RESULTS: Plea Agreement – Sexual Assault of a Child
We were contacted by the family of a young student who was arrested at school following serious accusations: Sexual Assault of a Child.
Our client was detained at school and transported to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, where he was questioned without a guardian or attorney present, ultimately resulting in his detention. From the beginning, this case presented serious legal and emotional challenges, not only due to the nature of the allegations but also due to the potential long-term consequences for the juvenile, including sex offender registration.
After a thorough review of the evidence and the body-worn camera footage, it became clear that immediate legal action was necessary to protect the client’s rights.
We advocated not only for a favorable outcome but also fought to modify the client’s release conditions, which allowed him to return home and reunite with his family. This was an uncommon and significant achievement in cases like this.
Outcome
The case was resolved with a plea agreement to 2 years of probation, including participation in a sex offender counseling program. Importantly, the terms included deferred registration, so if the client successfully completes the program, he will not have to register as a sex offender.
Client Benefits
Over the course of the case, our focus was on achieving a solution that minimized the long-term consequences for the juvenile while ensuring they could reunite with their family to access the support they needed.
- No Conviction: The agreement avoids a formal adjudication, helping protect the client’s future.
- Deferred Registration: By meeting the conditions of probation and completing counseling, the client avoids mandatory sex offender registration.
- Family Reunification: Modification of release terms allowed the client to return home, a rare and important outcome that supports his long-term stability.
- Continued Community Support: Keeping the client in the community with access to treatment and family support promotes healing and reduces the likelihood of further system involvement.
About The Attorney
Attorney Sarah Durham’s practice focuses on crimnal defense and appellate advocacy. She is passionate about the research and writing intrinsic to appellate and post-conviction writ work.
She frequently uses her skills, including attention to detail and presenting the complex as comprehensible, when advocating for her clients.
On a given week, she may write a brief to one of the fourteen intermediate courts of appeals throughout Texas or submit a petition for discretionary review to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Sarah also focuses on and can often be found working on post-conviction writs of habeas corpus, including 11.07; new evidence; and other extraordinary writs for post-conviction relief.
Disclaimer
Attorney Sarah Durham works tirelessly to achieve the greatest possible results for each of our clients and their families. This is one of her successful results, settlements, and verdicts. Every case and client is unique and depends upon the individual facts and circumstances of each case. Clients may or may not obtain the same or similar results in each case.
