Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer
Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers James Sullivan and Associates represent real people accused of serious felony offenses, such as the Trafficking of Persons. Hire an experienced Houston criminal defense trial attorney to get the best possible result.
James Sullivan cares about his clients and gets proven results.
He frequently counsels with clients at his office for hours at a time.
He listens to their concerns, answers all of their questions and
discusses legal strategies. He also explains how a criminal conviction
could affect them, how to avoid having a conviction on their record, and
how to get on the right path for a successful life. Because Jim
Sullivan understands that people need to honor work and family
commitments, he offers evening, weekend and same day appointments along with free parking.
James Sullivan cares for his
clients and is appreciative of those who were thoughtful and took the
time to send him a note of gratitude.
"As an attorney, Jim Sullivan is low profile, down to earth, insightful, and most importantly, effective. I had met with other attorneys that presented a tough and flashy image and claimed to be the best in town, but I chose Jim because I trusted his integrity, capability and sincerity to do his best in representing me in the criminal case (theft) that was charged against me. I was proven to have made a sound judgment - Jim had my case totally dismissed without a trial setting, two months after the charge was made against me. From what I have observed, Jim does not just apply a standard formula to a case and then proceed in the legal system’s 'production line.' Instead, he thinks outside the box and he catches details that are critical to properly define the nature of an event and he goes on to break through a seemingly impossible situation. Jim is a very good attorney, a good man and a true blessing." ~Kay, Houston, Texas (Yahoo Directory Review)
If you need a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney, you can call James Sullivan right now at 281-546-6428.
Texas Penal Code, Section 20A.02 - Trafficking of Persons
Sec. 20A.02.
TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS. (a) A
person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) traffics
another person with the intent that the trafficked person engage in forced
labor or services;
(2) receives
a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described
by Subdivision (1), including by receiving labor or services the person knows
are forced labor or services;
(3) traffics
another person and, through force, fraud, or coercion, causes the trafficked
person to engage in conduct prohibited by:
- (A) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
- (B) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
- (C) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution); or
- (D) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(4) receives
a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described
by Subdivision (3) or engages in sexual conduct with a person trafficked in the
manner described in Subdivision (3);
(5) traffics
a child with the intent that the trafficked child engage in forced labor or
services;
(6) receives
a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described
by Subdivision (5), including by receiving labor or services the person knows
are forced labor or services;
(7) traffics
a child and by any means causes the trafficked child to engage in, or become
the victim of, conduct prohibited by:
- (A) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Children);
- (B) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);
- (C) Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault);
- (D) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
- (E) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
- (F) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
- (G) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution);
- (H) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
- (I) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child);
- (J) Section 43.251 (Employment Harmful to Children); or
- (K) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography); or
(8) receives
a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described
by Subdivision (7) or engages in sexual conduct with a child trafficked in the
manner described in Subdivision (7).
(b) Except as
otherwise provided by this subsection, an offense under this section is a
felony of the second degree. An offense
under this section is a felony of the first degree if:
(1) the
applicable conduct constitutes an offense under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or
(8), regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the child at the time the
actor commits the offense; or
(2) the
commission of the offense results in the death of the person who is trafficked.
(c) If
conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense
under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either
section or under both sections.
(d) If the
victim of an offense under Subsection (a)(7)(A) is the same victim as a victim
of an offense under Section 21.02, a defendant may not be convicted of the
offense under Section 21.02 in the same criminal action as the offense under
Subsection (a)(7)(A) unless the offense under Section 21.02:
(1) is
charged in the alternative;
(2) occurred
outside the period in which the offense alleged under Subsection (a)(7)(A) was
committed; or
(3) is
considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser included offense of the offense
alleged under Subsection (a)(7)(A).
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 641, Sec. 2, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258, Sec. 16.02,
eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 849, Sec. 5, eff.
June 15, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1002, Sec. 7, eff.
September 1, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 1.02, eff.
September 1, 2011.
