Have you Been Charged with Harboring, Concealing or Withholding Information Concerning a Sexual Offender in Georgia?
While many people are familiar with various sex crimes, some people are unaware that harboring, concealing, or withholding information regarding a sex offender is also a crime. Lawson and Berry and their team of Georgia Sex Crime Attorneys are familiar with criminal law and all of its intricacies. Let their Lawyers help with your case from the very beginning. A charge is not the same as a conviction and a conviction for doing one of these things can result in serious penalties. Contact us today for a free case evaluation because your future is at stake.
Georgia Law on Harboring, Concealing, or Withholding Information Concerning a Sexual Offender
Georgia law states that there are three ways in which a person can be guilty of this crime. Any person who reasonably believes that a sexual offender is not complying or has not complied with the rules of their registration or with the intent to assist such sex offender in eluding a law enforcement official by:
- Harboring, attempting to harbor, or assisting another person in harboring or attempting to harbor such sexual offender;
- Concealing, attempting to conceal, or assisting another person in concealing or attempting to conceal such sexual offender; or
- Providing information to the law enforcement unit regarding such sexual offender, which the person knows to be false information.
Penalty for Harboring, Concealing or Withholding Information Concerning a Sexual Offender
The penalty in Georgia is a prison term between five and twenty years for harboring, concealing, or withholding information regarding a sex offender. It will be treated as a felony conviction.
Georgia Defenses for Harboring, Concealing, or Withholding Information Concerning a Sexual Offender
Lack of Knowledge: If the defendant is unaware that the person they are helping is a sex offender or that the person has not been complying with the rules of their registration, and there is evidence of their lack of knowledge, then they cannot be guilty of this crime. Lawson and Berry and their team of Georgia Harboring, Concealing, or Withholding Information Concerning a Sex Offender Lawyers can help you present evidence demonstrating this if it applies to your case.
Lack of Intent: The crime of harboring, concealing, or withholding information concerning a sex offender requires that the accused have the requisite intent. If the harboring or concealing was accidental or you did not intentionally give inaccurate information, then our Lawyer will seek to have the charges dropped, or the case dismissed.
What are Not Defenses
The police were after wrong about the sex offender; they weren't doing anything wrong: It is not up to you to determine whether or not the sex offender did anything wrong. If you aid them in hiding from the police or tell the police incorrect information, it is a crime even if you think the police are wrong.
The defendant was not successful in harboring the sexual offender: The statute does not require that the harboring or concealing be completed. An attempt to harbor or conceal will still be considered a crime.
Contact Us
Even crimes that seem simple are often convoluted and require the help of an experienced Attorney. Lawson and Berry and their team of Georgia Harboring, Concealing, or Withholding Information Concerning a Sex Offender Attorneys are highly knowledgeable and experienced in criminal law. Call our offices today to speak to someone about your rights. We are available to you 24/7 including nights, weekends, and holidays. Your future is at stake so don't take any chances.
