Arizona Sex Crime Lawyers
Under investigation or charged with a sex crime in Arizona? These are among the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in the state, many are Class 2 felonies and Dangerous Crimes Against Children carrying mandatory, often consecutive prison and lifetime sex-offender registration. Do not talk to detectives before you call us, discretion and early action are everything.
Recognized By
As Seen On
Our Team Has SeenBoth Sides
Former Prosecutors · Law Enforcement · Public Defenders
When you call Tamou Law Group, you reach a firm that handles criminal defense exclusively, with serious, discreet experience defending sexual assault, abuse, child molestation, exploitation, and indecency cases across Arizona. Our team includes former prosecutors who handled sex-crime units, so we know how the State builds these cases, the forensic interviews, the “confrontation calls,” the digital evidence, and where they fall apart.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead, you will rarely get them on the phone and your case is handed to a junior associate. When you hire Tamou Law Group, your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
What Are Sex Crimes in Arizona?
Quick answer: Arizona sex crimes under A.R.S. Title 13 include sexual assault, sexual abuse, child molestation, sexual conduct with a minor, sexual exploitation (child pornography), public sexual indecency, and more. Many are Class 2 felonies and Dangerous Crimes Against Children carrying mandatory, often consecutive prison and lifetime sex-offender registration. A conviction is life-altering, which is why these cases demand immediate, discreet, and aggressive defense, often before charges are ever filed.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona sex crimes (A.R.S. Title 13) range from public sexual indecency to sexual assault and child molestation.
- Many are Class 2 felonies; offenses against children under 15 are Dangerous Crimes Against Children (§ 13-705) with long, often consecutive terms.
- A conviction usually requires lifetime sex-offender registration, restricting where you can live, work, and go.
- Many cases rest on a single accusation; false or exaggerated allegations are common in custody and relationship disputes.
- The pre-charge stage is critical, what you say to a detective or in a “confrontation call” can make or break the case.
- We defend these cases discreetly and aggressively, statewide.
- Your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou, 24/7 at 623-321-4699.
Recognized By
Act Before Charges
Under Investigation?
Sex-crime cases are often investigated for weeks before an arrest. If a detective calls, or asks you to come in or take a “confrontation call,” say nothing and call us first.
Call 623-321-4699 →Lifetime Consequences
Registration & Prison
Many sex crimes carry mandatory, consecutive prison and lifetime sex-offender registration. The charge level and the registration requirement are exactly what we fight.
See the Charges →A False Accusation?
One Person’s Word
Many sex-crime cases rest on a single accusation, with no physical evidence, often from a divorce, custody, or relationship dispute. We investigate the truth.
CALL NOWArizona Sex Crimes We Defend
We defend the full range of Arizona sex-crime charges, discreetly and aggressively. Choose your charge for a detailed guide, or call us 24/7.
Sexual Assault
A.R.S. 13-1406
Non-consensual sexual contact, a Class 2 felony with mandatory prison. Consent and credibility are central.
Learn More →Sexual Abuse
A.R.S. 13-1404
Sexual contact without consent, or with a minor under 15, a felony that often turns on a single accusation.
Learn More →Child Molestation
A.R.S. 13-1410
Sexual contact with a child under 15, a Dangerous Crime Against Children with severe, consecutive sentencing.
Learn More →Sexual Conduct With a Minor
A.R.S. 13-1405
Sexual conduct with someone under 18, graded far more harshly when the child is under 15.
Learn More →Sexual Exploitation / Child Porn
A.R.S. 13-3553
Possessing or distributing child pornography, charged per image, with extreme, stacking penalties.
Learn More →Public Sexual Indecency
A.R.S. 13-1402/1403
Exposure or a sexual act in public, a misdemeanor that becomes a felony with a minor present.
Learn More →Child Sex Trafficking & Luring
A.R.S. 13-3554 / 1307
Luring or trafficking a minor, among the most serious charges, often built on online sting operations.
Learn More →Voyeurism & Revenge Porn
A.R.S. 13-1424 / 1425
Surreptitious recording and unlawful disclosure of intimate images, increasingly charged as felonies.
Learn More →Prostitution & Soliciting
A.R.S. 13-3214
Engaging in or soliciting prostitution, often arising from undercover sting operations.
Learn More →More Sex Crime Topics We Defend
Whatever you are facing, your defense starts with a confidential call.
CALL 623-321-4699Arizona Sex Crime Law, Charge by Charge
Sex crimes carry Arizona’s harshest sentencing and lifetime consequences. Statutes link to azleg.gov.
Sexual Assault, A.R.S. § 13-1406
Sexual assault is intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact without consent. It is a Class 2 felony with a mandatory minimum of 5.25 years and up to 14 (more with priors or aggravators), and it requires lifetime registration. Consent and credibility are usually the central issues, see also sexual battery vs. sexual assault.
Sexual Abuse & Sexual Conduct With a Minor, §§ 13-1404, 13-1405
Sexual abuse (sexual contact without consent, or with a minor under 15) and sexual conduct with a minor are graded by the victim’s age, far more severely when the child is under 15, where they become Dangerous Crimes Against Children.
Child Molestation & Crimes Against Children, §§ 13-1410, 13-705
Child molestation (sexual contact with a child under 15) is a Class 2 felony and a Dangerous Crime Against Children under § 13-705, carrying 10 to 24 years per count, served consecutively, plus lifetime registration. Luring a minor and child sex trafficking fall here too and are often built on online sting operations.
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Child Pornography), § 13-3553
Sexual exploitation, possessing, distributing, or creating child pornography, is a Class 2 Dangerous Crime Against Children charged per image, so a single device can mean dozens of consecutive 10-year counts. Whether possession was knowing, and how the digital evidence was obtained, are the key battlegrounds.
Indecency, Voyeurism & Registration
Lower-level offenses include public sexual indecency, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and unlawful disclosure of intimate images, misdemeanors that become felonies with a minor or repeat conduct. Almost every sex-crime conviction triggers sex-offender registration; learn more in our overview of Arizona sex-offense law.
How Arizona Grades Sex Crimes
The offense and the victim’s age drive the class, the prison range, and whether registration is for life. Each links to its full guide.
| Offense | Statute | Class | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public sexual indecency / indecent exposure | 13-1402/1403 | Class 1 Misd. → Class 5 | Possible |
| Voyeurism | 13-1424 | Class 5/6 Felony | Often |
| Sexual abuse | 13-1404 | Class 5 (Class 3 if under 15) | Yes |
| Sexual conduct with a minor | 13-1405 | Class 6 → Class 2 (DCAC) | Lifetime |
| Sexual assault | 13-1406 | Class 2 Felony | Lifetime |
| Child molestation | 13-1410 | Class 2 (DCAC) | Lifetime |
| Sexual exploitation (child porn) | 13-3553 | Class 2 (DCAC), per image | Lifetime |
Dangerous Crimes Against Children carry consecutive terms and lifetime registration, defeating the charge or the DCAC designation is the core of the defense.
Penalties for Sex Crimes in Arizona
Sex-crime penalties are among the harshest in the state, and most come with sex-offender registration that lasts for life.
Misd. / Class 5–6
Indecency / Voyeurism
Class 2
Sexual Assault
DCAC (Class 2)
Molestation / Child Porn
⚠ Lifetime Registration & Consecutive Sentences
Most sex-crime convictions require lifetime sex-offender registration, which dictates where you can live and work. And as Dangerous Crimes Against Children, many counts must be served consecutively, turning a single case into a life sentence. That is why defeating the charge, the count structure, and the registration requirement is the heart of the defense.
Common Defenses in Arizona Sex Crime Cases
These cases are winnable. They often rest on one account, suggestive interviews, and digital evidence, each a place to fight.
Attacking the Accusation
False or Fabricated Allegations. Common in custody, divorce, and relationship disputes. We expose the motive, timeline, and inconsistencies.
Consent. For adult cases, consent is a complete defense, and the State must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suggestive Forensic Interviews. Children’s statements are highly susceptible to leading and repeated questioning; we challenge how the interview was conducted.
Mistaken Identity. Especially in stranger and online cases, identity is often far from certain.
Attacking the Evidence
Confrontation-Call Challenges. Police-orchestrated “confrontation calls” are designed to manufacture admissions; we move to exclude and re-contextualize them.
Digital-Evidence & Knowing-Possession. In exploitation cases, the State must prove knowing possession, malware, shared devices, and unallocated files all create doubt.
No Physical or Corroborating Evidence. Many cases have only one person’s word, with no DNA, injury, or witness.
Unlawful Search, Interrogation & Sting Procedure. Evidence and admissions obtained unlawfully, or through entrapment in a sting, can be suppressed.
Fighting Registration & the Count Structure. Even where some exposure remains, we fight to reduce counts and avoid lifetime registration.
After a confidential review, we will explain which defenses apply and the best path forward.
CALL 623-321-4699The Experts We Bring to the Table
These cases are won with specialists, in child-interview science, digital forensics, and DNA, who take the State’s evidence apart.
Forensic-Interview Experts
Child Suggestibility
Expose leading, repeated, and suggestive questioning that produces unreliable child statements.
Digital Forensics Experts
Devices & Child-Porn Cases
Examine devices, metadata, and unallocated files to challenge whether possession was knowing, or even yours.
DNA & SANE Experts
Physical Evidence
Independently review DNA and sexual-assault-exam findings, which frequently do not say what the State claims.
Psychological & False-Memory Experts
Memory & Motive
Explain how memory, trauma, and family conflict can shape, or fabricate, an allegation.
Eyewitness-ID & Sting Experts
Identity & Entrapment
Challenge identification and the conduct of undercover online sting operations.
Mitigation & Records Specialists
Registration & Sentencing
Build the case to reduce counts, avoid Dangerous-Crimes designations, and limit registration.
Recent Sex Crime Defense Results
Every case is unique and results depend on the facts, but these examples reflect how our firm handles sex-crime cases across Arizona.
Sexual Assault, Disputed Consent
Charges Dismissed
Text messages and timeline evidence contradicted the accuser’s account of non-consent. After we presented it, the State dismissed the case.
Child Molestation Allegation
Avoided DCAC & Prison
By exposing a suggestive forensic interview and a custody-dispute motive, we defeated the Dangerous-Crime exposure and resolved the case without prison.
Sexual Abuse Investigation
No Charges Filed
We intervened during the investigation and shut down a planned confrontation call. With no admissions and thin evidence, no charges were filed.
Sexual Exploitation (Child Porn)
Counts Sharply Reduced
Digital forensics showed shared-device access and unallocated files, undercutting ‘knowing’ possession and cutting dozens of counts down to a fraction.
Public Sexual Indecency
Dismissed via Diversion
A first-time client completed a tailored diversion program; the charge was dismissed with no conviction and no registration.
Sexual Conduct With a Minor
Reduced, No Lifetime Registration
By challenging the evidence and presenting strong mitigation, we secured a resolution that avoided a Class 2 felony and lifetime registration.
Our Sex-Crime Defense Process
Discreet, methodical, and aggressive, from the first call through trial.
Confidential Early Intervention
If you are under investigation, we step in before charges, controlling contact with detectives and shutting down confrontation calls.
Investigate the Accusation
We gather texts, timelines, and witnesses, and expose the motive and inconsistencies behind a false or exaggerated claim.
Attack the Forensics
We bring in child-interview, digital-forensics, and DNA experts to dismantle the State’s evidence.
Suppress Unlawful Evidence
We move to exclude unlawful searches, interrogations, and entrapment from online stings.
Fight Counts & Registration
Where exposure remains, we fight to reduce counts, defeat Dangerous-Crime designations, and avoid lifetime registration.
Resolve or Try It
We prepare every case for trial, the readiness that produces dismissals, favorable resolutions, and acquittals.
Areas We Serve
Tamou Law Group defends sex-crime cases across Maricopa County and all of Arizona.
We represent clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, and throughout Maricopa County, with representation available statewide. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
A Full Team of Attorneys, Not Associates
The single biggest factor in your defense is who actually handles your case, and how hard they fight it.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead. You may never get them on the phone, and your case is handed to a rotating junior associate who has never tried a case like yours. At Tamou Law Group, your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not junior associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. The same senior team handles your calls, your strategy, and your court dates.
Our reputation is built on results and on our clients’ words, a 5.0-star Google rating from people we have actually defended. Read them in the reviews below.
What Clients Say About Tamou Law
Real Google reviews from clients we have defended across Phoenix and Maricopa County. Every review is from a criminal defense client, never padded with non-legal work.
Clients reach us searching in many ways, for the best sex crime lawyer in Arizona, for a sexual assault or child molestation defense attorney, or for a discreet Phoenix sex crimes lawyer. However you found us, Tamou Law Group defends sex-crime cases across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and all of Maricopa County, statewide. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
Awards & Recognition
Our recognition for Phoenix sex crime defense is independently verified, click any award to confirm it:
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Elite Lawyer 2026 – Criminal Defense
- Super Lawyers – Southwest
- National College for DUI Defense (NCDD)
Together, these place Tamou Law Group among the best Phoenix sex crime lawyers, led by Founding Attorney Michael Tamou and a full team of attorneys, including former prosecutors.
Arizona Sex Crime FAQs
Common questions about sex-crime charges, registration, penalties, and defenses in Arizona.
What are the most common sex crimes charged in Arizona?
Sexual assault (A.R.S. 13-1406), sexual abuse (13-1404), child molestation (13-1410), sexual conduct with a minor (13-1405), sexual exploitation/child pornography (13-3553), public sexual indecency (13-1403), voyeurism, and luring or trafficking a minor.
Do I have to register as a sex offender if convicted?
Most sex-crime convictions in Arizona require sex-offender registration, and for the serious felonies it is for life. Registration restricts where you can live and work, which is why avoiding the conviction, or the registration requirement, is a central goal.
What are Dangerous Crimes Against Children?
Under A.R.S. 13-705, many sex offenses against a child under 15, molestation, sexual conduct, exploitation, are Dangerous Crimes Against Children, carrying 10 to 24 years per count served consecutively, plus lifetime registration. They are the most severely punished offenses in Arizona.
A detective wants to talk to me, what should I do?
Do not talk to them, and do not agree to a ‘confrontation call’ with the accuser. These are designed to produce admissions. Politely decline and call a lawyer immediately, the investigation stage is where these cases are often won or lost.
Can a sex crime charge be based on just one person’s word?
Yes. Many sex-crime cases have no physical evidence and rest entirely on a single accusation. That is also why they are defensible, through motive, inconsistencies, suggestive interviews, and the absence of corroboration.
Is consent a defense to sexual assault?
For adult cases, yes, consent is a complete defense, and the State must disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Consent is not a defense where the alleged victim is a minor or otherwise legally unable to consent.
How are child pornography (sexual exploitation) cases charged?
Each image or video can be a separate Class 2 Dangerous Crime Against Children, so a single device can generate dozens of consecutive 10-year counts. The defense focuses on whether possession was knowing and on how the digital evidence was obtained.
Can a sex crime be dismissed or reduced?
Yes. Through challenges to the accusation, suppression of unlawful evidence, expert testimony, and negotiation, sex crimes are dismissed, reduced, or resolved without lifetime registration. Each case turns on its facts.
Will people find out I’ve been charged?
We handle these cases with discretion. While court records are public, we work to resolve matters quickly and quietly where possible and to protect your reputation throughout.
Will I get a real attorney or a junior associate?
At many large firms the name on the door is a marketing figurehead and your case goes to a rotating associate. At Tamou Law Group your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699, 24/7.
Two Arizona Offices, One Team
We serve all of Maricopa County and the surrounding area, with free, confidential consultations 24/7 by phone and in-person meetings at either office by appointment.
Case Results Disclaimer: The results described on this page are based on specific facts and circumstances and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future results. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this page or submitting a contact form until a written fee agreement has been signed. Tamou Law Group, PLLC is licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.