Which Sex Crimes Convictions Lead to the Sex Offender Registry?

If you get convicted of certain sex crimes in Texas, you will need to register as a sex offender. The sex offender registry includes the photo, name, address, place of employment, vehicle registration information, online identifiers, and the conviction information of around 90,000 Texans. Your information will be made public for your neighbors, friends, and employers to see. For this reason, it’s essential that you fight your sex crime charges before a conviction occurs.

At The Law Offices of Ned Barnett, we are ready to fight on your behalf. Whether you are the victim of false charges or overzealous prosecutors, we will aggressively advocate for a positive resolution to your case. If you have been charged with a sex crime, do not plead guilty until you have talked with an experienced Texas sex crimes lawyer about sex offender registration and how to avoid it.

To schedule a free and confidential consultation of your case, contact us today at (713) 222-6767.

Who Needs to Register?

Under Texas law, you need to register as a sex offender if you have a “reportable conviction or adjudication.” You must also register if you are already registered as a sex offender in another state, or you have been ordered to register as a condition of your parole or community supervision. According to Article 62.001(5) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a conviction or adjudication is reportable if it involves any of the following offenses:

• Continuous sexual abuse of a young child – Penal Code Section 21.02
• Indecency with a child – Penal Code Section 22.11
• Sexual assault – Penal Code Section 22.011
• Aggravated sexual assault – Penal Code Section 22.021
• Bestiality – Penal Code Section 21.09
• Prohibited sexual conduct – Penal Code Section 25.02
• Compelling prostitution – Penal Code Section 43.05
• Sexual performance by a child – Penal Code Section 43.25
• Possession of child pornography – Penal Code Section 43.26
• Prostitution involving a minor – Penal Code Section 43.02(c-1)(3)
• Aggravated kidnapping with intent to sexually abuse – Penal Code Section 20.04(a)(4)
• Burglary with intent to commit sexual assault – Penal Code Section 30.02(d)
• Unlawful restraint of child – Penal Code Section 20.02
• Kidnapping of a child – Penal Code Section 20.03
• Aggravated kidnapping of a child – Penal Code Section 20.04
• Trafficking of persons – Penal Code Sections 20.02 and 20A.03
• Any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above offenses
• Second conviction for indecent exposure – Penal Code Section 21.08
• Online solicitation of a minor – Penal Code Section 33.021

Additionally, you may have to register as a sex offender if you were convicted of breaking sex crime laws in other jurisdictions, if those statutes are substantially similar to those of Texas. For example, if you were convicted of sexual assault by a military tribunal, or if you collected two indecent exposure convictions in Oklahoma, you will need to register as a sex offender in Texas.

Once you have been convicted of a reportable offense, you must register with your local law enforcement or sheriff’s office, and update your information periodically. Many people are tempted to not report, or to provide false information. But if you get found out, you could face felony charges for failing to register as a sex offender.

Do You Have Questions About the TX Sex Offender Registry? Contact Us Today

If you have been charged with a sex crime, the next few weeks will be extremely challenging. The prosecutor has likely asked you to enter a guilty plea, and might have even offered you a reduced sentence in exchange. What they’re not telling you, however, is that you may face decades – if not a lifetime – of humiliation and severely reduced employment opportunities as a result of your conviction and subsequent registration as a sex offender. If you want to avoid these and other collateral consequences of a sex crime conviction, call The Law Offices of Ned Barnett at (713) 222-6767, or reach out online to learn about the possible defenses to your case.