Site: criminaldefenselawyer.com
... For those sex offenses that the law divides into degrees, the penalties typically increase in severity ... These penalties can increase the class of an offense (such as bumping up a misdemeanor to a felony), ... the felony level (such as an increase from third- to second-degree), or the minimum and maximum terms ... For instance, a second conviction for a felony sex offense carries increased minimum sentences. ... And a misdemeanor conviction for forcible touching or sexual abuse can increase to a class E felony if ...