If you have been charged with failure to register as a sex offender, then you may have a defense. Showing that you were unable to register because certain businesses were closed, or showing you received the wrong registration information from law enforcement are both defenses that are oftentimes successful when fighting failure to register cases. Even if you don’t think you have a defense, you should always speak to an attorney to make sure you have a full understanding of how the law applies specifically to your case. If you want to know more about how to show you were unable to register, or if you want to speak to a lawyer about how to beat your failure to register case in Florida, contact Matthew Williams now for a free consultation.
Failure to register as a sexual offender in Florida is defined under Florida Statute 943.0435. A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sexual offender when a sexual offender or predator knowingly fails to comply with Florida’s sexual offender or sexual predator registration requirements.
Failure to register as a sexual offender is a third-degree felony, meaning you can be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison, or up to 5 years on probation and up to $5,000 in fines (you can also be sentenced to a jail or prison sentence followed by probation but the total length of the sentence cannot exceed 5 years).
Criminal convictions, especially convictions for sex offenses, carry severe consequences and can never be removed from your criminal record. If you are convicted of a felony you will lose your right to vote, your right to own firearms, and your ability to maintain certain business licenses. You can also lose your ability to receive financial aid, your ability to live in certain places and your ability to obtain a passport.
If you need an attorney who will advise you, fight for your rights, and do everything possible to protect your future, or if someone you know has been charged with failure to register as a sexual offender in Florida, then contact Matthew Williams now for a free consultation.