Benton Child Molestation Lawyer

Trusted Child Molestation Attorney in Benton, LA

A Child Molestation Lawyer for Benton Cases, Starting With the First Call

A child molestation accusation can cost you your job, your home, and your time with your kids before anyone proves anything. The first few days can shape the whole case. You need to know where you stand and what to do first.

Our firm defends child molestation charges for Benton clients. Reach out before you speak with a detective again, and we will advise you of your legal rights and potential next steps.

Child Molestation Charges We Defend in Bossier Parish Courts

Molestation of a juvenile is a charge we often hear about, and prosecutors can file related charges beside it. We defend:

• Molestation of a juvenile: the main Louisiana charge when someone over 17 commits a lewd or lascivious act with a child under 17, is more than two years older than the child, and uses force, threats, or a position of control over the child.
• Indecent behavior with juveniles: a separate sex charge. It covers a lewd act with a child under 17 when the person is more than two years older; a lewd message or image sent to anyone the person reasonably believes is under 17 and at least two years younger; and grooming a child under 17 when the person is at least four years older.
• Carnal knowledge of a juvenile: a charge that turns on the ages of the people involved.
• Computer-aided solicitation of a minor (often called online solicitation): a charge for using electronic text communication, such as texts or chat messages, to try to get a child under 17, or someone reasonably believed to be under 17, to take part in sexual conduct. The person must be at least 17, and there must be an age gap of more than two years (or a believed gap of at least two years, if the other person is only believed to be a minor).
• Child sexual abuse materials (formerly called child pornography): charges tied to images or files, in state or federal court.

If a charge is not on this list, send us the paperwork and we will explain it.

What a Molestation Conviction Can Cost You in Louisiana

The sentence depends on the child’s age and the facts the State alleges.

If the child was under 13, Louisiana law sets 25 to 99 years at hard labor, with at least 25 years served without parole, probation, or a suspended sentence. After release, the person must also wear an electronic monitor for life (La. R.S. 14:81.2).

If the child was 13 to 16, the range depends on the facts. The base range is five to 10 years. If the person had control or supervision over the child, it is 10 to 20 years. If the person was an educator or held a supervisory role, such as a coach or youth leader, it is 10 to 40 years, with at least 10 years served without parole, probation, or a suspended sentence. If the acts happened over more than one year, it is five to 40 years.

Prison is only part of it. Louisiana treats molestation of a juvenile as a sex offense (La. R.S. 15:541). That can mean registering with law enforcement and notifying the people who live near you. Registration generally lasts 25 years from the date of initial registration, and for life when the child was under 13 or the acts happened over more than one year

Additionally, a conviction or guilty plea can show up on a job application, lease application, or volunteer background check. It could also impact your custody and visitation rights with your own children.

First Steps If You Learn You Are Under Investigation for Child Molestation

These steps may help protect your rights immediately:

• Stay quiet: decline interviews and tell the officer you want a lawyer.
• Do not contact the accuser or the family: not even to apologize or explain.
• Keep everything: deleting texts, photos, or accounts can turn into its own problem.
• Stay off social media: posts and messages can end up in the State’s file.
• Save your paperwork: keep any summons, warrant, or bond papers and bring them to us.

Then contact us the same day, and we will map out the next steps together.

Trial Work Behind Our Benton Child Molestation Defense

Eric G. Johnson has defended and tried felony cases in Louisiana state court, including charges of molestation of juveniles, rape, and armed robbery, and he also handles federal criminal cases.

We work with private investigators and computer forensic professionals who can testify for clients, and we look hard at how police gathered each statement, interview, and file. When evidence was gathered improperly, we may file a motion to suppress it, which asks the court to keep it out of the trial.

Eric has also negotiated felony and misdemeanor cases. That experience lets us tell you when a trial gives you the best chance and when a negotiated result protects you more.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Where Your Case Is Heard: The Bossier Parish Courthouse in Benton

Felony charges filed in Bossier Parish go to the 26th Judicial District Court, which sits in the Bossier Parish Courthouse at 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton. Pretrial hearings, motions, and trials in a felony case take place in that building.

The same judicial district also covers Webster Parish, where our Minden office is, and Eric frequently represents clients in both parishes.

Questions We Hear From People Charged With Child Molestation in Bossier Parish

Do I need a lawyer before I talk to a detective?

Yes. Anything you say can be used against you, and early statements are hard to take back.

Could my case end up in federal court?

Yes. Charges that involve online contact or images can draw federal prosecutors. Eric is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and handles federal criminal cases.

Can I still see my children while the case is open?

A judge can bar contact with the child as a condition of release, and breaking that order can put you back in jail. We ask the court to keep the conditions as narrow as the facts allow.

What if the accusation is false?

An accusation is not proof. We test the account against the timeline, messages, interviews, and any physical or digital evidence, then show the court any gaps. Our first step is a close look at what the State has and does not have.

Can the charge be reduced or dismissed?

In some cases, yes. The result depends on the evidence, and no lawyer can promise one. We review everything first, then tell you whether dismissal, a reduction, or trial gives you the best path.

What should I know before accepting a plea offer?

Under Louisiana law, a guilty plea to a molestation charge counts as a conviction, and that can lead to sex offender registration. Talk with us before you answer any offer, and we will weigh it against the evidence and the risk at trial.

How much does a child molestation lawyer cost?

The fee depends on the charge and whether the case goes to trial. We will discuss this at our first meeting so that you know what to expect.

Fighting for You When You Need It the Most

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Contact Us About Your Benton Child Molestation Case Before You Answer Another Question

A detective can call at any time, and you do not have to answer without a lawyer. Use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm, LLC. You do not have to work through this alone.