Sex crime allegations in California demand aggressive defense and immediate legal attention from attorneys with experience and expertise in representing people accused of sex offenses.
If you have been accused of a sex crime, procuring skilled legal representation to preserve your reputation and freedom is imperative. At Chastaine Jones, our founding attorneys have over five decades of combined experience successfully defending clients accused of sexual misconduct.
In California, a sex crime involving an adult is any non-consensual act relating to unwelcomed sex or sexual touching. Sex offenses can range from suggestive behaviors or verbal abuse to physically violent attacks. Sexual misconduct involving a minor includes any sexual contact with a child.
Types of sex crimes include:
Sex crimes are some of the most complex cases in the criminal justice system. There are special rules and specific concerns not found in other case types.
For this reason, it is important that you contact a Sacramento County sex crime attorney to help review and build your defense as soon as possible.
Prosecutors, judges and the public take sex crimes very seriously, and a conviction could destroy your reputation and your life. Not only will future employers and landlords be able to view this information, but it may also be seen by family, neighbors, friends, or colleagues.
The punishments for a sex crime in California can include:
Under California law, if you are convicted of certain sex crimes, you are required to put yourself on a public list of sex offenders that is made available to the public. Currently, California requires that an offender be registered for life, regardless of which type of sexual offense the individual was convicted of.
However, a new bill was signed into law in 2017 that will take effect in January 2021, which designates three tiers of registration requirements based on the severity of the crime committed. Under the new law, less severe sexual crimes in Tier 1 will only require 10 years of registration (5 for minors), Tier 2 will require 20 years (10 for minors), and only Tier 3 will require lifetime registration.
Being registered as a sex offender typically prohibits you from being able to live near a school or other place where children gather and can negatively affect your ability to gain certain forms of employment.
This refers to any act of sexual intercourse involving fraud, force, the threat of violence, retaliation, or lack of legal consent. A victim may not be able to consent due to lack of mental capacity, or alcohol or drug impairment. In California, rape is a felony offense and is punishable by three, six, or eight years in prison. A convicted rapist must also register as a sex offender with the State. A Sacramento County sex crime lawyer will work hard to explore all possible defenses to obtain the best outcome available.
This involves touching the intimate body parts of another person, without consent, for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse – including touching over clothing. “Intimate body parts” are defined as a person’s buttocks, sexual organs, groin, anus, and female breast.
Sexual battery could be either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances, and may result in sex-offender status.
This involves exposing one’s own body or private parts in any public place. There is no requirement that the offended person observes the exposure – only that the exposure occurs. Indecent exposure is usually a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine and up to one year of incarceration.
Prostitution or solicitation can include the following:
This involves touching one’s own private parts (or those of another person) in a public place, for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal.
Private parts include the genitals, buttocks, and female breasts. Lewd conduct in public is charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00.
At Chastaine Jones, we understand how scary and confusing it can be to be charged with a sex crime. The stigma of the charges can be overwhelming. The decision on how to proceed is difficult and requires guidance from a skilled and experienced attorney. Schedule a consultation by sending us an email or calling our office at (916) 932-7150.
Get to know our experienced criminal defense attorneys, Martin Jones, Mike Chastaine, and Jessica Davis. Do you need legal advice? Contact our Gold River criminal defense law firm today!