“Sex crimes” is a blanket term used to refer to multiple criminal offenses as defined by different parts of the California Penal Code. Crimes such as sexual assault, sexual battery, and rape are all termed sex crimes, although each of these offenses is governed by a different statute and each carries different penalties if a conviction is reached. Being charged with a sex crime can be an alarming experience, resulting in social ostracism from family members and the community as well as harsh punishments for those who are convicted. If you need a sex crimes defense lawyer in Hawthorne, the team at Okabe and Haushalter can help.
The various different sex crimes are outlined under different parts of the state law, and the penalties for those who are convicted of these crimes vary.
Sexual battery is a criminal offense outlined under California Penal Code Section 243.4. It is defined as any unwanted touching of a sexual nature or unwanted touching with the intent to attain sexual gratification. This could include touching another person or compelling another person to touch you for the purposes of sexual arousal. This offense may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances in which the crime is alleged to have taken place.
Rape is unlawful under California Penal Code Section 261. This offense is defined as sexual intercourse taking place without mutual consent, whether the intercourse is accomplished using force or threats or some other factor precludes legal consent. For example, some people are legally unable to consent to intercourse, such as minors or people who are under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants. Any person who engages in intercourse with one of these individuals could be charged with rape, even if the intercourse was verbally agreed upon by all involved parties at the time the act took place. Anyone convicted of a rape charge could be penalized by several years of incarceration.
As criminal defense experts, we have experience and knowledge of all types of sex crimes, and we have a solid history of providing an excellent defense for our clients in court. Some of the kinds of sex crime cases we can handle include:
If you need a sex crimes defense lawyer, contact the attorneys at Okabe and Haushalter to find out more about your options under the law. Our team of skilled criminal defense specialists can help you fight the charges against you in court, and may be able to reduce stacked charges to a single charge via a plea agreement and reduce your sentence if convicted. We are known for our tough defense strategies that get desirable results for our clients, and we can put our criminal defense knowledge to work for you. Call now for a free case evaluation.
