Army recruiter accused of having sexual relationship with Clay County teen-ager

Police arrested an Army recruiter accused of arranging for a high school student to sneak out of her parents’ house and come to his hotel room to have sex. The man, 34, was arrested two days later, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. The man was often inside Clay High School for his job as an Army recruiter and he was seen talking with the student in question several times, the newspaper reported. There are varying degrees of Clay County Sex Crimes that prosecutors can charge in cases of adults having sex with minors. The variables that determine the severity of the charge are quite simple: the age of the adult and the age of the minor. There are other factors, including whether the adult is in a position of authority, but the main driver in these cases is age.

If a person is 24 years of age or older and has sex with someone who is 16 or 17, the adult in the case can be charged with a second-degree felony. The charge, unlawful sex with a minor, carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in state prison. That is what the recruiter is now facing in this Clay County Sex Crimes Case. In Clay County Sex Crimes Cases such as this one, consent doesn’t matter. Whether or not the teen wanted to have sex or even initiated the encounter does not matter. If the two had sex and it can be proven, then the state likely has what it needs to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. There is the issue of whether the recruiter knew the alleged victim was underage, which could play a role.

But if the man is either convicted or pleads guilty in this Clay County Sex Crimes Case, he will be required to register as a sexual offender. This would force him to check in with police at least every six months and, every time he moves residencies, people living in the new neighborhood will receive notification that he is now living there, along with the crime he committed that made him a sex offender. Classification as a sexual offender also severely limits a person’s ability to be on school grounds and in places where children congregate. This could limit the man’s role as a recruiter and could force him to find another line of work – assuming the charge itself hasn’t led to his dismissal. Employers often work faster than the legal system and do not always wait for the charges to play out in court. Being classified as a sex offender can have serious consequences and our Clay County Sex Crimes Attorney can walk you or your loved one through those consequences so you understand the implications and can make an informed decision on how to proceed with the criminal case.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Clay County Sex Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.