Sexual Misconduct with a Minor

Seattle-Tacoma Attorneys: Sexual Misconduct

A student misinterprets a teacher's wave as a sexual gesture. A cheer leading coach is accused of kissing a student. A pastor is accused of having an affair with a teenager in the congregation. Any accusation of sexual misconduct with a minor exposes the accused adult to serious consequences: loss of employment and professional licensing, prison, and registration as a convicted sex offender.

Consult with a lawyer before making any statement

If you are in a position of authority with minors and have been accused of inappropriate behavior, it is extremely important, in order to preserve your right to a strong defense, to consult with a lawyer before talking with police, prosecutors, or anyone else about the charges. At the Law Offices of James Newton, PLLC, our Seattle-Tacoma attorneys represent clients throughout the state of Washington in sex crime cases. If you would like to speak with a member of our firm, please contact our Kent law office. We will be happy to speak with you immediately.

Our clients repeatedly tell us that our attorneys' practical and direct approach helped them get through criminal justice proceedings with dignity.

How does Washington State define sexual misconduct with a minor?

The charge of sexual misconduct with a minor covers a broad range of unwanted and consensual activities, including all types of child molestation by an adult in authority, such as a teacher, professor, member of the clergy, coach, doctor, or school nurse. Although the age of consent in Washington is generally sixteen, that does not apply to teachers, who are prohibited from any sexual activity with students under eighteen years of age:

  • Inappropriate touching, including touching of sexual body parts
  • Statutory rape, intercourse (defined as penetration of any body part—so even a kiss can be interpreted as sexual intercourse)
  • Sexual harassment, including telling sexual jokes, showing a student sexual or pornographic pictures, and having a conversation about sex with a minor

Call toll free: 1-866-LAW-2345, or e-mail us as soon as possible and begin your defense against charges of sexual misconduct with a minor today. Attorneys at our Kent, Washington law office defend adults and juveniles in the Seattle-Tacoma area and throughout the state. For information about other areas of our practice, see:

The Law Offices of James Newton, PLLC
Seattle-Tacoma Attorneys at Law

At the Law Offices of James Newton, PLLC, in Kent, Washington, our criminal defense lawyers serve clients throughout the state of Washington, including Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia; South King County including Kent, Renton, and Auburn; and Eastside communities including Bellevue, Issaquah, and Kirkland. For felony cases, the attorneys travel statewide, handling criminal trials in both Washington State and federal courts.