Asked 7/8/2016 – Houston, TX

I was charged with indecency with a child when i was 17 years old. Long story short i masturbated on my cousin’s leg after reading a playboy magazine. My aunt caught me and several days later she took me to the police department and was told to write down what happened. I got a court appointed lawyer because i was a minor and he said to sign here and i could go home with deferred adjudication . Come to find out i signed for 4 years probation and 10 years to register as a sex offender after probation. I completed probation and the sex offender registration but feel like i got railroaded. I cant get a job or an apartment. Just wish i was told all this a minor when it happened. No lawyer was present with me when i went to the police department. I know what i did was wrong and completed everything. I’m trying to get a non disclosure or have my case reopened. Never been in trouble after that case. Was put out in the street(which i felt i deserved) but still managed to be an upstanding citizen.

Answer

Can you set aside a judgment entered in in 1996? Anything is possible. Will it happen in your case? Probably not. From what you describe, you do not dispute the allegations in your case. You just did not understand the long term consequences. Unless you claim your confession was coerced AND untrue, it would be difficult to obtain a new trial at this point. But it doesn’t hurt to talk. Obtain a copy of the judgment in your case and take it to a local attorney. See if there is any posit-judgment relief available