If you have been accused of committing a sex crime, your reputation may already be destroyed. Even the thought that you could commit such a heinous offense could ruin your relationships with your family and friends, destroy your career, and strip you of your freedom.
For this reason, it is imperative that you get a highly skilled Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer on your side to help you protect your future and clear your name.
There are many types of sex offenses you could be accused of committing. Offenses involving children will often carry far more serious penalties than most other sex crimes. Here is more about some of the most common types of sex offenses we see in the Los Angeles criminal justice system and the steps you should take when you are ready to explore your legal options.
Common Sex Crimes Under California Law
There are multiple types of sex offenses that you could be accused of committing, depending on the circumstances of your case. In almost all situations, if the offense involves a minor child, you can expect to face more serious criminal penalties if you are convicted.
With that in mind, here are some of the most common types of sex crimes our Los Angeles violent crimes lawyer defends against:
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Child Molestation
There are multiple types of sex crimes relating to child molestation. These involved continuous sexual abuse under California Penal Code § 288.5 when the child is aged 14 or younger and annoying or molesting a child which involves three or more significant acts of sexual conduct or lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under California Penal Code § 288(a).
If no aggravating factors exist, we may be able to convince the prosecutor to charge you with a low-level felony or misdemeanor.
The penalties may be harsh if you are found guilty. In a worst-case scenario, you could spend up to 16 years in a California state prison and pay thousands of dollars in fines. Upon your release, you may be ordered to register as a sex offender under Megan’s law.
Child Pornography
Not only is child pornography a crime under California law, but it is a federal offense as well. Under California Penal Code § 311.11, if you are accused of possessing, distributing, or producing child pornography, you could face misdemeanor or felony-level charges, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you might spend up to one year in jail and pay fines up to $2,500 in addition to being required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life.
However, the penalties for a felony conviction are much worse. You could spend up to six years in a California state prison and pay considerable fines. You will also likely be required to register on the California sex offender registry as described under California Penal Code § 290-294.
Lewd Conduct
Multiple types of sex crimes could be considered lewd conduct as described under California Penal Code § 647. These are generally tried as misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in county jail. Some of the most common types of offenses that may be classified as lewd conduct include:
- Solicitation of lewd conduct
- Indecent exposure under California Penal Code 314
- Lewd conduct against a child for the purpose of sexual gratification under California Penal Code 288
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Rape
Rape can be prosecuted under California Penal Code 261. If you are accused of engaging in forcible sexual intercourse with someone who did not give their consent, you could face criminal charges. There are multiple types of rape charges as well, including:
- Rape through the use of drugs under California Penal Code § 261(a)(3) as linked above
- Rape under California Penal Code § 261(a)(2) as linked above
- Rape through the use of the threat of harm under California Penal Code § 261(a)(6) as linked above
- Rape of someone who is unconscious under California Penal Code § 261(a)(4)(D) as linked above
- Forcible penetration with a foreign object under California Penal Code § 289
- Statutory rape under California Penal Code § 261.5(a)
The type of rape offense you are accused of committing will determine the extent of your penalties. In almost all situations, rape is prosecuted as a felony. This means you could be looking at fines of up to $10,000 and three, five, or eight years in a California state prison facility, but if the alleged victim is under 14 years of age, your prison term could reach as much as 13 years.
Sexual Assault and Battery
Per California Penal Code § 243.4, if you are accused of touching another person’s intimate parts without their consent, you can be charged with sexual battery. This is a wobbler, which means it can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony.
If convicted of misdemeanor sexual battery, you could spend up to one year in jail and pay fines up to $3,000, whereas a felony conviction is punishable by fines of up to $10,000 and up to four years in state prison.
Meet With a Reputable Sex Crimes Lawyer in Los Angeles for Help Clearing Your Name Today
Not only do you need to worry about jail or prison time and fines, but if you are found guilty of any type of sex crime, you will also likely be required to register on the California sex offender registry.
This could destroy your opportunity to put your arrest, trial, and conviction behind you after completing your sentence. Your best option may be to trust a trial-proven Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from Simmrin Law Group with your defense strategy.
Our team will closely evaluate the charges against you and the circumstances surrounding your arrest to determine how to best approach your defense. We will need to consider the age of the alleged victim, your criminal record, and whether aggravating factors could lead to elevated charges. We can get started with an initial defense strategy session when you fill out our confidential contact form or call our office to schedule yours as soon as today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form