when the accused was no more than three years older than the younger person, the younger person was at least 14, and the accused was not required to register for life and had no prior reportable conviction for a sex offense of this kind.

Sex Offender Registration in Texas

Texas runs its sex offender registration program under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Depending on the offense, the duty to register lasts either ten years after the sentence and any supervision end, or for life (Article 62.101). Registration imposes severe restrictions on where you can live, work, and travel. It requires annual, or more frequent, check-ins with local law enforcement. It is a public record, searchable by employers, landlords, and neighbors. For many clients, registration is the most devastating long-term consequence of a conviction, even more than the prison sentence itself.

The registration requirement attaches to the conviction, not just the charge. This is one reason why fighting the charge at every stage matters so deeply. If you are not convicted, you are not required to register.

Defense Strategies in Texas Sex Crime Cases

Sex crime cases are often built on testimony and digital evidence rather than physical forensic evidence. Kent Starr scrutinizes every element of the State’s case.

False or mistaken accusations. Sex crime allegations can be false or can result from misidentification, coercive interviewing of children, or motivated accusations in contentious divorce or custody disputes. Kent investigates the circumstances around how the allegation arose, who made it, and what relationship dynamics may have contributed.

Forensic interview challenges. When a child is the alleged victim, investigators conduct forensic interviews, usually at a child advocacy center. These interviews follow protocols designed to minimize suggestion and coercion. But they do not always work as intended. A forensic interview expert can identify leading questions, improper interview techniques, and contamination of the child’s account before it ever reaches a courtroom.

Digital evidence examination. Many sex crime allegations today involve digital evidence, text messages, social media, emails, photos, browser history, or device records. Digital evidence can be fabricated, altered, or misattributed. Kent works with forensic experts to analyze the metadata, authenticity, and chain of custody of any digital evidence the prosecution intends to use.

Consent. In adult sexual assault cases, the presence or absence of consent is often the central factual dispute. Kent investigates prior communications between the parties, the circumstances of the encounter, and whether the account given by the complainant is consistent with other evidence.

Statute of limitations and delay. Some sex crime allegations surface years or decades after the alleged conduct. Texas has extended or eliminated statutes of limitations for many sex offenses involving children. But delayed reporting does affect the quality and reliability of evidence, and those challenges are part of the defense.

These cases reward early, careful work and honest conversations with the client, even when the honest answer is hard to hear. That is how Kent handles them.

With 30 years in criminal defense and more than 15,000 cases across Texas, Kent brings broad trial experience to sex crime defense. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford and clerked for two Supreme Courts. His academic and appellate background means he approaches even factual battles with a lawyer’s eye for what will hold up, and what will not.

Free initial consultation. Payment plans and credit cards accepted. Every conversation is confidential, protected by the attorney-client privilege.

Courts & Counties We Serve for Sex Crime Cases

Kent Starr defends sex crime cases in courthouses throughout North Texas, including Collin County courts in McKinney and Plano, Dallas County courts, Tarrant County courts, and jurisdictions in Denton, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Johnson, and Parker Counties. He also handles federal sex crime cases in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, including federal child pornography charges.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sex Crimes in Texas

I have been contacted by a detective about an allegation. Should I talk to them?

No. You have the constitutional right to remain silent, and you should use it. A detective reaching out to “just talk” or “get your side of the story” is conducting an investigation. Anything you say can be used against you. Politely decline and call an attorney immediately. You are not required to provide a statement, answer questions, or agree to any interview.

What happens if I am placed on the sex offender registry?

Sex offender registration in Texas is a public record. It requires you to register with local law enforcement, limits where you can live (particularly near schools and parks), and must be updated whenever you move. Failure to register is itself a criminal offense. Some convictions require lifetime registration; others allow petition for removal after a waiting period. Kent discusses the registration implications of any plea or conviction honestly with every client.

Can sex crime charges be dismissed before trial?

Yes, charges are dismissed in sex crime cases when evidence is insufficient, when suppression motions succeed, when the complainant recants or is found to be not credible, or when investigation reveals the allegation was fabricated. Dismissal is not automatic and is not guaranteed by any attorney, but thorough pre-trial investigation and aggressive motion practice are the work that puts the question of dismissal honestly before the prosecutor and the court.

I was accused by a child. Can I still be acquitted?

Yes. Children can make false allegations, can be coached or influenced by adults in their lives, and can genuinely misperceive events. Texas juries understand this. Kent’s defense in child sex crime cases works through thorough pretrial investigation, work with expert witnesses where the facts warrant it, and rigorous cross-examination to test the State’s evidence. The presumption of innocence applies in every case.

What is the statute of limitations for sex crimes in Texas?

Texas has no statute of limitations for many sex crimes involving children. For sexual assault of an adult, the statute of limitations has also been extended in recent years. The elimination of filing deadlines means old allegations can surface at any time. An experienced attorney can still challenge these cases on the grounds of faded memories, missing witnesses, and degraded evidence, even if the conduct is legally timely.

The police took my phone or computer. What should I do?

Do not consent to any further searches, and do not try to delete anything; destroying potential evidence can become a separate charge. Ask for the property receipt, write down what was taken and by whom, and call a defense lawyer before answering any questions. Whether the seizure and the warrant were lawful often becomes the central battleground in these cases.

Can I get a bond on a sex crime charge in Collin County?

Most sex offense charges in Texas are bondable. Amounts run higher than for other felonies, and conditions commonly include no-contact orders and electronic monitoring. A magistrate sets the initial bond shortly after arrest. An attorney can ask the court to reduce the amount and to modify conditions that make work or family obligations impossible while the case is pending.

How We Serve Collin County for Sex Crime Cases

McKinney Sex Crime Defense

Kent represents sex crime clients from McKinney, and their Collin County cases are heard in the district courts in McKinney, the county seat.

Plano Sex Crime Defense

Kent represents sex crime clients from Plano; their Collin County cases are heard in the district courts in McKinney.

Frisco Sex Crime Defense

Kent represents sex crime clients from Frisco; their Collin County cases are heard in the district courts in McKinney, and cases arising in the Denton County portion of Frisco can be filed in Denton County.

Allen Sex Crime Defense

Kent represents sex crime clients from Allen, and their Collin County cases are heard in the district courts in McKinney.

Call Kent Starr Today, Free, Confidential Consultation

If you or someone you love is facing a sex crime allegation in McKinney, Plano, or anywhere in North Texas, every hour matters. Call (214) 982-1408 for a free, confidential consultation with Kent Starr. Kent will speak with you directly about your case. Se habla español. Nós falamos português.

Sex crime allegations from across Collin County are heard in the district courts in McKinney. The firm's Collin County criminal defense hub explains the county's courts and the path a felony case follows there.