Westport Voyeurism Lawyer

If you have been charged with voyeurism, a Westport lawyer can help defend you. A criminal defense lawyer can fight to protect your rights and help you reach an optimal outcome.

What Kind of Action Constitutes Voyeurism?

C.G.S. §53a-189a defines four situations that constitute criminal voyeurism. All situations involve actions taken without the knowledge and consent of the person viewed and when the person is not in plain view. These include:

Maliciously photographing someone in a place where they have an expectation of privacy
Photographing someone to gratify sexual desires while that person is in a place where they have an expectation of privacy
To gratify sexual desires, trespassing and observing someone inside their dwelling while that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy
Photographing the genital area of someone to gratify sexual desires

Police may also charge someone with disseminating material obtained through voyeurism, a Class D felony described in C.G.S. §53a-189b.

How Does Intent Affect Voyeurism Cases?

For someone to be convicted of voyeurism under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-189a, they must be acting with a certain state of mind. They must either act with “malice” or with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desires (either their own or those of someone else).

A Westport voyeurism lawyer can work to show that any alleged acts of voyeurism occurred by mistake, or for some other purpose that does not violate criminal law. Evidence of intent can be extremely critical, so it is wise to collect evidence as early as possible. For instance, witnesses become more difficult to locate as time passes.

What are the Penalties for Voyeurism?

The circumstances that surround your alleged offense dictate whether voyeurism would be prosecuted as a Class C or Class D felony. If the alleged victim is under the age of 16, the crime is treated as a more serious Class C felony. A prior conviction for voyeurism or certain other offenses can also cause a situation to be considered a Class C felony.

In other situations, voyeurism may be penalized as a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The court may also impose a fine of up to $5,000. Thankfully, a Westport voyeurism lawyer can advocate for alternative penalties if available.

If the offense is treated as a Class C felony, the maximum penalties are twice as high. Fines can go as high as $10,000 and incarceration can last as long as ten years. In addition, the person convicted must deal with the unwelcome consequences of a felony conviction that can interfere with housing, employment, and other aspects of life far into the future.

How can a Voyeurism Conviction Affect Me?

Beyond the penalties for a felony conviction is the felony record itself. This record is publicly available and can affect housing, employment, and social settings.

A top Westport voyeurism lawyer can begin to collect evidence early on to try to mitigate not only the court-sanctioned consequences but the lasting effects of a conviction as well.

Contact a Westport Voyeurism Attorney