Los Angeles Sex Crimes Attorney
Sex offenses are those crimes that have a common element of sex. Sex crimes range from Lewd Behavior to Rape. Sex crimes can involve complainants who are Minors or those who are over 18. A defendant is required to register as a Sex offender in All sex crimes. They should be considered very serious.
When you have been accused of committing a sex crime, then experience counts when it comes to hiring a sex crimes lawyer to defend you.
The Consequences of A Sex Crimes Conviction
Under the California Penal Code 290, anyone convicted of a sex crime must register as a sex offender every year within five working days of their birthday. They must do this every time they move to a new address and are further penalized if they do not. If you are convicted of any sex crimes and fail to register as a sex offender by the appropriate deadline, then you could be facing an additional misdemeanor charge. Or, if your sex crime was a felony, then failure to register would result in another felony, and that comes with the additional consequence of serving up to three years in state prison.
How A Los Angeles Sex Crimes Attorney Helps You
A criminal conviction for a sex crime carries severe penalties that can affect you for the rest of your life. First, there are a number of fines and fees that will be assessed, and you could face time in state prison. You may also lose other rights and privileges. In the state of California, for example, a sex offender could lose their ability to own a gun.
A Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney can investigate your sex crime accusations and find the best defenses possible to negotiate the best deal for their clients, such as reduced bail, charges, or sentence.
Common Sex Crimes in Los Angeles
The most common types of sex crimes in Los Angeles include:
- Sexual battery: Improper sexual touching without the person’s consent that does not involve penetration or sodomy
- Indecent exposure: Deliberately showing or exposing the genitalia in front of other people for the purposes of sexual gratification
- Statutory Rape: In the state of California, minors cannot give consent to engage in sexual conduct. Legally, the age of consent is 18. When any person engages in unlawful sex with someone who is under the age of 18, unless they are married, it is considered statutory rape regardless of whether the sex was consensual or even initiated by the minor.
Defenses Against Sex Crime Charges
Sexual misconduct cases are prosecuted harshly, and those convicted face extremely harsh consequences. In these situations, there are often no witnesses and many times there is no video footage or photography to corroborate either side’s story. In fact, it’s sometimes difficult to obtain any evidence at all. And this is precisely how an innocent person can find themselves in a situation where they have to defend themselves against severe charges.
There are many possible defenses that your attorney can use to help you in your case. The first would be if you have an alibi for the time during which the plaintiff says the offense happened. Another is to argue that the sexual contact was consensual and legal. That means that the sexual contact occurred without the use of threats or intimidation.
In order to determine what’s the best defense is for your case, you will need a Los Angeles sex crimes attorney to evaluate your case and let you know what your legal rights are.
A witness usually initiates a Sex Crime prosecution. Often it is a victim making a complaint about unwanted sexual advances. After that, the cops then investigate the crimes. There may be physical evidence that will need to be retested to make sure it says what the cops say it says. There may be eyewitness identification issues and there are problems in eyewitness identification cases that can be exploited to the defendant’s benefit.
In addition to the physical and eyewitness evidence, there may be testimony by a Minor victim. An experienced lawyer is needed to walk the line between cross-examining the minor witness and looking like the witness is being attacked.
I have had success in Sex Crimes Trials by presenting expert testimony on the issue of whether the defendant has the psychological characteristics of a sex offender. This requires expert testimony but can go a long way in winning this kind of case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sex Crimes
If you need to speak to a sex crimes attorney, then call The Law Office of Edward J. Blum right now to schedule your free consultation.
What are felonious sex crimes?
There are different circumstances in which a person can be guilty of aggravated felonious sexual assault, such as when the actor coerces the victim’s submission through the use of threats of physical violence or superior physical strength over the victim. It can also depend on the relationship. For example, if a doctor is providing medical treatment or therapy to the victim and acts in a way that is not recognized in their profession as ethical or acceptable, or uses their position of power to coerce the victim into submission, then that can also be considered felonious rape.
Can government agencies be involved in my sex crime investigation?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice are known to use their resources to investigate sex crimes, particularly in sex trafficking and child pornography cases. This is why you need an experienced Los Angeles sex crimes attorney on your case.
Every sex case is different. I’ve been successfully defending and developing strategies to successfully defend sex cases for over 20 years. I know what’s at stake for you, and I will use all my skills to make sure you beat the sex crimes charges.
Contact criminal defense attorney of The Law Office of Edward J. Blum today.
