While all crimes are serious, a conviction for a criminal sex act can have many negative and significant consequences. Despite its name sounding less severe, a criminal sex act is just as serious as a rape charge. If you are accused of or charged with a criminal sex act, it is important to have your case handled by an experienced criminal defense lawyer who has represented people in similar situations. As these crimes typically occur between people who know each other, having an attorney involved at the earliest possible moment is recommended and can often be the difference between conviction and acquittal.