Sex Crimes Lawyer in Ocala, FL
Defense Built on Courtroom Experience from Both Sides
A sex crimes accusation changes everything before a single charge is filed. Employment, housing, family relationships, and reputation can all take damage while the investigation is still underway. At Dunham & Ingram LLC, we handle sex crimes defense for clients throughout Ocala and Marion County, and our foundation is one most firms can’t offer: a former Fifth Judicial Circuit State Prosecutor and a former Assistant Public Defender working together on your case. Chris Dunham and Andy Ingram are Central Florida natives with over 20 years of combined trial experience in state and federal courts, including thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases.
That dual perspective isn’t a marketing point. It means we can anticipate how the State Attorney’s Office builds its case because one of our partners spent years building those cases. We know how to challenge them because the other spent years doing exactly that.
Sex crimes investigations move quickly, and early intervention can affect what charges are filed or whether charges are filed at all. Call our Ocala sex crimes lawyers at (352) 353-8117 or reach us through our contact form to discuss your situation.
Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Florida
Florida prosecutes sex crimes aggressively, and nearly all carry felony classifications handled at the circuit court level. We defend the full range of charges, from misdemeanors through first-degree life felonies, in Marion County and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where both attorneys are admitted to practice.
Charges we defend include:
- Sexual battery under Florida Statute 794.011
- Statutory rape and lewd and lascivious battery
- Lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious conduct
- Child pornography (possession, distribution, and production)
- Internet solicitation of a minor and traveling to meet a minor
- Prostitution and solicitation
- Indecent exposure and voyeurism
- Failure to register as a sex offender
Federal charges can arise when alleged conduct crosses state lines, involves electronic communications, or implicates federal statutes such as child exploitation or trafficking offenses. Our federal court admission, in place since 2008, means we can defend these matters without referring clients elsewhere.
What a Conviction Carries in Florida
Florida imposes some of the harshest penalties for sex crimes in the country. Sexual battery is a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and fines up to $10,000. Aggravated sexual battery rises to a first-degree felony with up to 30 years. Capital sexual battery against a victim under 12, when committed by an offender 18 or older, carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The courtroom sentence is only part of it. Florida requires convicted sex offenders to register with the state’s publicly accessible registry, with ongoing restrictions on where they may live, work, and travel. A sexual predator designation carries lifetime requirements. Beyond registration, a conviction can mean loss of professional licenses, loss of firearm rights, ineligibility for certain public benefits, possible deportation for non-citizens, and loss of voting rights while incarcerated. Florida’s age of consent is 18, meaning any sexual activity between an adult and a person under 18 can result in criminal charges regardless of apparent consent.
How We Build a Sex Crimes Defense
No two cases follow the same path. We begin with a thorough review of the investigation itself: how evidence was collected, how witnesses were interviewed, and whether law enforcement followed proper procedures. From there, the defense strategy takes shape around the specific facts.
Depending on the circumstances, that strategy can include:
- Challenging witness credibility: Inconsistencies in recorded statements, prior inconsistent accounts, or motives to fabricate
- Contesting forensic evidence: Chain of custody issues, lab testing procedures, and the reliability of DNA or rape kit results
- Consent between adults: Establishing that alleged conduct was consensual under Florida law
- False accusation defense: Exposing allegations that arose from custody disputes, relationship conflicts, or personal motives
- Mistaken identity: Challenging identification procedures and the reliability of eyewitness accounts
- Suppression of evidence: Attacking the legality of the underlying search, seizure, or interrogation
In some situations, we can intervene before charges are formally filed, working with investigators to provide context or challenge the direction of the inquiry. When the case does proceed, possible outcomes include charge reduction, dismissal, or acquittal at trial. Chris Dunham and Andy Ingram have tried dozens of jury trials, including first-degree life felonies, and we bring the same high-level motion practice and discovery strategy developed through federal court work to every Marion County case we handle.
Why Marion County Clients Choose Dunham & Ingram LLC
The prosecutor-and-public-defender structure of our firm is a concrete advantage in sex crimes cases. Chris Dunham prosecuted in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion County, so he understands the evidence standards, charging decisions, and tactical tendencies of the office that may be pursuing your case. Andy Ingram built defenses in those same proceedings. Together, they bring a complete view of how these cases are built and defended.
What that means for you in practice:
- Direct attorney communication: Chris and Andy communicate with clients by phone and email directly. Your case isn’t routed through paralegals.
- Federal court capability: Both attorneys are admitted in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida, covering cases that move into federal jurisdiction.
- Full outcome counseling: We walk every client through the full range of possible results, best and worst, so decisions are made with complete information.
- Professional standing: Active members of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Marion County Bar Association, and the Inn of Court.
- Recognized client satisfaction: Over 100 Google reviews reflecting the firm’s professionalism and personal attention in high-stakes situations.
Talk to an Ocala Sex Crimes Attorney Today
The earlier you retain qualified defense counsel, the more options may remain available. If you or someone you know is under investigation or has been charged with a sex crime in Ocala or anywhere in Marion County, don’t wait.
Call Dunham & Ingram LLC at (352) 353-8117 or submit your information through our online contact form to schedule a case evaluation with Chris Dunham or Andy Ingram directly.