The water is extremely muddy when it comes to sex crimes in Adams, Denver, and Douglas County. For example, an actress just wrote a memoir in which she admits to sexually abusing her younger sister. She considers the curious experimentation harmless, but many people are in an uproar. Let's take a look at the memoir and the accusations that she is a sexual predator in order to see if she could be charged with a crime.

Memoirs of Sexual Abuse? Actress's New Book

In a woman's new memoir, she discusses some of her curious behavior she tried with her sister. She says her “curiosity got the best of” her. She relates how she would bribe her little sister into letting her kiss her on the lips, masturbating in the bed next to her, and ultimately touching a private area out of curiosity. She even refers to herself as a sexual predator, saying she did anything a “sexual predator might do to woo a small suburban girl.”

Outcry Over the Admission of Abuse: Are Her Actions a Crime?

There has been a lot of indignation over her admission of abusing her younger sister. Her response has been confusing. She is angry at people's response, and outraged that people are calling her a sexual predator. But, were her actions really a crime? As criminal defense attorneys with years of experience in Arapahoe, Jefferson, and El Paso County, we work with hundreds of clients charged with sex crimes each year. Let's take a look at the Sexual Assault on a Child statute in order to determine if Lena's actions could be considered a crime:

“Any actor who knowingly subjects another…to any sexual contact commits sexual assault on a child if the victim is less than fifteen years of age and the actor is at least four years older than the victim.”

The definition of “sexual contact” is:

“The knowing touching of the victim's intimate parts by the actor…or the knowing touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the victim's…intimate parts if that sexual contact is for the purposes of sexual arousal., gratification, or abuse.”

It's important to understand that a person under the age of 10 years old cannot be charged with a crime in the state of Colorado. Because she was 7 at the time she says this experimentation took place, we can safely say she wouldn't have faced criminal charges. But, as you can see, touching the private parts of a child for the purpose of sexual gratification is a serious crime. If she had been older, she most certainly would have faced criminal charges for her actions. She herself admits she was doing all the things a sexual predator would do. Why then, is she outraged over the accusations?

Why You Need a Lawyer for Sex Crime Charges

If you have received a ticket, summons, or criminal complaint for a sex offense in Colorado, you need to contact an understanding, hardworking criminal defense lawyer immediately. Even celebrities can't escape the public's outrage and disgust over sex crimes. You need an advocate in the courtroom who understands the way juries and judges think and can utilize this knowledge to plan the best defense possible in your case. Don't stand alone in the courtroom – work side by side a skilled trial attorney who will fight hard to get your case dismissed, get an acquittal, or work out a favorable plea deal. Here at Sawyer Legal Group, we fight to win.

Request a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex offense, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sawyer Legal Group for a free consultation at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.