California Penal Codes now have numerous laws that detail offenses occurring from involvement in internet chat rooms. These crimes involve minors and are prosecuted to the fullest. At our firm, Los Angeles internet crime attorneys Mark Haushalter and Ryan Okabe know the laws and how to defend those accused of sex crimes stemming from chat rooms. We use our experience as former prosecutors towards producing the best outcome in your case including, when possible, getting your charges reduced or dismissed.
It is illegal to distribute, send or offer to distribute or exhibit by any means, material that is considered sexually arousing or appealing to a minor. It may not matter that you did not know the age of the person you were in communication with. The law includes failing to take “reasonable care” in finding out the age of the person that you talked to with in a chat room. It is a crime in our state to discuss sexual matters online with a person who is under the age of 18. Using a chat room to arrange a meeting with a minor for sexual purposes constitutes a crime as does actually arriving at such a meeting.
Violating these laws may result in charges of internet pornography, child prostitution, the production of child pornography and others. Being convicted can change the course of your life for many years to come. Using a proven defense attorney from our firm can greatly enhance your chances of successfully defending the charges against you.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, specific sex crimes involving minors can result in federal charges. You may be imprisoned in a county jail or state prison and for second or subsequent convictions, you will be charged with a felony. Prison sentences can be in terms of years and fines run into the thousands of dollars. A conviction will be part of your permanent criminal record and you may be required to register as a sex offender.
We know how and when to press for a reduction or dismissal of the charges against you. In some cases, it may be possible to prevent jail time through the use of educational programs. Don’t allow an inexperienced or unproven lawyer to defend you against these serious charges.
