Articles Posted in Sex Crime

A Simi Valley high school coach has been arrested following an accusation that he had sexual relations with a teenager. According to The Simi Valley Acorn, the 40-year-old man was arrested on October 8 for allegedly committing a lewd act on a child under 14. The girl, now 15, has told police that she was twice involved in consensual sex acts with the coach when she was 13-years-old.

Being charged for lewd acts with a minor is a serious sex offense in Ventura County. According to California Penal Code 288, Any person who willfully commits any lewd or lascivious act “upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.” Anyone under the age of 18 cannot legally give consent to have sex or perform sexual acts.

In addition to the severe penalty of extended incarceration, anyone convicted of lewd conduct with a minor will be forever labeled as a sex offender and will need to register with local law enforcement under Megan’s Law. This type of sex offense has significant professional and social ramifications that can forever change the life of the defendant. It is crucial that anyone charged with a sex crime in California seek the counsel of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

A 29-year-old Westminster man has been arrested for attempted rape and sexual battery. ABC7 reports that the alleged sex offenses occurred when a 29-year-old woman met the man at a gas station and agreed to follow him to a playground on Westminster Boulevard, where she told officials she was assaulted. Officials examined the scene where the alleged crime took place and arrested the man based on forensic evidence.

Attempted rape and sexual battery in Orange County are serious crimes with serious consequences. Under California Penal Code 243.4 (a): “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if that touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery.” An individual who is convicted of these charges could be punished with jail or prison time and severe fines.

If you have been accused of attempted rape or sexual battery, you need an experienced Orange County sex crime defense lawyer who will aggressively fight for your rights. The skilled criminal defense lawyers of Sitkoff & Hanrahan will conduct a thorough investigation, interview witnesses and examine evidence in order to build a solid legal defense. A sexual assault, rape, attempted rape or any other sex crime charge can change the course of your life, your career and your future. Call us today at 1-866-430-8383 to discuss your case and learn about your rights.

A new law to crack down on sex offenders in California and to track convicted criminals on parole was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 9, 2010. According to a news report in the San Francisco Examiner, Chelsea’s Law is named after Chelsea King, who was raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender in San Diego in February. Chelsea’s Law (AB 1822) mandates GPS tracking for those on parole who have been convicted of sexually assaulting minors under the age of 14. The new law also allows life sentences without parole for some California sex offenders and imposes stricter parole conditions for many sex offenders.

As Los Angeles sex crime defense lawyers, we know that there is a flip side to this issue. Unfortunately, the new law may also take away the rights of those who are falsely charged with sexual assault. Having a GPS track your every move is just one more consequence that comes from being convicted of a sex crime in California. Convicted sex offenders, in addition to facing incarceration, are also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives under California law.

If you have been charged with a sex crime in California, it is crucial that you contact a skilled Los Angeles County sex crime defense lawyer immediately. Speaking with authorities without legal representation can be detrimental to your case and have devastating consequences. The criminal defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan understand that the stakes are high for those charged with sex crimes. If you have been accused of committing a sex crime, please call us at 1-866-430-8383. Our skilled criminal defense team will review your case and aggressively fight the charges against you.

All sex crime charges in California are serious and carry severe penalties. California Penal Code section 288 (a) covers sex crimes with a minor under the age of 14. This law exists to protect those that cannot protect themselves and it is a necessary and important law. Unfortunately, it is also a very broad law and it often leads to convictions of individuals who had no intent of doing harm or whose actions may have been misunderstood. Understanding this important law is extremely critical, especially for those who work with and around children.

California Penal Code section 288 (a) states: “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act… upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony.” This is a felony punishable with up to eight years in prison for each count.

This law defines acts as lewd or lascivious when the intent is to arouse the desires of either party. There does not need to be bare skin touching to be considered lewd. There does not have to be actual arousal either. There only has to be the intent for arousal. A child under 14 cannot legally give consent. Not knowing the age of the minor is not a defense.
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When you are accused of a sex crime, many people think that the charge alone can be enough to tarnish your reputation and jeopardize your career. All sex crime allegations must be aggressively fought with the help of an experienced Los Angeles or Orange County sex offense attorney. Internet sex crimes are require a sex crimes defense attorney who has extensive knowledge of techniques used by police investigators.

Internet sex crimes often involve cases where the victim and the defendant “meet online,” when communications involving solicitation of sex take place via e-mail or when online child pornography is involved. Many sex crime allegations come from Internet users meeting and chatting online. Often, police officers will pose as others to try to entrap an individual in to making online remarks that may be misinterpreted. Even a minor misunderstanding during such a communication can quickly turn into someone being wrongfully accused of a serious sex crime.
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A 25-year-old man was arrested in Gardena for allegedly contacting a minor over the Internet for sex. Earlier in the week, authorities took over the MySpace account of a 12-year-old girl and arranged a meeting with the man. MyFoxLA.com reports that the man showed up to the meeting place and was charged with committing a lewd act on a child and contacting and arranging a meeting with a minor with intent to engage in a lewd act.

Sex crimes in California have serious consequences. A sex crime conviction in California could very well result in prison time, steep fines and mandatory registration as a sex offender. However, a significant number of the people charged with lewd acts with a child (California Penal Code 288) are falsely accused. Misunderstandings and miscommunications can happen and mistakes can be made. Lewd acts with a child laws are broad and can be difficult to understand. If you have been accused of such crimes, you need an experienced Los Angeles County sex crimes lawyer to help you fight these charges and clear your name and reputation.

Our Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys will thoroughly investigate the allegations. A sex offense lawyer will interview people witness and thoroughly research the email, online chat records and any tape recordings that were made to see if any entrapment issues arise. If you have been falsely accused of a sex crime with a minor, it is crucial that you approach the sex offense allegations aggressively and constructively so that your reputation and future are not put in jeopardy.

California is considering legislation that will put a distinct mark on sex offenders’ driver’s licenses. The Huffington Post reports that the mark could be a distinctive stripe or color. Assemblymen Paul Cook and Pedro Nava authored the bill, which either marks driver’s licenses of sex offenders or forces them to carry a new government-issued ID card. This bill is just another possible penalty in a long line of legislation imposing harsh penalties for convicted sex offenders in California.

Convicted sex offenders don’t just face jail time and fines in California. Sex offenders are already required to register in the city in which they live. A few clicks online by their neighbors will bring up their address, information and sometimes even a photo. Convicted sex offenders face numerous challenges including finding a place to live and finding employment. These laws, restrictions and penalties are little consolation to the victims of sex crimes, but they are substantial and life-changing for wrongfully accused sex offenders.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, you should contact a California sex crime defense attorney. Do not speak with police until after consulting with a sex crimes defense lawyer. Remember, anything you say to the police or prosecutors will be used against you in court during your sex offense trial.

A major consequence of being convicted of a sex crime in California is the requirement to register as a sex offender. As a sex crimes registrant, the public has access to your address, photograph and the crimes you have been convicted of through the Department of Justice’s Megan’s Law database.

Megan’s Law, named after 7-year-old sex crime victim Megan Kanka, was passed on August 24, 2004. It was signed into law in September 2004. This database aims to provide the public with information about sex offenders in their area.

Registering as a sex offender in Southern California seriously affects an individual who has been convicted of a sex offense or served time in prison. However, a person is still penalized once they are back in society, even after they have served their sentence. Some sex offenders who are “found out” by their neighbors through the database may feel pressured to leave the neighborhood. A number of sex offenders end up living in motels because they cannot even rent a home without neighbors protesting. This is probably one of the most serious consequences of being convicted of a sex crime in Los Angeles or Orange County. Even false allegations of a sex crime are usually sufficient to taint your reputation for a lifetime. A conviction takes it several steps further by putting you on a database and branding you as a “sex offender” for life.

Every day the momentum for Chelsea’s Law grows and becomes close to being a reality in California. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially stated that he supports the law. Chelsea’s Law is named after Chelsea King, a San Diego girl who was tragically murdered by a registered sex offender. If passed, this law will strengthen and increase the penalties for sex offenses. Any sex crime conviction in California imposes grave consequences upon an individual. But, with Chelsea’s law, the punishments are about to become much more harsh.

Chelsea’s Law increases penalties enforced on sexual predators. It creates a one-strike provision that could lead to life without parole for the most serious of sex crimes. Another provision makes it a misdemeanor for a registered offender to be in a park or a public place where children may be present, without first seeking permission. Assembly Bill 1844 allows punishments for sex crime convictions to be altered depending on the age of the victim and the harm caused.
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A 24-year-old man from Canada has been accused of luring a minor for sex and showing up at her California home, according to a news report in the North Bay Nugget. The man reportedly rode his motorcycle 3,000 miles to have sex with a minor in California. Prosecutors say the man sent her graphic text messages and photos. The girl is 17 years old and therefore considered a minor. The young man has been charged with contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, annoying or molesting a child, and sending obscene material depicting a minor. He is currently in jail without bail waiting to face these serious charges.

Soliciting sex from a minor is a serious offense. California has a long history of enforcing severe penalties upon accused sexual offenders. In this case, one must wonder if the accused really knew the age of the girl. Police will probably go through their online discussions and text messages to fully determine their relationship. In such cases, there is always the possibility that there was some type of miscommunication between the two parties involved.
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