An Orange County man faces up to 135 years in prison after being charged with molesting a 5-year-old girl. According to a KABC news report, the 43-year-old man has been charged with repeatedly molesting a 5-year-old girl while working as a housecleaner in 1995. The charges were filed after new charges were against the man, alleging he also molested two young girls in Mission Viejo – ages 9 and 10. It is not clear at this time what evidence the prosecutor may have to prove that the man committed these sexual assaults 15 years ago.
California Penal Code 288 makes it illegal to commit lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. A lewd act is defined as touching a child or minor anywhere on the body with the intention of causing sexual arousal. These allegations carry severe penalties such as a lengthy prison sentence and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
In such cases, the prosecution must prove that the defendant willfully touched a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. These life-changing charges often arise out of false allegations and misunderstandings. The stakes are extremely high in sex crime cases.
The Orange County sex crime defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have a long history of successfully defending those who have been charged with serious sex crimes. If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime in Orange County, please contact our skilled criminal defense lawyers at 1-866-430-8383 to discuss your case.