Houston Sexual Assault Lawyer

Sexual assault allegations move fast. Law enforcement contact, digital evidence collection, and charging decisions can all occur within hours of an accusation. Whether you’re an accused individual concerned about your freedom and career or a survivor seeking accountability and justice, the legal steps you take in the earliest hours matter enormously. The right attorney doesn’t just respond to what’s already happened. They work to get ahead of it.

At Hochglaube & DeBorde, PC, we provide strategic, evidence-driven representation for clients navigating these high-stakes situations throughout Harris County and Montgomery County. We offer confidential consultations, 24/7 availability, Spanish-speaking representation, and virtual consultations so that cost, language, or logistics don’t stand between you and legal guidance when you need it most.

Call our Houston sexual assault lawyers at (832) 720-7255 for a confidential consultation. We’re available 24/7 and offer Spanish-speaking representation and virtual consultations.

Inside Knowledge of How Harris County Prosecutes These Cases

Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube spent more than 8 years as a Harris County District Attorney, personally prosecuting sexual assault cases, murders, drug cases, and financial crimes. She also worked in the Public Integrity Division, prosecuting police officers and politicians. That firsthand experience inside the same prosecution units now handling cases against our clients isn’t just background. It informs our strategic approach. She also coordinated a TCDLA seminar entitled Defending Sex Crimes Against Children, bringing her insight to defense attorneys and judges across Texas, and has received Super Lawyers recognition for sex offense cases. Mark Hochglaube is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is one of the few Houston attorneys who both tries and appeals cases. Together, our team brings over 60 years of combined criminal defense experience to every matter we take on.

What That Experience Means for Your Defense

Our time on both sides of these cases shapes how we build and challenge arguments. That prosecutor-informed approach allows us to:

• Anticipate prosecution tactics. We understand how units in Harris and Montgomery Counties sequence evidence requests and build complainant testimony because we’ve done it ourselves.
• Identify evidence weaknesses. We examine chain-of-custody gaps in digital evidence, question the reliability of forensic interviews, and challenge the authenticity of AI-generated or manipulated materials.
• Pursue pre-arrest intervention. Some of the most consequential work in a sexual assault investigation often happens before charges are filed. We work to present exculpatory evidence to authorities early, before charging decisions are made.

Texas Sexual Assault Charges: What You’re Facing

Sexual assault in Texas covers a broad range of conduct, and the penalties are severe. Under Texas Penal Code 22.011, standard sexual assault is a second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison, fines up to $10,000, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. It’s also a 3g offense under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 42A.054, meaning a convicted person must serve at least half their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Standard community supervision also isn’t available to a judge at sentencing.

Key charges include:

• Aggravated sexual assault. A first-degree felony carrying 5 to 99 years and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Applies when serious bodily injury, a weapon, or a minor is involved.
• Continuous sexual abuse (§21.02). Two or more acts over 30 or more days against a child under 14. A first-degree felony with a mandatory 25-year minimum and no early release.
• Sexual assault of a child. Carries mandatory sex offender registration and significant prison terms. Consent provisions include conduct related to intoxication or impairment.
• Digital sexual misconduct (§21.165). Prohibits producing or distributing manipulated images or videos, including AI-generated content, depicting non-consensual sexual acts.

Texas doesn’t require physical evidence for a conviction. Cases frequently proceed on complainant testimony alone, and digital forensics now play a central role in how investigations are built. What looks manageable at the outset can escalate quickly without early legal intervention.

Steps to Protect Your Rights & Career After an Accusation

Don’t make statements to law enforcement without an attorney present, regardless of whether you believe you’re innocent. Anything said can become part of the charging decision. Acting promptly on every front is essential.

Bail & Pretrial Custody

Texas judges can set or deny bail for violent or sexual assault charges based on public safety considerations. Bail decisions typically rely on risk assessments and an evaluation of the alleged conduct. Our attorneys can challenge those determinations when appropriate, which may reduce the time a client spends in pretrial custody.

Professional Licenses & Title IX Proceedings

Convictions and even deferred adjudications may trigger automatic revocation of professional licenses for doctors, nurses, teachers, and other licensed professionals in Texas. Students, faculty, or staff at schools and universities may also face separate Title IX investigations: administrative proceedings that operate independently of criminal court and require a distinct advocacy strategy. We coordinate criminal defense strategy alongside these proceedings to help limit disruption to your academic standing and professional future.