Encino Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

Types of Sex Crime Cases We Handle

Over the past two decades, our legal team has successfully defended people against a range of charges, including:

• Aggravated sexual assault :Felony charged under California Penal Code 243.4
• Rape, including date rape, statutory rape, and spousal rape: Felony charged under California Penal Code 261
• Indecent exposure: Misdemeanor or felony, depending on the nature of the crime, charged under California Penal Code 314
• Lewd act in public: Misdemeanor charged under California Penal Code 647(a)
• Child molestation: Felony charged under California Penal Code 288
• Sex for a fee, prostitution: Charged as a misdemeanor under California Penal Code 647(b)
• Child pornography: Misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the nature of the crime, charged under California Penal Code 311
• Pimping and pandering: Felony charged under California Penal Code 266
• Human trafficking: Felony charged under California Penal Code 236.1
• Failure to register as a sex offender: Misdemeanor or felony, depending on the nature of the crime, charged under California Penal Code 290
• Oral copulation by force: Felony charged under California Penal Code 288
• Soliciting a prostitute: Misdemeanor charged under California Penal Code 647(b)

Common Defenses to Sex Crimes

To be granted a conviction, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. This is a difficult standard to meet. An experienced sex crimes defense attorney will work to uncover all the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and develop a strong defense tailored to your situation.

Common defenses include:

• Consent was given: Consent is a powerful defense to many sex crimes. Note, however, that consent is irrelevant if the victim was underage or had a reduced mental capacity.
• The victim isn’t being truthful: There are many cases where alleged victims lie or misinterpret events.
• Mistake of age: In cases in which the victim’s age is relevant, the defendant can argue that a reasonable person would have believed the victim was of legal age.
• Mistaken identity: Especially in traumatic crimes, victims may misidentify the perpetrator.

Every case is different, and your attorney will need to investigate exactly what happened to determine the best defense strategy for you.

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Penalties for a Sex Crime Conviction

If a conviction is unavoidable in your case, your attorney will push to minimize the penalties you face. Examples of penalties for sex crime convictions in California include:

• Aggravated sexual assault: Prison sentence of 2 years or more and a maximum fine of $10,000.
• Rape: A maximum prison sentence of 8 years.
• Sexual assault: Misdemeanor convictions result in a jail sentence of 6 months to 1 year and a fine of up to $3,000. A felony is punished by up to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Indecent exposure: A maximum 1-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $1,000.
• Lewd act in public: A 6-month jail sentence and a fine of up to $1,000.
• Child molestation: Up to life in prison.
• Sex for a fee, prostitution: Up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
• Child pornography: A maximum jail sentence of 1 year and a fine of up to $2,000 for a misdemeanor. A felony is punished by a prison sentence of up to 8 years and fines as high as $100,000.
• Pimping and pandering: Penalties vary, but a misdemeanor may be punishable by a 6-month jail sentence and a fine of up to $1,000. A felony conviction carries a prison sentence of up to 6 years and a maximum fine of $5,000.
• Human trafficking: Up to life in prison and a maximum $500,000 fine.
• Failure to register as a sex offender: Up to a year in jail for a misdemeanor conviction and up to 3 years in prison for a felony conviction.
• Oral copulation by force: A prison sentence of up to 8 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Prostitution or soliciting: A 6-month maximum jail sentence and a fine of up to $1,000.