Tallahassee, FL (February 25, 2019) - An 18-year-old named Levore Smitty Jr. was arrested for lewd and lascivious battery on a minor after a tip was received.
The Department of Children and Families got ahold of police in January about a tip pointing toward Smitty. It alleged that a 14-year-old child admitted that she had sex with Smitty.
In February, investigators spoke with the child, who said that she was aware that Smitty was 18 when she had sex with him. The victim also said that Smitty bought a cell phone for her so that they could communicate with one another. He did this after the child’s mother took her first cell phone away from her.
After the victim had her interview with police, the high school contacted investigators because, one morning, the victim left school for a few hours. She admitted that she had been with Smitty and that they had sex again while she was supposed to be at school.
Investigators used this as probable cause to charge Smitty with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.
Tallahassee Lewd and Lascivious Battery Laws
If you have been charged with a sex crime in Florida, you are probably well aware of the fact that you could suffer serious penalties at the hands of the criminal justice system. One of these convictions will not only leave a desperate social impact on your life, but it could also affect any future careers you decide to pursue, cause you to spend time in prison, and require you to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. Lewd and lascivious crimes take place against children and are prosecuted especially severely in the eyes of the law, which is why you need an experienced attorney on your side through these matters.
Being charged with lewd and lascivious battery against a child can affect many aspects of your life, especially your reputation. From the very beginning, you might wonder how you can defend yourself against one of these crimes that threatens everything you have built for yourself. At Musca Law, we have over 150 years of experience in these cases and are willing to help you through these difficult times. Please contact us at (888) 484-5057 to find out what we can do for you.