Pittsburgh Open Lewdness Attorney

Public Indecency / Open Lewdness

Public indecency or lewdness are serious misdemeanor charges under Pennsylvania law. Aside from the threat of jail time, the charges carry the stigma associated with a sex offense, which can follow a defendant long after the incident is behind him. Failure to take these charges seriously can be a big mistake as the social and legal consequences can be quite severe. Indecent exposure in the presence of someone under the age of 16, for example, is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

1. Indecent Exposure: Exposure of genitalia in a public place or in a place where there are other persons or circumstances that make the conduct likely to offend, alarm or affront. If persons are present who are less than 16 years of age, the charge is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Otherwise, it's a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable by up to two years in prison.
2. Open Lewdness: Is defined as a lewd act which the defendant knows is likely to be observed by others who will be affronted or alarmed. The charge is a third-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

Many times, a defendant may be charged unfairly. Determining whether an act occurred in public, for instance, or whether it should have caused alarm or an affront, can help an experienced defense attorney determine the best course of action. Urinating in public, for instance, or nude sun bathing, can be unfairly characterized as lewd or indecent. In such cases, an experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney may ultimately succeed in having a charge reduced or dismissed. These are often nuisance cases for busy prosecutors, and a thorough understanding of the law may also result in a negotiated plea. Successfully having a charge reduced to disorderly conduct, trespass or other misdemeanor can help keep the social stigma of a sex-charge conviction off a criminal record.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Lawyer in Pittsburgh

Unfortunately, a client too often quickly accepts a plea agreement or decides to plead guilty in an effort to put the incident in the rearview mirror. In most cases, we believe that's a mistake. Speaking to an experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer is always the best course of action when the state is pursuing criminal charges – and that is never truer than when a sex crime is involved. 

If you are facing criminal misdemeanor of felony charges in Pittsburgh or the surrounding area, contact Blaine Jones Law, LLC for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.