Statutory Rape Attorney in Lexington, KY

Felony Sex Crime Defense Since 1999, with No Charges Filed Results

Kentucky doesn’t have a standalone statutory rape statute, but the charges prosecuted under KRS Chapter 510 carry the same weight: felony convictions, mandatory sex offender registration, and consequences that can follow you for life. If you’re under investigation or have already been arrested, the time to act is now. Bleile & Dawson has been defending clients in Lexington since 1999, with more than 50 years of combined experience in criminal defense, including serious sex crime cases.

We serve clients throughout Fayette County and surrounding counties, including Boone, Campbell, and Kenton. Free consultations are available 24/7.

If you or someone you know is facing a statutory rape charge in Lexington, don’t wait for the prosecution to build its case. Call our statutory rape attorneys at (859) 951-3112 for a free, confidential consultation available any time, day or night.

How Kentucky Defines Statutory Rape

Kentucky’s age of consent is 16. Anyone under that age is legally incapable of consenting to sexual activity, regardless of whether they appeared to agree or initiated contact. That’s a hard line under state law, and it shapes how these cases are charged.

What people commonly call “statutory rape” falls under the rape degrees in KRS Chapter 510. Three distinct categories give rise to these charges:

• Age-based: Sexual intercourse with a person under 16, or with a 16- or 17-year-old when the partner is 10 or more years older
• Position of authority or special trust: Under KRS 532.045, Kentucky law covers individuals such as teachers, coaches, religious leaders, healthcare providers, and foster parents who engage in sexual intercourse with a minor under 18
• Corrections and foster care: A jailer, corrections employee, or foster family provider who has sexual intercourse with a person in their custody or care

Degrees, Felony Classes, & Penalties Under Kentucky Law

The specific charge depends on the ages involved and the relationship between the parties. Each degree carries its own felony classification and sentencing range.

Rape in the Third Degree (KRS 510.060)
A Class D felony carrying 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. This is the most common statutory rape charge and applies in multiple scenarios: the accused is 21 or older and the victim is under 16; the accused is 10 or more years older than a victim who is 16 or 17; the accused is 21 or older and provides a foster family home for a victim under 18; the accused held a position of authority or special trust over a minor under 18; or the accused was a jailer or corrections employee with custody over the victim.

Rape in the Second Degree (KRS 510.050)
Typically a Class C felony carrying 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. This charge applies when the accused is 18 or older and the victim is under 14. The charge can elevate to a Class B felony if the accused held a position of authority or special trust as defined in KRS 532.045.

Rape in the First Degree (KRS 510.040)
A Class B felony carrying 10 to 20 years in prison. If the victim is under 12 or sustains a serious physical injury, the charge can elevate to a Class A felony with a sentencing range of 20 to 50 years or life.

The Consequences That Outlast the Prison Sentence

A conviction under KRS Chapter 510 requires registration on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry, a publicly accessible record that can follow a person into job applications, housing searches, and professional licensing inquiries. The stigma attached to a sex crime conviction affects personal relationships and community standing in ways that can persist long after any sentence is served.

Because the consequences reach so far beyond incarceration, the defense strategy matters from the very first moment. Intervening before charges are formally filed can affect the trajectory of a case.

Why Lexington Clients Choose Bleile & Dawson for Statutory Rape Defense

Our firm takes a team approach to every case. Multiple attorneys review the facts, develop the strategy, and work the file together rather than assigning it to a single attorney and moving on. In sex crime cases, where the investigation moves fast and the stakes are high, that depth makes a real difference.

We can intervene at the pre-arrest stage, before charges are filed, to challenge the direction of an investigation. Our documented case results in sex crime matters include multiple No Charges Filed outcomes across cases involving Incest and Sex Abuse, Gross Sexual Imposition, Sodomy, and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Those are past outcomes, not guarantees, but they reflect the kind of early, aggressive work we bring to every client’s case.

Our attorneys challenge evidence, police findings, and medical evaluations, and are skilled in cross-examination. They have been recognized by Avvo (Superb rating), Super Lawyers Rising Stars, the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and Distinguished Counsel Nation’s Top 1 Percent.

Talk to a Statutory Rape Lawyer in Lexington Tonight

Prosecutors move quickly after an arrest. Every day without defense counsel is a day the other side is building its case. Contact Bleile & Dawson now for a free consultation and let us assess your situation before the next step is taken.

We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reach us by phone or through our online contact form.

Call our Lexington statutory rape defense team at (859) 951-3112 any time. Free consultations, no obligation.