Sex Crimes Defense Attorney In Shreveport & Bossier City

Few charges carry the weight of a sex crime accusation. Even before a case reaches a courtroom, the allegation alone can cost you your job, your reputation, and your standing in the community. And if the case ends in a conviction, the consequences do not stop when a sentence is served — mandatory sex offender registration can follow you for 15 years, 25 years, or the rest of your life. This is not a charge to face alone, and not one to face with a lawyer who does not handle these cases regularly.

I have defended serious sex crime charges, including Possession of Child Pornography, serious felony charges, including sex offenses, throughout Shreveport, Bossier City, and Northwest Louisiana for more than 30 years. I know how these cases are investigated, how prosecutors build them, and where the evidence is often weaker than it first appears. If you are under investigation or have already been arrested, do not speak to detectives, do not try to explain your side, and do not consent to any search before contacting me.

Sex Crime Charges I Defend In Louisiana

Louisiana law covers a wide range of sex offenses, with penalties that escalate sharply based on the alleged conduct and the age of the accuser. I defend clients facing:

• Sexual battery and second degree sexual battery
• Rape charges — first, second, and third degree
• Molestation of a juvenile
• Indecent behavior with juveniles
• Pornography involving juveniles — possession and distribution
• Computer-aided solicitation of a minor — internet sting cases
• Video voyeurism — unlawful recording allegations
• Failure to register as a sex offender

Most of these are charged as felonies, and nearly all trigger Louisiana’s sex offender registration requirements upon conviction.

Penalties For Sex Crimes In Louisiana

Sentencing depends on the specific offense, the age of the accuser, and any prior record, but the exposure is among the most severe in Louisiana law:

• Substantial prison time — many offenses carry mandatory minimums measured in years or decades
• Heavy fines and court costs
• Mandatory sex offender registration for 15 years, 25 years, or life
• Community notification — public disclosure of your name, photo, and address
• Residency and employment restrictions
• Loss of professional licenses may often be

Registration is often the consequence that reshapes a client’s life the most. Louisiana sorts registrable offenses into three tiers: Tier 1 requires 15 years with annual renewal, Tier 2 requires 25 years with semiannual renewal for offenses against a minor, and Tier 3 requires lifetime registration with quarterly renewal for aggravated offenses. A limited path exists to reduce a 15-year obligation to 10 years with a clean record and approved treatment, but relief is never automatic. Because the tier often turns on how a charge is classified, the way your case is handled from the start can determine whether you register for a decade or for life — competent and quick representation is so critical.

Why You Must Act Before Speaking To Investigators

Sex crime cases are often built during the investigation — before an arrest is ever made. Detectives may ask you to “come in and clear things up,” arrange a recorded call with the accuser, or request access to your phone. These are evidence-gathering tactics, and anything you say or hand over can become the foundation of the case against you. You are not required to answer questions without a lawyer, and you should not. If law enforcement contacts you about a sex offense allegation, invoke your right to counsel and call me before you say anything. The earlier I am involved, the more I can do — sometimes before charges are ever filed.

How I Defend Sex Crime Cases

These cases are rarely as one-sided as the initial allegation suggests. Accusations can be false or exaggerated, forensic evidence can be mishandled, and constitutional violations during the investigation can render key evidence inadmissible. Defense strategies I pursue include:

• Constitutional challenges — suppressing evidence from an unlawful search, seizure, or un-Mirandized statement
• False or exaggerated allegations — exposing motives such as custody disputes or revenge
• Unreliable forensic evidence — challenging DNA handling and chain of custody
• Improper interview techniques — suggestive questioning of accusers and witnesses
• Mistaken identity
• Insufficient evidence — holding the State to its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt

I review the entire investigation, from the first report to the last piece of forensic evidence, to find every weakness and every available defense.

Your Future Deserves a Powerful Defense

Speak With Us Today 318-990-1089

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Serving Shreveport, Bossier City, And Northwest Louisiana

I defend clients facing sex crime charges throughout Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Lincoln Parish, Webster Parish, Jackson Parish, Vernon Parish, and Natchitoches Parish. If you are under investigation, the time to build your defense is now — not after charges are filed.

Contact A.J. Hodges, IV About Your Sex Crime Charge

Call 318-990-1089 to reach my Shreveport office. You can also contact me online. Do not speak to investigators before speaking with me — your freedom and your future depend on it.