Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in Kennewick, WA
If you have been accused of a sex crime, do not talk to the detective until you have talked to a lawyer.
You need a sex crimes defense attorney who will protect your rights from the first moment, not just after charges are filed. Our defense team serves Kennewick, Benton County, and the Tri-Cities, and defends sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse charges, among others.
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Sex Crime Charges and Penalties in Washington
Washington's criminal code groups many sex crimes in chapter 9A.44 RCW, titled "Sex offenses." Prosecutors most often charge rape (first, second, or third degree), rape or molestation of a child, or indecent liberties, and the chapter also covers offenses such as voyeurism and sexual misconduct with a minor. Each charge has its own elements the state must prove and its own penalties.
Penalties and Registration
A conviction carries these consequences:
- Prison time. Many of these offenses are felonies. Fines can reach $50,000 for class A felonies under RCW 9A.20.021, and for many serious sex offenses the court sets a minimum term with a maximum of up to life under RCW 9.94A.507.
- Sex offender registration. A conviction for a qualifying offense requires registration under RCW 9A.44.130.
- Long-term effects. A conviction can affect housing applications, employment background checks, professional licenses, and family relationships.
Registration lasts different lengths of time depending on the offense. Under RCW 9A.44.140, the duty to register continues indefinitely for a class A felony or for a person with a prior sex-offense conviction. For lower-level felonies, it generally ends after 10 or 15 years in the community without a new disqualifying conviction, and some people can petition a court for relief.
Separately, law enforcement assigns each registrant a risk level (I, II, or III) under RCW 4.24.550. That level controls how widely their information is shared, including on the public registry website, where Level II and Level III registrants are posted.
What Can Happen Before Charges Are Filed
Once an allegation is made, law enforcement may open an investigation before any charges are filed. An accusation alone can lead to police interviews, no-contact orders, and harm to your reputation before any evidence has been tested in court.
One of the most common mistakes at this stage is agreeing to talk with a detective. Investigators may present the conversation as routine or as a chance to "tell your side," but anything you say can be used in the state's case. Even statements you believe are helpful can be taken out of context.
A sex crimes defense attorney can step in at this stage, before any statement is made. For most clients, avoiding a registerable conviction is the central goal from the start, and Gideon's Associates builds the defense with that in mind.
Sex Crimes Gideon's Associates Defends
Sexual Assault Defense
Washington doesn't have a single crime called "sexual assault." Prosecutors charge these cases under chapter 9A.44 RCW, most often as rape, rape or molestation of a child, or indecent liberties, and each charge has its own elements the state must prove.
Rape Defense
Washington has three degrees of rape, and all of them are felonies. First and second degree are class A felonies, the most serious class. Third degree is a class C felony. The degree depends on what the state says happened: whether force was used along with something like a weapon or serious injury, whether the person was able to consent, and whether consent was given.
Rape of a Child Defense
These charges depend on the child's age and how much older the accused is. There are three degrees. First and second degree are class A felonies, and third degree is a class C felony.
Child Molestation Defense
Child molestation covers sexual contact with a child. It also has three degrees, based on the child's age and the age gap. First degree is a class A felony, second degree is class B, and third degree is class C.
Indecent Liberties Defense
Indecent liberties means causing sexual contact by force or threat, with someone who can't consent, or in certain situations where the accused is a caregiver, a health care provider, or someone with authority over the other person. It's a class B felony, or class A if force or threat was used.
Sexual Misconduct with a Minor Defense
This applies when someone in a position of trust, like a school employee or foster parent, has sex with or sexual contact with a young person who is at least 16. First degree (intercourse) is a class C felony. Second degree (sexual contact) is a gross misdemeanor.
Indecent Exposure Defense
Indecent exposure is charged under RCW 9A.88.010. It's a misdemeanor by default. It becomes a gross misdemeanor for a first offense involving someone under 14, and a class C felony if there's a prior indecent exposure or sex offense conviction.
Voyeurism Defense
Voyeurism has two degrees under RCW 9A.44.115. First degree is a class C felony. It involves knowingly watching, photographing, or filming someone without their consent, for sexual gratification, where they'd expect privacy. Second degree is a gross misdemeanor. It involves photographing or filming someone's intimate areas to share the images, and it isn't a sex offense for sentencing or registration purposes.
Don't See Your Charge Listed?
These are the most common charges, not the only ones. Whatever you have been accused of, you don't have to face the investigation alone. Gideon's Associates can review your situation and explain your options before you speak with anyone.
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How a Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in Kennewick, WA Protects Your Rights
If Police Contact You
Gideon's Associates advises the following:
- Do not agree to an interview, and do not answer questions at your door.
- Do not send written responses to any agency without talking to an attorney first.
- Calmly say that you will not answer questions without a lawyer, and then stop talking.
- Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as you can.
Declining to answer questions is not an admission of guilt. It is a way to avoid giving the prosecution evidence before you understand what you are facing.
Early Defense Work Preserves Evidence
Many people wait until charges are filed to hire a defense attorney. A sex crimes defense attorney can start work before charges are filed, and that period can be an important window in a case. Gideon's Associates uses it to start the defense early.
When Gideon's Associates is hired early, the firm works to preserve digital evidence, secure text messages and other communications, identify independent witnesses, and document a timeline of events while records and memories are still fresh.
Challenging the State's Case
These cases often turn on disputed questions such as consent, whether force was used, whether someone was able to consent because of intoxication, and the nature of the relationship between the people involved. Gideon's Associates examines each element of the prosecution's theory, including how the state intends to prove lack of consent, whether the evidence supports its timeline, and whether any constitutional violations occurred during the investigation.
The goal is to find the factual and legal weaknesses in the state's case as early as possible. In some cases, that work leads to a reduction or dismissal of charges before trial. Gideon's Associates cannot promise a particular result, since every case depends on its own facts.
Why Kennewick-Area Residents Choose Gideon's Associates
A Former Felony Prosecutor Defending You
Charles Dow spent several years as a felony prosecutor in Colorado before returning to the Tri-Cities to practice here. He knows how prosecutors evaluate a case and its evidence, so he knows where the state's evidence tends to have problems and how strong its position really is.
Local to Kennewick and the Tri-Cities
Gideon's Associates is at 501 N Quay St, Suite C-102, in Kennewick (99336), and represents people charged with sex offenses in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and the surrounding area. Felony cases in Benton County are heard in Benton County Superior Court, and Gideon's Associates practices in the courts where these cases are heard.
How Gideon's Associates Works With You
Work starts from your first call. Gideon's Associates reviews what happened, identifies the issues, and builds a defense strategy. You get clear communication about that strategy and what to realistically expect. From there, the firm negotiates with prosecutors or argues your case in court, depending on what your case needs.
Gideon's Associates offers monthly payment plans, sliding scale fees, reduced fees based on need, and pro bono services for qualifying clients.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if a detective contacts me about a sex crime allegation in Washington?
Do not agree to an interview, answer questions at your door, or respond in writing until you have spoken with an attorney. You have the right to remain silent, and you can tell the detective politely that you will not answer questions without a lawyer. Statements made early in an investigation are often used as the foundation of the state's case. A sex crimes defense lawyer can communicate with investigators for you and help you avoid making statements that can be used against you.
Can sex crime charges be dropped or reduced before trial?
Sometimes. Charges can be challenged at every stage, including before they are filed. When Gideon's Associates is retained early, the firm reviews the evidence the prosecution is likely to rely on, looks for investigative errors or constitutional violations, and prepares arguments for why charges should be reduced or dismissed. No outcome is guaranteed, and every case depends on its own facts, but early involvement generally gives your attorney more options than waiting until trial.
Will I have to register as a sex offender if I am accused of a sex crime in Washington?
No. An accusation or an arrest does not trigger registration. Under RCW 9A.44.130, registration applies after a conviction for a qualifying offense. How long you must register depends on the level of the offense under RCW 9A.44.140, and law enforcement separately assigns a risk level (I, II, or III) that affects how your information is shared. A sex crimes defense lawyer can review the exact charge and tell you whether registration is a risk in your case. The defense strategy at Gideon's Associates aims for a result that avoids a registerable conviction, whether that is a dismissal, an acquittal, or a negotiated resolution to a non-registerable charge.
How does Gideon's Associates handle the sensitive and confidential nature of sex crime allegations?
Gideon's Associates handles your case with discretion. Attorney-client privilege protects what you share with the firm, and the firm does not discuss your case with anyone outside it without your authorization. You are not treated as guilty because you have been accused. The process starts with listening to your full account of events, your relationships, the communications involved, and the context the prosecution may not present. That foundation lets the firm build a defense that reflects the truth of your situation.
Talk to a Kennewick Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Before Your Next Step
Whether police have already contacted you, charges have been filed, or an allegation has only just come to light, the choices you make early can shape the rest of the case. Gideon's Associates, PLLC can review your situation, explain how these cases move through Benton County, and help you understand your options before you speak with investigators.
Your consultation is confidential and does not obligate you to hire Gideon's Associates. You tell the firm what happened. Gideon's Associates explains what the state would have to prove, what to expect next, and what a defense strategy could look like. The firm cannot promise a particular result, but you will have a clearer picture of where you stand.
This website is for informational purposes only. Submitting a contact form or calling our office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results in prior cases do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any future matter. Every case is unique and depends on its own facts and circumstances.