When it comes to sex offenses, many people have a hard time stopping after committing one offense. Even after all the penalties involved, they may continue to engage in such crimes. It’s like an addiction.
One Washington man’s obsession with sex with minors has led to multiple arrests in the past two years. The Lummi Nation man appeared in court on November 3 after being arrested the day before for sexual abuse of a minor.
The man’s first sex offense occurred in 2015. He was convicted and was forced to register as a Level 1 sex offender. Despite being under court supervision, the man committed additional sexual crimes.
He was previously arrested on October 11 after being suspected of second- and third-degree rape as well as immoral communication with a minor. The man was held at the Federal Detention Center until his detention hearing.
Federal Law and Sex Abuse
Under 18 U.S. Code § 2243, sex abuse of a minor refers to an adult performing a sexual act with a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Sex abuse of a minor is against state and federal law. If a sex offense occurs inside a single state, then the offense is often handled by state law enforcement agencies. However, the offense is punishable under federal law if the offense involves multiple states or occurs on federal land (such as Indian territories, military bases or other government-owned land). It is punishable by fines and up to 15 years in prison.
It is possible that the man in this case could be punished under federal, depending on where the sexual abuse took place. Lummi Nation is an Indian reservation in Washington, so if the child was abused there, federal laws would be in effect.
Get Help for Your Criminal Case
Sex offenses involving children are punished very harshly. They often result in both state and federal charges and punishments. The penalties can be even more extreme if the person is already a registered sex offender.
Being charged with a sex offense can seem like a dire situation, but with the criminal defense lawyers at the Nahajski Firm on your side, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have nearly three decades of experience helping those accused of sex offenses and other felony charges. To see how we can help you, schedule a free consultation by contacting the Nahajski Firm at (206) 621-0500.