Chase Guy Reynolds, a 40-year-old Malibu man, has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a Santa Monica college student on campus, the Los Angeles Daily News reports in an article. Reynolds has been charged with two counts of sexual battery by restraint, one count of attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of second-degree robbery. Prosecutors say Reynolds approached the female student in the college’s library, sexually assaulted her and then stole her house key. If convicted, Reynolds faces up to 13 years in prison for his Los Angeles sex crime.
California Penal Code section 243.4 (a) defines the act of sexual battery as when a person “touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification or sexual abuse.” Given the allegedly violent nature of this particular Santa Monica incident, the defendant is facing more severe charges.
In any sex crime case, there is a strong possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. This is exactly what raises the stakes in a sex crime case. If you have been charged with any sex crime such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, lewd conduct or sexual abuse, you would be well-advised to immediately contact an experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyer who will not only fight to protect your legal rights, but also make sure that your side of the story is heard and understood.
The skilled California sex crime lawyers at Sitkoff & Hanrahan will strive to craft a winning defense that will yield the best possible result in your case. Call us today at 888-579-4844 for a free and confidential consultation.