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Indecent Exposure Lawyer in Tampa, Florida

I WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Effective Defense from an AV Preeminent* Rated Former Prosecutor with more than 25 Years of Experience

Indecent Exposure Lawyer in Tampa, Florida

I WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Effective Defense from an AV Preeminent* Rated Former Prosecutor with more than 25 Years of Experience

Sometimes a seemingly innocent act can lead a person to unexpected consequences. This is occasionally the case with indecent exposure charges.

If you are accused of behaving in a vulgar or indecent manner, the impact may include steep fines, incarceration, strained relationships, and damage to your reputation within the community. With the help of an experienced indecent exposure Florida attorney, you can potentially combat unfounded charges and avoid the outcome.

FLORIDA INDECENT EXPOSURE LAWS

Section 800.03 of Florida statutes addressing the elements of indecent exposure:

  • The accused exposed their sexual organs.
  • The exposure occurred in a public place or on or near another person’s private property where they could see the act.
  • The accused’s intention was an offensive, crude, lewd, or lascivious exhibition.
  • The accused enacted the exposure in an indecent, vulgar, lewd, or lascivious manner.

Without evidence supporting one or more of these elements, an indecent exposure Florida attorney can build a strong defense against the charges.

WHAT AN INDECENT EXPOSURE LAWYER CAN DO FOR YOU

Regardless of the situation surrounding your indecent exposure charge, you will need an attorney to guide you through the legal process and help you protect your rights, particularly the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. In an indecent exposure case, the burden to prove the exposure, the intent to gratify sexual desire, and disregard for others falls on the prosecution.

A good defense team will build a strategy to establish reasonable doubt. Some specific reasons you may need an attorney for an indecent exposure charge include:

  • Felony charges: Most cases involve misdemeanors. If you face felony charges, the stakes are substantially higher if convicted, including possible prison or jail time and sex offender registration.
  • Lesser punishment: If the prosecutor offers a plea bargain, you need an attorney to advise on whether you should take it or fight the charges.
  • Invalid charges: If your actions meet indecent exposure qualifications, you want an attorney to help you prove it.

The advantage of having an indecent exposure Florida lawyer is that they have experience in similar situations that can inform their strategy for your case.

SITUATIONS THAT MAY LEAD TO INDECENT EXPOSURE CHARGES 

Many circumstances can lead to indecent exposure charges. Sadly, some may result in intense legal battles to prove innocence. Some common examples of situations where these charges may arise include: 

  • Sunbathing in the nude 
  • Engaging in sexual activity in public 
  • Flashing or streaking in public 
  • Exposing sexual organs to a minor 
  • Skinny dipping 

In extreme cases, wearing extremely revealing clothing can be considered indecent exposure and result in charges. Consider some common questions about indecent exposure charges and how they may apply to your lawsuit. 

INDECENT EXPOSURE INVOLVING A MINOR

Compared with other sex offenses, indecent exposure is typically considered a less severe offense. However, when minors are involved, the consequences become far more serious. In the state of Florida, adults convicted of indecent exposure in the presence of a minor can potentially face: 

  • Up to 15 years in prison
  • Fines of up to $10,000
  • A felony record that limits your job & housing opportunities 

In addition to these penalties, conviction may require you to register as a sex offender, potentially for life. 

POSSIBLE DEFENSES IF YOU ARE CHARGED WITH INDECENT EXPOSURE IN FLORIDA 

During your initial phone case, the attorney will discuss the key elements of the case. Then they will schedule your office appointment, where you can divulge details about the incident, the nature of your intent, and other facts about the case. They will explain the charges, the potential punishments you could face, and the strategy they may employ to combat them. 

Common defenses for an indecent exposure charge in Florida include the following: 

  • Lack of intent: Unintentionally exposing your sex organs does not warrant indecent exposure. For example, hiding behind something in public to deal with a broken zipper does not display an intent of vulgarity, sexual contact, or lewdness. 
  • Unawareness of the presence of other people: Whether you exposed intimate parts in your home or in public, your attorney could argue you did not know others could see you under certain circumstances. This is a reliable argument when no one was reasonably likely to see you. 
  • Mental illness: Mental disabilities and diseases are common and can lead people to act in ways they otherwise would not. Sometimes people suffering from mental challenges are unaware of how their actions may impact others. 
  • Lack of exposure: A valid indecent exposure charge requires nudity. Wearing revealing clothing or showing your undergarments in public does not warrant even a misdemeanor, and your attorney can argue that you never exposed yourself. 
  • Intoxication: If you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the exposure occurred, your attorney may argue that you were not completely aware of your actions when the incident occurred. 

Using the intoxication defense may not entirely absolve you of all criminal penalties either.  

However, your attorney could use it to mitigate the damages and reduce the punishment. It all depends on the situation surrounding the incident. Therefore, being forthcoming with the details during your attorney meeting is crucial to avoid long-lasting consequences. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Public Urination an Indecent Exposure Offense? 

In Florida, the prosecution may charge you for urinating in public, but they will likely not have the evidence to convict you. A critical element of proving indecent exposure is the existence of prurient or sexual overtones to the act. Urinating is not inherently a sexual act and is typically not intended to be a lewd or lascivious exhibition. Often, police who arrest and charge people with indecent exposure for this reason simply do not understand the law. 

Can the Police Arrest You for Indecent Exposure if You Did Not Know Someone Could See You? 

An intent to sexually arouse or receive sexual gratification by exposing sexual organs must exist. The police may arrest you, but you would likely not face conviction or penalties for indecent exposure if you did not know anyone could see you. 

For example, if walking around nude in the apartment of a high-rise building with no other facilities at the same level, you likely would not expect anyone to see you. However, if the police arrested you because someone saw, an indecent exposure Florida attorney would probably argue that you did not intend to harm anyone or behave in an indecent manner. 

DON’T TALK TO THE POLICE—SPEAK WITH AN INDECENT EXPOSURE LAWYER

With over 25 years of experience defending people with allegations of serious indecent acts or exposure, there is little the team at Mike G Law has not seen. During your initial appointment, we discuss the facts about your case, possible charges, and a strategy for approaching the claims. To speak with an indecent exposure Florida lawyer about the details of your case, contact Mike G Law today. 

Let Mike G Help Protect Your Rights

The decisions you make after you have been arrested can determine the outcome of your case — and possibly your life. Call Mike G Law at 813-221-4303, or contact me online.

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I would do more than 5 stars if it was available. Mr. Gonzalez was outstanding. Told everything how it was, very responsive to call and email. Fought very hard to get my husband the outcome he received. If We were to ever need a attorney in Florida again, We would use him as many times as We needed. We highly recommend to anyone looking for an awesome attorney to go with Mike G Law!!! He gets to the point!!!

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Mike G. is a great attorney. Very professional, very punctual, easy to talk to. Thanks to him my case was dismissed charges dropped.

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