Sex crimes, especially those involving children, are treated harshly everywhere. Tulsa, Oklahoma is no exception.
Because we are fearful for our children, sometimes law enforcement is quick to jump to conclusions regarding guilt in a sex crime.
If you or a loved one is facing charges for making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child in Tulsa, here are some things you may want to know.
Lewd or Indecent Proposal to a Child: What the Law Says
Oklahoma law prohibits lewd or indecent acts with children. If this sounds like a broadly written statute, it is meant to be exactly that. This catch-all statute is meant to enable the prosecution of sexual acts with children that are not covered elsewhere in the law.
Sex crimes against children including rape of a child under the age of 14 and child pornography are covered explicitly under specific statutes.
Other sex crimes against minors fall under making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child.
Here is what this law prohibits. You may not:
- Make any indecent or lewd proposal or solicitation of a child for any sexual purpose. This includes solicitation in person, by phone, or by any other electronic or other device. This also includes chatting online and texting.
- Look at, touch, or feel the private parts of a child under 16 years of age in any lewd manner. Sexual touching or contact is expressly forbidden.
- Ask or invite a child under 16 to any secluded, remote, or secret place, with the intent to commit any sexual crime against them.
- In any lascivious manner or for sexual gratification: urinate or defecate upon a child; ejaculate upon their person or in their presence; expose, force, or require a child to look at any part of another person’s body or any pornographic materials; make a child watch sexual acts; or compel a child to touch themselves or another in a sexual manner.
Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1123
Penalties are Serious
Making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child is a felony in Oklahoma. It is punishable by between 3 and 20 years in prison.
If the child involved is under 12 years old, the penalty is much more severe; you may be imprisoned at least 25 years.
If you are facing a third conviction under this statute, you could be imprisoned for life without parole.
In addition, any three convictions of this statute in combination with a child sexual abuse conviction will land you a life sentence without parole.
Finally, once you are released, you will be required to register as a sex offender for life with address verification every 90 days.
Initial Strategy Session: Tulsa Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or someone you know is accused of making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child in Oklahoma, please contact a Tulsa criminal defense attorney to discuss your available legal options.
Consult with an experienced Tulsa attorney today by calling 918-756-9600.
If you prefer, you can use the box in the upper right-hand corner of this page to send a question or brief message.