Last updated November 2025
Fort Lauderdale Sex Crimes Defense Attorney
Former Prosecutor. Trusted Advocate. Relentless Defense.
Being accused of a sex offense is devastating — and if you need a sex crimes lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, you must act immediately. Sex crime investigations can damage your reputation, career, and freedom long before charges are filed. At Michael White, P.A., we fight aggressively to protect your rights and defend your future.
At Michael White, P.A., we defend clients facing the most serious state and federal sex-crime accusations. Attorney Michael White is a former Broward County prosecutor and former General Counsel to the Broward Police Benevolent Association — experience that gives us deep insight into law enforcement investigative techniques, digital forensics, interview tactics, and charging decisions.
📞 Free, confidential consultations available now.
📍 Based in Fort Lauderdale — serving Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and all of South Florida.
🔍 What Sex Crimes Do We Defend in Florida?
🔸 Sexual Battery (Rape) — § 794.011
Includes allegations involving force, coercion, incapacitation, or inability to consent.
🔸 Lewd or Lascivious Offenses — § 800.04
Molestation
Battery
Exhibition
Conduct involving minors
Penalties depend heavily on age differentials.
🔸 Indecent Exposure — § 800.03
Often misunderstood allegations arising from false reports or accidental exposure.
🔸 Internet / Computer Sex Crimes
Online solicitation
Transmission of harmful material
Sexting with a minor
Cyber enticement and undercover sting operations
🔸 Solicitation of a Minor / Traveling to Meet a Minor
Often results from online stings conducted by law enforcement task forces.
🔸 Failure to Register as a Sex Offender — § 943.0435
Includes address changes, employment issues, or technical non-compliance.
🔸 Sex Offender Probation Violations
Strict conditions often lead to harsh violations based on minor errors.
🔸 Possession or Distribution of Child Pornography
Handled in both state and federal courts.
🖥️ Child Pornography Charges: What You Need to Know
Child-pornography cases are among the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in Florida.
You may face charges if police allege you:
Knowingly downloaded
Viewed
Saved
Possessed
Shared
Or distributed images or videos involving minors
Florida Law — § 827.071
Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony, punishable by:
Up to 5 years per image
Up to 5 years probation
Mandatory sex offender registration
Federal Law — 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252 & 2252A
Penalties are significantly harsher:
Mandatory minimum 5 years for certain offenses
20+ years for distribution or production
Prosecution by the FBI, Homeland Security, or U.S. Attorney’s Office
We challenge these cases by scrutinizing:
How digital evidence was acquired
Device-seizure legality
Forensic methodology
Whether files were auto-cached, corrupted, mislabeled, or never intentionally accessed
Entrapment or government overreach
👉 Related: Illegal search & seizure in Florida
👉 Related: Motion to suppress digital evidence
🛡️ Common Defenses to Sex Crime Allegations
Every case is unique — but these are the most effective defenses:
1️⃣ False Allegations
Common in:
Breakups
Custody disputes
Jealousy-driven situations
Revenge-motivated claims
We expose inconsistencies, timelines, and ulterior motives.
2️⃣ Lack of Knowledge or Intent
Especially in:
Downloaded files
Device sharing
Auto-sync folders
VPN/proxy misidentification
Digital forensics often reveals the truth.
3️⃣ Entrapment (Especially in Internet Sting Operations)
Police must prove you intended to commit a crime — not that they induced or pressured you into something you would never do.
4️⃣ Consent (When Legally Valid)
Consent can be a complete defense, depending on ages and circumstances.
5️⃣ Unlawful Search or Seizure
We challenge:
Warrant defects
Overbroad digital warrants
Device searches at borders
Seized phones/computers without consent
Chain-of-custody failures
A skilled sex crimes lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can intervene early, challenge search warrants, and limit exposure before formal charges are filed.
👉 Related: Cell phone searches in Florida arrests
⚠️ DO NOT Speak to Detectives
If you’re being investigated for a sex crime:
🚨 Do NOT make statements. Do NOT explain. Do NOT “clear your name.”
Anything you say will be used against you — even innocent explanations.
We handle all communication with law enforcement to protect you from self-incrimination.
Before speaking to detectives or consenting to any device search, consult with a sex crimes lawyer Fort Lauderdale to protect your rights.
⭐ Why Choose Michael White, P.A. for Sex Crimes Defense?
Former prosecutor with deep experience in sex-crime charging, forensics, and interrogation
Federal & state sex-crime defense background
Skilled in digital-forensic challenges
Judgment-free, fully confidential environment
Aggressive courtroom representation
Strategic plea negotiation when necessary
Trusted by licensed professionals, students, teachers, nurses, first-time offenders, and the wrongly accused
Your reputation, career, and freedom depend on what you do next.
📞 Request a Confidential Case Review
Sex crime allegations are among the most serious in Florida — and you only get one chance to get this right.
Call (954) 270-0769 or schedule a confidential consultation now.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I be arrested based on one image?
Yes — but the State must prove knowing possession. Auto-downloads, cached files, or unviewed thumbnails often create reasonable doubt.
2. Will I have to register as a sex offender?
Many Florida and federal sex offenses require registration. Some require lifetime registration. We fight to avoid qualifying convictions.
3. What if police searched my phone without a warrant?
Digital searches generally require a warrant. If the search violated Riley v. California, evidence may be suppressed.
4. Can I be charged for something downloaded accidentally?
The State must prove intentional possession. Pop-ups, mislabeled videos, torrents, and auto-sync activity can lead to innocent downloads.
5. Should I speak to detectives to clear things up?
Absolutely not. Even innocent statements can be twisted. Always speak with a lawyer first.
6. Can sex-crime charges be sealed or expunged?
Most cannot — even with a withhold. Some non-qualifying dispositions may allow future expungement. We evaluate eligibility case-by-case.
7. What penalties apply to child-pornography charges?
Florida: up to 5 years per image + registration.
Federal: mandatory minimums, often 5–20+ years.
We challenge forensic conclusions, file acquisition, and warrant procedures to attack enhancements.