Hermosa Beach Sex Crime Attorney

Hermosa Beach Sex Crime Lawyer

A variety of different criminal offenses fall under the umbrella of “sex crimes.” Everything from sexual harassment to rape can be labeled as a sex crime, and many of these offenses come with severe penalties if convicted. If you are charged with a sex crime in the Los Angeles area, talk to a sex crimes lawyer at Okabe and Haushalter to discover your legal options as a defendant in the courtroom.

Legal consequences of sex crimes in California

Each type of sex crime is defined differently under the California Penal Code, and each one results in different consequences for those who are convicted.

Sexual battery

Sexual battery is outlined under Section 243 of the California PC as any unwanted sexually motivated touching, and the possible penalties depend on whether the crime is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanor sexual battery could result in fines up to 2,000 dollars and up to a year behind bars in county jail, while felony sexual battery convictions could result in larger fines and up to four years of incarceration in state prison.

Rape

Rape is a criminal offense under Section 261 of the California Penal Code and is defined as unlawful intercourse or intercourse that lacks mutual consent. Under this law, someone convicted of rape could be penalized by up to eight years in state prison, or more than a dozen years behind bars if the alleged victim was not an adult.

Rape can be classified as:

• Forcible: Forcible rape occurs when an unwilling participant is forced to have sexual intercourse by threats, violence, menacing, or fear, or unlawful injury.
• Rape by force of drugs: This type of rape occurs when someone is under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
• Unconscious rape: The rape of an unconscious person takes place when the person is asleep or otherwise physically unconscious. This rape may also occur when the victim is alert but does not realize that the act being performed is a sexual act.
• Rape by the threat of harm: Sexual intercourse agreed to under threat of harm is rape, such as when a person threatens to falsely imprison, kidnap, harm, or kill the person in order to have sex with them.
• Statutory rape: When someone has unlawful sex with a person under the age of consent (age 18 in California), then that person may have committed statutory rape. The age of the accused and the accuser determine the severity of the penalties levied if convicted.
• Forcible penetration with a foreign object: This type of sex crime involves penetrating the vagina or anus with an object, which might include a sex toy or a finger, by force.

Prostitution

Accepting payment for sexual acts is classified as prostitution under Penal Code 647 (b) PC. Various misdemeanors fall under the penal code that is related to prostitution, including loitering in public for the purpose of prostituting. In addition, “pimping” is illegal in the state of California. Pimping occurs when someone solicits prostitution for other parties and derives their living from prostituting others.

Sex offender registration

Under California Penal Code Section 290, many people who are convicted of sex crimes must register as sex offenders. Sometimes this registry is temporary, but in other cases the registration is lifelong. Registering your data means that the general public will have access to where you live, your date of birth, your photo, and the details of the charge you were convicted of. In some cases, lifelong registrants may request to have their data be made available only to law enforcement agencies, schools, and employers. While this “undisclosed” sex offender status does not remove your information from the database, it does prevent the general public from having access to your personal details. Contact Okabe and Haushalter to learn more about undisclosed status requests.

Sex crimes cases we handle

Okabe and Haushalter can take on any sex crimes case and negotiate on your behalf in court. Some of the types of cases we handle include:

• Rape (including statutory rape and spousal rape)
• Sexual battery
• Lewd acts with a minor
• Luring a minor
• Prostitution-related offenses
• Indecent exposure

Okabe and Haushalter can defend you against your allegations

If you are facing sex crime allegations, there is no better time than now to speak to a sex crimes lawyer in Hermosa Beach. The attorneys at Okabe and Haushalter are experienced in defending their clients against sex crime charges and will work with you on your case with the goal of getting the results we are renowned for. Our reputation as aggressive defense attorneys is why we are able to get our clients a desirable outcome for their cases. We can help you fight the charges against you, possibly yielding reduced charges and reduced penalties. Call today for a free consultation.

Some possible defenses for criminal sexual charges in the state of California include:

• Not knowing the true age of a victim: If the victim looks much older and passed themselves off as being the legal age of consent, it can sometimes be shown that a mistake of age was made.
• Mistaken identity: If you are wrongfully accused by the victim and can prove that the victim misidentified you, this is sometimes a successful defense. DNA can sometimes be useful in situations of mistaken identity.
• Wrongfully accused: If someone stands to benefit from having you charged with a sex crime, that in itself can be a reason to cast doubt in the mind of prosecutors. For instance, a parent accuses another parent of sex abuse in an attempt to remove the other parent from a child’s life.