Sex Crime Attorney in Brooksville, FL

Former Hernando County Prosecutor Defending Sex Crime Charges

A sex crime conviction carries every penalty that comes with a serious felony conviction and then some. Beyond incarceration, fines, and probation, Florida law can require lifetime registration as a sex offender under Florida Statute 943.0435. That registration is public record and visible to employers, landlords, and neighbors. It follows you long after a sentence ends.

I’m Michael Conageski, and I handle sex crime defense for clients throughout Brooksville and Hernando County. Before opening my practice, I spent seven years as a prosecutor at the Fifth Circuit State Attorney’s Office assigned to Hernando County. It’s the same circuit where your case can be tried. I know how these cases are built from the prosecution side, which means I know where they can be challenged. My approach involves exhaustive investigation, thorough case preparation, and an aggressive defense from day one.

Let me review your case for free. Call Conageski Law at (352) 292-0822 or fill out my online contact form. Payment plans are available.

Florida Sex Crime Laws: Charges & Penalties

Sex crimes in Florida span a wide range of charges and severity levels. The criminal code classifies sexually related offenses from second-degree misdemeanor through capital felony, with penalties that can include decades in prison, fines up to $10,000, and mandatory sex offender registration. Aggravating factors, such as physical injury to the victim or use of a deadly weapon, can significantly increase the applicable prison term.

Charge Categories Under Florida Law

Florida sex crimes generally fall into these categories:

• Sexual offenses involving a minor (statutory rape): When an individual 24 or older engages in sexual activity with someone 16 or 17 years of age, Florida treats it as statutory rape regardless of claimed consent. Sexual activity with victims younger than 16 is governed by separate statutes carrying even more severe penalties.
• Lewd and lascivious conduct: These offenses cover sexual misconduct committed against persons under 16 and can include touching, exposure, or conduct in the presence of a minor. They are governed by Florida Statutes 800.02 through 800.09.
• Sexual battery and rape: Under Florida Statute 794.011, sexual battery involves non-consensual sexual conduct accomplished through force or when the victim is incapacitated. Life and capital felony classifications can apply when the victim is under 12 or when a deadly weapon or force likely to cause serious personal injury is involved.
• Child pornography and solicitation: Possession of child pornography is a criminal offense in Florida regardless of whether the defendant created the material. Convictions carry lengthy prison sentences, substantial fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.
• Prostitution and solicitation: These charges range from second-degree misdemeanor for a first offense to felony-level charges for repeat offenses or conduct involving minors.

Felony Classification & Sentencing Ranges

Felony classifications run from third-degree (up to 5 years, $5,000 fine) through second-degree (up to 15 years, $10,000 fine) and first-degree (up to 30 years to life, $10,000 fine), with life and capital felony designations reserved for the most serious offenses.

How I Defend Sex Crime Cases in Hernando County

No two sex crime cases rest on identical facts, and the defense strategy has to be built around the specific circumstances of each one. I begin investigating and preparing from the first day of representation. Having spent years prosecuting cases in this county, I understand what evidence prosecutors rely on and what procedural or evidentiary weaknesses defense counsel should be looking for.

Depending on the facts of a case, defense strategies may include:

• Consent defense: Establishing that the conduct was consensual where legally relevant to the charge
• False accusation and credibility challenges: Examining the accuser’s account for inconsistencies, motivations, and unsupported claims
• Constitutional violations: Identifying unlawful searches, improper interrogations, or other Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues that arose during the investigation
• Evidence suppression: Filing pre-trial motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence, which can substantially weaken the prosecution’s case before trial ever begins
• Chain of custody and collection errors: Challenging how physical or digital evidence was gathered, stored, or handled
• Mistaken identity: Demonstrating that the accused was misidentified as the perpetrator

One critical timing point: sex crime investigations often begin before formal charges are filed. Retaining a sex crime lawyer in Brooksville during the investigation phase, before an arrest occurs, can shape how the case develops and preserve options that disappear once charges are formally brought.

Your Rights When Accused of a Sex Crime

Accusations of a sex crime are among the most serious situations a person can face, and your constitutional rights apply from the moment of accusation, not only after a formal arrest. Exercising them immediately can affect everything that follows.

The constitutional protections available to you include:

• The Right to Remain Silent: You have the right not to incriminate yourself. I advise clients to exercise this right immediately and say nothing to law enforcement until we’ve spoken.
• The Right to Legal Counsel: You’re entitled to have an attorney present during any questioning. I provide representation during interrogations, not only at trial.
• The Right to a Fair Trial: You are presumed innocent until proven guilty. That presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of the defense I build for every client.
• The Right to Review Evidence: You have the right to examine the prosecution’s evidence before trial, which allows me to identify weaknesses and challenge what the state intends to present.

I can guide you through every step of the process in the Fifth Judicial Circuit and at the Hernando County Courthouse so you understand what’s happening in your case and what your options are at each stage.

Why Clients in Brooksville Choose Conageski Law

My prosecutorial background is the most direct advantage I bring to sex crime defense. Seven years prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases, including assault and battery, drug crimes, domestic violence, and burglary, in the Hernando County court system gave me a firsthand view of how the state builds its cases. I use that knowledge to anticipate the prosecution’s moves and find where their arguments can be challenged.

I live in Hernando County and raise my family here. The relationships I’ve built with local judges and prosecutors over more than 12 years in criminal law aren’t abstract credentials. They inform the practical decisions I make in how I handle each case and each negotiation. When you work with me, you get representation from an attorney who knows this courthouse, this community, and the people on the other side of the courtroom. A free initial case review is available, and payment plans are offered to keep representation accessible when you need it most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Your Defense with a Free Case Review

Each sex crime case turns on its own facts, and the defense strategies available to you depend on how and when those facts are developed. The earlier you retain counsel, the more options remain on the table. If you’re facing charges or under investigation in Hernando County, don’t wait.

Contact Conageski Law to discuss your case. Call me at (352) 292-0822.

Useful Resources for Those Facing Sex Crime Charges

• Hernando County Sheriff’s Office - Provides resources and information on sexual offenses, legal rights, and local law enforcement.