At Barbieri Law Firm, P.C., our sex crimes defense lawyers represent clients across Texas facing sexual assault allegations, internet sex crime investigations, and other high-stakes accusations. These cases can threaten your freedom, family relationships, and public reputation long before the facts are fully tested in court.
Since 2000, Barbieri Law Firm has provided discreet, strategic defense backed by Board Certified criminal defense leadership, an in-house investigation team, and reputation management support. As one client shared, “You will sleep easier and know you are represented by the best.”
Sex crimes defense requires more than reacting to the prosecution’s case. Our team investigates the facts independently, reviews digital records and forensic evidence, challenges witness credibility, prepares for prosecution pressure, and works to protect your name outside the courtroom.
If you are quietly under investigation or already facing formal charges, Barbieri Law Firm is here to guide you at every stage.
Case Result
Charges
- 5 Counts Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (1st Degree Felony)
- 2 Counts Indecency with a Child by Contact (2nd Degree Felony)
Outcome
Protected the client from a potential life sentence and mandatory lifetime sex-offender registration through a major reduction and a deferred resolution.
Potential Sentence
Up to 99 years per count + lifetime sex-offender registration
How We Won
Our team conducted a deep investigation into thousands of pages of reports, SANE records, digital communications, and witness statements. We uncovered key inconsistencies in the complainant’s accounts and medical documentation that weakened the State’s theory. Our analysis exposed shifting statements, unsupported allegations, and credibility concerns that undercut the prosecution’s case. By presenting these issues strategically, we secured a reduction to a non–sex-offender-related offense and a deferred outcome. This resolution prevented a life-altering felony conviction and the lifelong consequences of registration.
Our Sex Crimes Defense Services in Texas
- Sexual assault defense
- Internet sex crimes
- Solicitation defense
- Prostitution charges
- Indecent exposure
- Minor-related allegations
- Registry consequence review
- Digital evidence review
- Protective order issues
- Record restoration review
Facing charges? Talk to a Frisco defense attorney today.
Why Choose Barbieri Law Firm, P.C. for a Texas Sex Crimes Case
Board Certified Lead Counsel
Our founding attorney is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by under 1% of Texas attorneys, with more than 25 years defending serious criminal cases including sex crimes and crimes against children.
In-House Investigation Team
Our investigators work alongside the legal team from day one, reconstructing timelines, pulling apart digital evidence, and finding gaps in the state’s case faster than firms that outsource the work.
Whole-Team Case Planning
Every case gets collaborative strategy sessions, not a single attorney working in isolation. That means more angles considered, more arguments tested, and a sharper defense at trial.
In-House Reputation Management
We protect what happens outside the courtroom too. Our in-house PR support manages media coverage and helps shield your professional and personal standing, a service almost no defense firm offers.
Peer Recognition and Discretion
Heather’s certification has been renewed in 2010, 2015, and 2020, reflecting sustained peer review. Caseloads stay limited so every client gets direct attorney access and the privacy these matters demand.
Texas Sex Crime Allegations Can Move Fast
Sex crime investigations in Texas can move quickly. By the time you realize you are under investigation, detectives may have already reviewed records, interviewed witnesses, or searched your phone, laptop, or home. The first 24 to 72 hours can strongly affect the direction of the case.
Early legal action can help:
- Preserve evidence before texts, surveillance footage, or social media data disappear
- Control statements so conversations with police, HR, or a Title IX panel are not used against you
- Protect privacy by limiting exposure and helping shield your family, career, and reputation
- Avoid mistakes such as consenting to searches, taking a polygraph, or sending an apology text
The sooner an attorney gets involved, the more options may remain available.
Sex Offender Registration and Long-Term Consequences
A sex crime case in Texas may have consequences that can continue for years. Adult registrants may be required to register for life or for 10 years after discharge, and failing to comply can lead to a separate felony charge.
A conviction can also create consequences such as:
- Loss or suspension of professional licenses in fields like medicine, law, finance, education, and real estate
- Limits on where you can live, work, or travel, including restrictions near schools and parks
- Removal from college programs, scholarships, or graduate admissions
- Damage to custody rights, family relationships, and parenting time
- Public registry results that appear in background checks, search engines, and online records
- Loss of clients, board positions, and community standing
The exact impact depends on the charge, the facts, and the final outcome. Early strategy matters.
How Digital Evidence Can Shape a Sex Crimes Defense
Digital evidence can shape the direction of a sex crime case. The issue is not only what the data shows, but how it was collected, whether it can be authenticated, and whether the full record was reviewed.
Digital evidence may involve:
- Full message threads, not just selected screenshots
- Metadata showing when a photo, file, or message was created or changed
- Location data, Wi-Fi logs, and app activity that support or challenge a timeline
- Deleted content, cloud backups, and social media history
- Missing devices, gaps in the record, or shortcuts in a police forensic review
- Questions about whether a proper warrant or valid consent was obtained
A strong defense starts by examining the digital record early. When handled correctly, digital forensics can expose weaknesses in the investigation, challenge unreliable evidence, and affect the case before charges are filed.
About Barbieri Law Firm, P.C.
Barbieri Law Firm, P.C. has defended Texans facing serious criminal allegations since 2000. Based in Frisco and serving the DFW Metroplex, the firm focuses on high-stakes, high-visibility cases where a client’s freedom, career, and reputation are all on the line.
Heather Barbieri leads the firm and is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by less than one percent of Texas attorneys. She has held this certification since 2005. The team brings more than 55 combined years of courtroom experience to every matter.
The firm intentionally limits caseloads. That means direct attorney access, consistent communication, and the level of discretion that sensitive sex crime allegations demand.
An in-house investigation team works alongside the legal team from day one, and in-house reputation support helps clients protect their professional and personal lives during and after the case.
For people accused of serious felonies in Texas, the goal is to have a trial-ready defense built quietly, carefully, and aggressively.
Our Process for Texas Clients
1. Confidential Intake
You reach out by phone, form, or referral. We collect the essential facts in a secure, discreet conversation.
2. Immediate Risk Assessment
We evaluate exposure, urgency, and what is at stake legally, professionally, and personally. Time-sensitive matters get escalated the same day.
3. Evidence Preservation
We move quickly to lock down digital records, communications, surveillance, and witness information before they disappear.
4. In-House Investigation
Our embedded investigator reconstructs timelines, examines forensic and digital evidence, and identifies weaknesses in the state’s case.
5. Defense Strategy Session
The team meets with you to map the legal strategy, set expectations, and align on next steps.
6. Prosecutor and Court Response
We engage with prosecutors and the court with a clear position, often shaping the narrative before charges are formalized.
7. Reputation Protection Planning
Our in-house team works to manage media exposure and protect your professional standing throughout the case.
8. Trial Preparation When Needed
If the case heads to trial, we prepare to win, with motions, witnesses, and courtroom strategy ready well in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions Sex Crimes in Texas
If I am being investigated for a sex crime in Texas but have not been charged yet, should I talk to detectives to clear things up?
No. Detectives who ask for a “quick chat” are gathering evidence, not looking for your side of the story. Anything you say can be used to build a case, and innocent explanations are routinely twisted into admissions. In Texas, you have the right to decline interviews and to have counsel present.
The smartest move is to call a defense lawyer before you say a single word, especially while charges have not been filed and early intervention can still shape the investigation.
Can I be charged with a sex crime in Texas based only on the accuser’s word, with no physical evidence?
Yes. Texas does not require corroborating physical evidence for many sex offense charges. A single outcry, even years after the alleged event, can lead to indictment and conviction. That is why defense work focuses heavily on credibility, timeline reconstruction, digital records, and witness inconsistencies.
What happens if I am accused of soliciting a minor online but the “minor” was actually an undercover officer?
Texas still prosecutes these cases under the online solicitation statute, and the fact that no real child existed is not a defense. Prosecutors rely on chat logs, IP records, and recorded calls, which makes the digital forensics fight central to the defense. Entrapment can apply in narrow circumstances, but it is hard to prove and rarely succeeds without skilled cross-examination of the officer’s tactics.
How long does the State of Texas have to file sex crime charges against me?
It depends on the offense. Many felony sex crimes in Texas, including aggravated sexual assault and continuous sexual abuse of a child, have no statute of limitations at all. Others, such as certain indecency offenses, may extend until the alleged victim turns a specific age or beyond.
If I am acquitted or the case is dismissed, will the arrest and accusation still show up online?
Often, yes. News articles, mugshot websites, and social media posts can persist long after a case ends. Texas allows expunction or nondisclosure in certain outcomes, but those legal remedies do not automatically clean up the internet.
Will I have to register as a sex offender if I take a plea deal in Texas?
Most sex offense convictions trigger mandatory registration under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, and registration periods range from ten years to lifetime. Some plea structures, such as deferred adjudication for certain offenses, can still require registration even without a final conviction. Avoiding registration is often a central goal of negotiation, sometimes through reduction to a non registerable offense.
Can my spouse, employer, or family find out I am under investigation before I am arrested?
Sometimes. Search warrants executed at a home or office, subpoenas to employers, and interviews of family members can expose an investigation early. In high profile cases, media inquiries can also surface before charges. Engaging counsel early lets the defense team coordinate with employers, manage media exposure, and preserve privacy where possible.
What should I do right now if the police just left my house with my computer and phones?
Do not contact the alleged victim, do not post on social media, and do not discuss the situation with friends or coworkers. Write down everything you remember about the search, including names of officers, what they took, and what they said. Preserve any messages, emails, or files that might support your account, including cloud backups.
What Clients Say About Barbieri Law Firm, P.C in Texas
“From the top down everyone here is professional and 100% engaged in assisting you and fighting for you until the end.” – Sailingman
Defense here is a team effort. Every staff member, from intake to trial prep, stays locked in on the case until it is resolved.
“I am free and clear with my record completely cleaned thanks to them.” – Lisa Greenberg
Protecting a client’s record is central to protecting their future. Past clients have walked away with their reputations intact and their lives back on track.
“She was extremely helpful through the whole process as I was clueless on what to do and felt I had nowhere to turn.” – Nikhil Patel
Sex crime allegations leave people isolated and overwhelmed. This feedback shows the firm meets clients in that moment with patience and clear guidance.
“Their approach to my son’s case was perfect. The entire team helped to keep our minds at ease throughout the whole process.” – Lisa Greenberg
Families carry the weight of these cases too. The firm communicates with loved ones and brings calm to a chaotic situation.
Local Resources in Texas for Sex Crimes Defense
- Texas Department of Public Safety – Sex Offender Registration Program
- Texas DPS Public Sex Offender Registry
- Texas Health and Human Services – Council on Sex Offender Treatment
- Texas Civil Commitment Office
- Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
- Dallas County Criminal District Courts
- Tarrant County Criminal District Courts
- Collin County District Clerk – Criminal Division
- Denton County District Clerk
- Denton County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
- Harris County Criminal District Courts
- Harris County District Attorney’s Office
- Travis County Criminal Courts
- Travis County District Attorney’s Office
- Bexar County Criminal District Courts
Speak With a Texas Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
If you or someone you love is under investigation or facing charges, the next move matters. Early action gives our team more room to shape the investigation and build a defense before the state cements its narrative.
Reach Barbieri Law Firm, P.C. to request a confidential consultation.
Every conversation is handled with discretion. We will listen carefully, answer your questions directly, and tell you the hard truths when they matter most.
