Statutory Rape Defense Attorney in Overland Park

Facing Sex Crime Charges in Johnson County? Know What You’re Up Against.

Kansas prosecutes age-based sex offenses under statutes with distinct names, penalty tiers, and long-term consequences. If you or someone you know is facing these charges in Overland Park or anywhere in Johnson County, the legal exposure is serious and the window for early action is narrow. Gigstad Law Office, LLC handles sex crime charges throughout Johnson County and knows the District Court of Johnson County in Olathe, where these felony cases are heard. Felony sex charges filed in Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Gardner, and other Johnson County cities are all prosecuted in that court, and familiarity with its procedures matters on charges this serious.

How Kansas Charges Age-Based Sex Offenses

Kansas doesn’t use the term “statutory rape” in its statutes. The relevant charges are rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and unlawful voluntary sexual relations. Each carries different penalties depending on the ages involved and the specific conduct alleged. Knowing which statute applies to the facts of a case is the first step in building any defense.

The age of consent in Kansas is 16. Sexual activity involving a person under 16 is criminal regardless of whether that person participated willingly. Consent isn’t a defense, and neither is a genuine belief that the other person was older.

Charge Tiers by Age & Circumstances

Rape under K.S.A. 21-5503:
Sexual intercourse with a child under 14. For an offender 18 or older, this is an off-grid person felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years before parole eligibility and a $500,000 fine. For an offender under 18, it’s a severity level 1 person felony with a sentencing range of 147 to 653 months and a $300,000 fine.

Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child under K.S.A. 21-5506:
Sexual intercourse with a child who is 14 or 15. This is a severity level 3 person felony carrying 55 to 247 months in prison and a $300,000 fine.

Unlawful Voluntary Sexual Relations under K.S.A. 21-5507:
Sometimes called the “Romeo and Juliet” provision, this applies when the victim is 14 or 15, the offender is under 19 and less than four years older, and only two people are involved. This charge is still a felony (severity level 8, 9, or 10 depending on the conduct), punishable by 5 to 23 months and a $100,000 fine. Critically, convictions under this provision aren’t registrable offenses under the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

Consequences That Outlast the Sentence

A conviction for most age-based sex offenses in Kansas triggers registration under the Kansas Offender Registration Act for 15 years, 25 years, or life, depending on the offense. A second qualifying conviction means lifetime registration. That registry is public, and it affects where a person can live, where they can work, and their ability to maintain contact with minors, including, in some circumstances, their own children.

Additional consequences can include loss of firearm rights, ineligibility for certain professional licenses, and, for non-citizens, potential immigration consequences up to and including removal. The reputational impact of a charge starts before any conviction and can affect employment and family relationships immediately.

How These Cases Are Built & Where Defense Begins

Statutory rape and indecent liberties cases are typically built on forensic interview evidence, sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) examination results, DNA analysis, and digital communications. Each category of evidence can be challenged or contextualized. Forensic interview techniques have established protocols, and deviations from those protocols matter. Inconsistencies in an accuser’s statements across multiple interviews can be significant. The specific age calculations that determine which statute applies are sometimes themselves in dispute.

The most damaging step a suspect can take is speaking to law enforcement without a defense attorney present. Investigators are trained to build the prosecution’s case, and statements made before retaining counsel are usable at trial. Early intervention allows our attorneys to preserve evidence, manage communications with investigators, and evaluate whether the facts may support a lesser charge such as unlawful voluntary sexual relations rather than aggravated indecent liberties or rape.

Charges can also be challenged based on procedural errors during the investigation. We listen carefully to every detail of a client’s situation before determining the best path forward because defense strategy on charges this serious requires precise analysis of which statute applies and how the prosecution intends to prove each element.

Why Clients in Johnson County Choose Gigstad Law

Gigstad Law Office, LLC has been voted Best Law Firm in Johnson County three years running (2023, 2024, 2025), and our criminal defense practice is focused in Overland Park and the surrounding Johnson County communities. We prioritize responsive communication: client calls are returned promptly, and our clients are kept informed at every stage of their case. Our attorneys are members of both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and they bring that professional network to every case they handle.

Get a Free Consultation Before You Say Anything Else

If you’re under investigation or have been charged with a sex crime in Overland Park or anywhere in Johnson County, the time to act is now. Evidence preservation and early defense strategy can affect how a case develops. Contact Gigstad Law Office, LLC to discuss the charges, understand your exposure, and review your options. We serve clients throughout Johnson County, including Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, and Gardner.

Call Gigstad Law Office, LLC at (888) 387-2036 to schedule your free consultation today.