You may have heard the term “sugar daddy” in reference to a wealthy older man who dates younger women. Websites like Seeking Arrangements facilitate these relationships through online profiles. The profiles on websites like these are often less than subtle. It is often heavily implied or even outright stated that the man is looking to exchange financial assistance for sexual contact. Many wonder if this type of exchange may be considered prostitution.

Texas Ranks Among the Top States for Sugar Daddy Arrangements

According to Seeking Arrangements, Texas ranks fifth in the nation for the highest number of “sugar babies” on the website. Although sugar babies may be men or women, the majority are women in their 20s. Many young women are loaded with student loan debt and other financial obligations. Many struggle to meet the financial demands with a typical entry-level job. Drawn by the promise of easy money and glamour, some of these women turn to “sugaring.” Basically, the woman agrees to go on dates with a man in exchange for money, gifts, or help paying the bills. Some insist that the arrangement is strictly about companionship while others admit that the relationship mainly involves exchanging sexual contact for money or property.

Is Being a Sugar Baby Illegal?

Dating partners of all ages often exchange gifts or help each other with financial obligations. This does not break the law. However, many sugar baby relationships do blur the lines between relationships and prostitution. In Texas, it is illegal to offer sexual conduct for money. It is also illegal to pay a fee for sexual conduct. Prostitution is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2,000 and up to six months in jail. Solicitation, or paying for sex, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $4,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Throughout the years, there have been many efforts to reduce the number of alcohol-impaired traffic crashes. While many of these programs have succeeded, alcohol-impaired driving remains a problem in today’s world. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 48 percent of all traffic deaths in the U.S. involved an alcohol-impaired driver in 1982, though that number has dropped to 29 percent of all deaths in 2018. Texas law enforcement continues to prosecute those who drive while intoxicated (DWI) to the fullest extent of the law, especially in DWI cases involving injury or death.

Intoxication Assault

If you injure a person while you are committing a DWI offense, you will likely be charged with intoxication assault. This charge applies when you are found to have caused “serious bodily injury” to another person out of the course of operating an aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicle while you were intoxicated. Specifically, “serious bodily injury” means an injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes serious permanent disfigurement. In most cases, intoxication assault is charged as a third-degree felony, meaning it comes with a possibility of 2 to 10 years in prison, along with up to $10,000 in fines.

Intoxication Manslaughter

Intoxication manslaughter is said to have occurred when a person operates a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while they are intoxicated and causes the death of another person because of that intoxication. In most cases, intoxication manslaughter is charged as a second-degree felony. This means that intoxication manslaughter can come with a punishment of between two and 20 years in prison, in addition to up to $10,000 in fines. The driver will also face a driver’s license suspension of between six months and two years, and may face other penalties such as court-ordered community service.

If you have ever heard someone mention the term “federal offense,” they were talking about a crime that is illegal in the eyes of the federal government. These offenses cover a wide range of subjects, from drug charges, like the sale or manufacture of controlled substances, or possibly even more serious charges, such as murder. In some cases, a crime can incur both federal and state criminal charges. Having someone by your side who handles both types of charges is important for success when you have been accused of breaking the law.

Common Factors in Federal Cases

If you have been charged with a crime, you may be wondering how the government determines whether a crime is charged in federal or state court. In typical cases, jurisdiction is first determined by the location of the crime. If a crime takes place in Texas, it will likely be under Texas’ jurisdiction for prosecution. Some crimes violate only Texas state law, however, many crimes violate both state and federal statutes. This leads to the question, “What gives a crime federal jurisdiction?” Some of the most common reasons crimes are charged as federal crimes include:

• The crime took place in more than one state or across state lines.
• The crime violated federal statutes.
• The crime took place on or involved federal property, including National Parks.
• The crime occurred off land in U.S. maritime jurisdiction.
• The case involved an ambassador, public minister, or consul.
• The case involved a citizen of another country.

Facing Both State and Federal Charges

In some cases, a person may face both state and federal charges for the same incident. While some people may think this violates the “double jeopardy” clause in the Constitution, it does not. The Fifth Amendment states that nobody should be subject to charges for the same crime twice. However, since the state and federal governments are two separate governmental entities under the idea of “dual sovereignty,” they both have the right to impose criminal charges under certain circumstances.

White collar crimes come in various forms and can be complex to investigate. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), white collar crimes are characterized by typically being nonviolent crimes that involve concealment, deceit, or violations of trust. One of the most common white collar crimes committed in the U.S. is embezzlement. Embezzlement happens on both a small scale and in larger operations. You can also face both state and federal criminal charges for a single embezzlement crime if you violated both state and federal laws. An embezzlement charge can quickly become serious. Anyone facing any type of white collar criminal charge should seek representation from a Texas white collar criminal defense lawyer. 

Texas Embezzlement Laws

In Texas, embezzlement is not a separate charge, but is charged under the state’s theft statute. This means that the severity of the charge will depend on the amount of money that was embezzled. Because of this, there is no specific definition of embezzlement that the state follows. Embezzlement typically refers to situations where a person is legally entrusted with money and they misappropriate or steal it.

Some of the most serious crimes you can be charged with are sex crimes. In recent years, issues such as sexual assault, rape, and other types of relationship and interpersonal violence have been brought into the public spotlight, notably, through social media like the #MeToo movement, which encourages participants to share their stories. As a result, laws surrounding sex crimes have changed across the country. In Texas, sexual assault is a serious crime that can follow you for the rest of your life, affecting you even after your sentence has long passed. A skilled Texas sexual assault defense lawyer can help you understand the crime you have been charged with and the penalties that come with a conviction.

Defining Sexual Assault

If you have been arrested for sexual assault, you should understand what actually constitutes a charge for the crime you have allegedly committed. According to Texas law, a person commits sexual assault if they knowingly or intentionally: