A Broward County school employee has been charged with exposing himself to a minor. The specific charges are indecent exposure, which is a misdemeanor, and lewd and lascivious exhibition, a second-degree felony.
The alleged victim in this case is a young child.
Sex offenses committed against children are some of the worst crimes that you can be charged with. The stigma associated with the charges may remain with you forever, even if the charges are dismissed. You face prison time and mandatory registration as a sexual offender.
Sex crimes, however, can be defensible depending on the evidence. A case involving no physical evidence, such as an allegation of indecent exposure or exhibition, is easier to defend than a case involving a substantial amount of physical evidence.
Exhibition requires proof of intent. Accidental exposure (no intent to expose yourself) is not a felony.
Eric Matheny is a Miami sex crimes attorney and Broward sex crimes attorney.