If you are facing allegations of public indecency in Ohio, you need the Dayton indecent exposure lawyers at Suhre & Associates, LLC on your team. Our criminal defense attorneys have the experience and tenacity you need to defend your freedom and reputation.
When police arrest you for indecent exposure, it can feel like the whole world is against you. Your criminal defense lawyer is the only thing standing between you and the full weight of the government trying to put you in jail. So why not hire a criminal defense team with over 100 years of combined experience?
When you hire Suhre & Associates, LLC, you can be sure that no stone will be left unturned in your defense. Contact us in Dayton, OH, for your free consultation, call us at (937) 531-0435 today.
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How Can Suhre & Associates, LLC Help with Indecent Exposure Charges in Dayton, Ohio?
Our Dayton indecent exposure lawyers at Suhre & Associates, LLC are prepared to help you with your public indecency case from start to finish. Our team of former prosecutors and police officers cut their teeth on the other side before becoming criminal defense lawyers. We know how law enforcement will handle your case, and we’ll use our experience to attack their approach.
You have important constitutional rights whenever you interact with the police or are accused of a crime.
Some critical constitutional rights we can help protect include:
- Protection from unreasonable searches
- Protection from unlawful arrests
- The privilege against self incrimination
- The right to confront your accusers
- The presumption of innocence
Public indecency cases can carry a stigma. Prosecutors may treat you harshly, forgetting that you are 100% innocent unless and until you are proven guilty. Suhre & Associates, LLC won’t let you be steamrolled by the state. We will work tirelessly to build your defense and fight back.
Contact us today in Dayton, Ohio, for a free consultation with a Dayton criminal defense lawyer.
What is Indecent Exposure in Ohio?
The crime of indecent exposure is prosecuted as “Public Indecency” under Statute 2907.09. The charge of public indecency encompasses many different types of conduct. It is considered a sex offense, and a conviction carries the possibility of mandatory registration as a sex offender.
The first type of charge under this statute is for reckless conduct. The elements of reckless public indecency are:
- The defendant
- Recklessly
- Did any of the following:
- Exposed their private parts
- Engaged in sexual conduct or masturbation
- Engaged in conduct that would appear to be sexual conduct or masturbation
- Under circumstances in which the conduct was likely to be viewed by and affront others in the proximity and who were not members of the household
Reckless behavior is behavior that falls extremely short of what a reasonably cautious person would do in the same situation. It involves a conscious disregard of substantial risk.
Knowingly Engaging in Conduct in Front of a Minor
The other type of charge for indecent exposure under Section 2907.09 is “knowingly engaging in conduct in front of a minor.”
The elements of this crime are:
- The defendant
- Knowingly
- Did any of the following:
- Engage in masturbation
- Engage in sexual conduct
- Engage in conduct that to an observer would appear to be sexual conduct or masturbation
- Expose the person’s private parts with the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification or to lure the minor into sexual activity
- Under circumstances in which the conduct was likely to be viewed by and affront another person who is in the person’s physical proximity, who is a minor, and who is not the spouse of the offender
No matter which type of indecent exposure you are accused of, Suhre & Associates, LLC can help. You are entitled to your day in court and to present a defense. We pride ourselves on our reputation for hard-fought trial wins. When you hire us, prosecutors know that you mean business.
What are the Penalties for Indecent Exposure in Ohio?
The penalties for a public indecency conviction in Ohio can vary greatly depending on the number of prior convictions for indecent exposure. Penalties will be more severe if a minor was involved in the indecent exposure.
A first offense conviction for indecent exposure is usually going to be a misdemeanor unless the victim was a minor or you have prior convictions. In this case, it could be charged as a felony.
The criminal complaint you receive in court will contain the specific charges you are facing and the minimum and maximum penalties. You should work with your public indecency lawyer to determine what penalties you are facing.
The following chart shows penalties that accompany different types of indecent exposure charges:
| Classification | Jail Time | Fine |
| Fourth Degree Misdemeanor | Up to 30 days jail | $250 |
| Third Degree Misdemeanor | Up to 60 days jail | $500 |
| Second Degree Misdemeanor | Up to 90 days jail | $750 |
| First Degree Misdemeanor | Up to 180 days jail | $1000 |
| Felony in the Fifth Degree | 6 – 12 months prison | $2500 |
If the victim was a minor, the judge may classify the defendant as a Tier I Sex Offender / Child Victim Offender. Being classified as a Tier I Sex Offender / Child Victim Offender results in mandatory registration as a sex offender with the state.
The sex offender registry is publicly available; it includes your name, conviction, picture, and address. This can be extremely embarrassing. Beyond the embarrassment, registration comes with burdensome requirements. Failing to follow each requirement can lead to new felony charges.
Some of the requirements placed on registered sex offenders include:
- Meeting periodically with law enforcement
- Providing updated contact information to the state
- Restrictions on where you can live
- Restrictions on where you can work
Suhre & Associates, LLC understands how scary these penalties are for you. Unlike police and prosecutors, we believe that you are innocent unless the state can prove otherwise. We want you to know that when you hire our team, you are not alone.
We are committed to fighting as hard as we can for your freedom and future. We will fight to prove your innocence, whether we are drafting complicated legal motions or sending investigators to find out what really happened. To get started building your defense, contact our team right away.
What Defenses are Available to Defend Indecent Exposure Charges?
Indecent exposure charges in Ohio must be fought aggressively from the outset of your case. Winning an acquittal at trial or convincing prosecutors to drop or reduce the charges may be the only way to keep you out of jail and off the sex offender registry.
Each case has unique facts and evidence. This means there is no one-size-fits-all approach to defending against criminal charges.
Some defenses that may come up in a public indecency case include:
- Arguing that you had a reasonable expectation of privacy, so actions were not knowing or reckless
- Proving they arrested the wrong person based on a bad identification of the perpetrator or an alibi
- Arguing that police violated your constitutional rights so that key evidence cannot be used against you
- Showing that the state cannot meet its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt
You should never try to build a defense by yourself. The legal system is complex, and you risk saying the wrong thing and ruining your case.
Instead of risking your whole case, call Suhre & Associates, LLC. We will go over every detail of your case with a fine-toothed comb to make sure we don’t miss any important detail. We give each and every case the focus it deserves.
Contact Suhre & Associates, LLC for Help
The Dayton indecent exposure lawyers at Suhre & Associates, LLC have handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Our criminal defense lawyers have seen it all, and we know what steps need to be taken in the fight for your future.
Don’t waste any time thinking about what you should do. You need to lawyer up — the sooner, the better. Tell the police you want your lawyer, and call us right away for your free consultation.
Visit our Law Office
Suhre & Associates, LLC
130 W 2nd St #310
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 531-0435
