Sex Crime Attorney in Gainesville

A Prosecutor & a Public Defender, Now Defending Gainesville

A sex crime charge can upend your life before a single court date is set. At Dunham & Ingram LLC, our founding partners bring something most local firms can’t offer: one attorney who spent years building sex crimes cases as a state prosecutor, and another who spent years defeating them as a public defender. Together, Chris Dunham and Andy Ingram have handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases across more than 20 years of combined trial experience in Florida state and federal courts.

Cases in Gainesville are prosecuted through Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit and heard at the Alachua County Criminal Justice Center. We’re familiar with that courthouse, the practices of the Alachua County State Attorney’s Office, and the procedures that shape how these cases move. Both attorneys have been admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida since 2008, so federal charges don’t require a referral elsewhere.

Sex crimes investigations move fast. Early intervention by defense counsel can shape what charges are filed, or whether they’re filed at all. Don’t wait to see what the other side does next.

Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Gainesville

We defend the full range of state and federal sex crime charges, from misdemeanors through first-degree life felonies. Florida law covers a broad spectrum of conduct under its sex crimes statutes, and not every charge is what it appears to be at first glance.

State charges we defend include:

• Sexual Battery (Fla. Stat. 794.011): Ranging from second-degree felony to capital offenses depending on the victim’s age and circumstances
• Lewd and Lascivious Offenses (Fla. Stat. 800.04): Including battery, molestation, conduct, and exhibition
• Statutory rape and unlawful sexual activity with a minor
• Child pornography: possession, distribution, and production
• Internet solicitation of a minor and traveling to meet a minor
• Indecent exposure and voyeurism
• Prostitution and solicitation
• Failure to register as a sex offender

Federal charges can arise when alleged conduct crosses state lines, involves electronic communications, or implicates federal statutes. Both attorneys handle those cases directly, without referral. When a minor is involved, a concurrent DCF investigation may run alongside the criminal case, adding a separate layer of proceedings we can help navigate. For cases tied to the University of Florida, campus disciplinary proceedings can occur independently of any criminal charges.

Florida Penalties & the Sex Offender Registry

Florida imposes some of the harshest sex crime penalties in the country. Sexual battery under Florida Statute 794.011 carries up to 15 years in prison as a second-degree felony; aggravated sexual battery is a first-degree felony with up to 30 years. Capital sexual battery against a victim under 12, committed by an offender 18 or older, carries mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

A conviction also triggers sex offender registration under Florida Statute 943.0435, Florida’s publicly accessible registry. For many offenses, registration is a lifetime obligation that includes regular in-person reporting, GPS monitoring in some cases, and community notification. Individuals convicted of certain sex offenses are also prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, parks, or playgrounds, a restriction that can substantially limit housing options in a city like Gainesville.

Collateral Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction

The impact of a conviction extends well beyond the courtroom. Collateral consequences can include:

• Loss of professional licenses and career opportunities
• Ineligibility for certain public benefits
• Loss of firearm rights
• Potential deportation for non-citizens
• Loss of voting rights while incarcerated
• Impact on background checks for employment, housing, and educational programs at Gainesville-area institutions

Florida’s age of consent is 18. In most circumstances, sexual activity between an adult and anyone under that age can result in criminal charges regardless of apparent consent.

How We Build a Defense in Alachua County

Every case starts the same way: a careful review of how evidence was gathered, how witnesses were interviewed, and whether law enforcement followed proper procedure at every step. How a case was investigated often determines how it can be defended.

Defense Strategies We Deploy

Depending on the facts, our defense strategies can include challenging the credibility of witnesses who gave inconsistent or delayed reports; contesting forensic evidence on chain-of-custody or lab-procedure grounds; asserting consent between adults under Florida law; exposing false accusations rooted in custody disputes, relationship conflicts, or personal motives; raising mistaken identity where identification procedures were flawed; and moving to suppress evidence obtained through unlawful searches, seizures, or interrogations.

Trial Experience & Pre-Charge Intervention

Chris and Andy have tried dozens of jury trials, including first-degree life felonies. The motion practice and discovery strategy they developed through federal court work applies to every Alachua County case they handle. When circumstances allow, they can also intervene before charges are formally filed, providing context to investigators or contesting the direction of an inquiry. Possible outcomes in a sex crimes case include charge reduction, dismissal, or acquittal at trial.

Why Gainesville Clients Choose Dunham & Ingram LLC

The prosecution-and-defense partnership at the core of our firm isn’t a marketing angle. Chris Dunham’s background as a state prosecutor means he knows how these cases are assembled. Andy Ingram’s years as an Assistant Public Defender means he knows where they fall apart. That combination gives clients a defense infrastructure rooted in experience from both sides of the courtroom.

• Direct Partner Communication: Chris and Andy communicate with clients directly by phone and email. Cases aren’t routed through paralegals.
• Federal Court Capability: Both attorneys have been admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida since 2008, so federal charges are handled in-house.
• Complete Case Transparency: We walk every client through the full range of possible outcomes, best and worst, so every decision is made with clear information.
• Established Professional Standing: Active members of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Marion County Bar Association, and the Inn of Court. Both partners are graduates of Florida’s elite law schools: the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Florida State University College of Law.
• Client-Recognized Track Record: More than 100 Google reviews reflecting professionalism and personal attention in high-stakes situations.