Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in Sacramento, CA
Under California law, a sex crime is any act of a sexual nature that is illegal.
There are a wide variety of offenses that fall under the “sex crimes” definition, including but not limited to:
- Prostitution or solicitation
- Molestation and child molestation
- Forced rape or coerced rape
- Statutory rape
- Sexual assault
- Indecent exposure
- Certain computer crimes that involve pornography
- Pandering
- Lewd conduct
Some sex crimes are misdemeanors and others are felonies, and many sex crimes are considered “wobblers” – meaning that they can either be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances surrounding the crimeem>
Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction
Being convicted of a sex crime can have a profound effect on the reputation and life of the person accused. There are a variety of penalties that can be imposed on a sex crimes conviction, including:
- Significant fines
- Time spent in a county jail or state prison
- Probation
- Having your home address placed on the Internet to identify that a sex offender lives in a particular area
- Counseling
- A criminal record
- Registration as a sex offender for life
These consequences can affect:
- where you live
- where you work
- your relationships with other people
You will be able to be identified as a sex offender by anyone; however, they will not know the circumstances surrounding your conviction.
Those who identify you as a sex offender will not know if you are a child rapist, or if you were urinating in public, or if you were an 18-year-old with a younger girlfriend.
It is essential you retain an accomplished and qualified California criminal defense lawyer to fight the sex crime charges against you. When you have a skilled attorney with experience defending sex crimes cases on your team, you have the best chances of building a solid case that will withstand the tactics of the prosecution.