Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyer

The California Penal Code defines various criminal offenses and the associated penalties, and charges involving sex crimes often carry severe consequences. Prosecutors in Los Angeles pursue convictions for sex crime cases aggressively, particularly when the allegations involve minors. Proving the facts behind accusations of sex-based offenses can be challenging, and many cases come down to one person's word against another's.

If you are facing a sex crime charge, secure the strategic defense of a former prosecutor immediately. Call a dedicated sex crime attorney in Los Angeles at Stein & Markus now at (562) 512-7030 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. ¡Hablamos español!

Criminal Defense Representation for Los Angeles Sex Crime Charges

If you or a family member faces any sex offense charge in Los Angeles, you need criminal defense representation you can trust. The right defense team can potentially help you avoid the harshest penalties or even help you avoid conviction altogether. To give yourself the best chance of a positive result, secure a defense lawyer as soon as possible.

Prosecutors in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office evaluate these factors before filing charges, and the local courts often impose sentencing enhancements under state law, especially for repeat offenses. In addition to incarceration and fines, those convicted may face long-term restrictions, including loss of voting rights, restraining orders, and mandatory counseling.

Because each charge brings unique legal standards and procedures, working with a sex crime attorney in Los Angeles who knows local courtrooms gives you the best opportunity to challenge evidence, question the process, and seek reduced charges. The Law Office of Stein & Markus brings decades of experience to clients facing all types of sex crime cases, including:

Lewd and Obscene Conduct in Public

• Definition: Sexual activity, indecent exposure, or other obscene conduct in a public space. Indecent exposure is the public revealing of one's naked body. Public indecency applies to consensual or solitary sexual acts performed in public view (e.g., intercourse on a public bus, public masturbation).
• Penalties: Typically qualifies as a misdemeanor, punishable by six months to a year or more in county jail, fines, and a stay-away order.
• Aggravating Factor: Engaging in this behavior in view of children, on school grounds, or near any childcare center can immediately elevate the charge to a felony.

Crimes Involving Prostitution

• Definition: Offering to sell sexual services, pimping, or attempting to purchase sexual services. Loitering while attempting to buy or sell is also a crime.
• Penalties:
  • Prostitution/Solicitation/Loitering: Generally a misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to a year of jail time.
  • Pimping: A felony, punishable by three, four, or six years in state prison. It may also lead to more serious human trafficking charges and potential federal prosecution.

Sexual Assault and Battery

• Definition: Sexual Assault is the unwanted physical contact made in a sexual manner, a blanket term for forced sexual contact such as groping, molestation, or forcible sexual penetration of any kind.
• Penalties: Severity depends on the scope of the actions and the victim's age.
  • Misdemeanor: Punishable by more than a year in jail and thousands of dollars in fines. The victim may also file a civil suit.
  • Felony: Punishable by two to four years in state prison, up to $10,000 in fines, civil liability for the victim's damages, and sex offender status, possibly for life.

Rape

• Definition: Rape is the most severe form of sexual battery, involving forcing another into sexual intercourse or sexual penetration when the party is unwilling, unconscious, mentally unable to consent, or intoxicated.
• Penalties: State law outlines various forms. Penalties are substantially escalated by factors such as the use of a weapon, physical violence, or immediate threats of harm.

Statutory Rape

• Definition: Statutory rape is a crime where one party is above the age of consent (which is 18 in California) while the other is below it. The laws are primarily meant to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors by adults, with some provisions for consensual relationships between teenagers with a moderate age gap.
• Penalties: Not explicitly detailed, but generally involves felony prosecution when committed by adults against minors, leading to many years in state prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Crimes Against Children

• Definition: Includes possession, distribution, or production of child pornography, lewd acts with a minor, or rape of a minor.
• Penalties: Leads to felony prosecution, resulting in many years behind bars in state prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines. Victims can also file civil lawsuits with almost no applicable statute of limitations.

Know Your Rights After an Arrest Involving Sex Offenses

When an individual is arrested for a crime, including a sex offense in Los Angeles, two critical protections are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution that fundamentally impact the criminal case. These rights are the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, which advises remaining silent to prevent statements from being used against the defendant, and the Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel, which ensures access to representation, whether through a public defender or a private attorney, to navigate the often severe penalties associated with sex crimes under the California Penal Code.

• The Right to Remain Silent (Fifth Amendment): You are not legally obligated to answer police questions or act as a witness against yourself during an arrest. It is always best to remain silent and respectfully comply with officer instructions, as anything said can be used for conviction, and resisting arrest can lead to additional charges.
• The Right to Legal Counsel (Sixth Amendment): Every citizen has the right to an attorney when charged with a crime. While a public defender can be appointed for free, they often handle numerous cases, limiting individual attention; hiring a private criminal defense team is recommended for more personalized, responsive, and time-intensive representation to improve the case's outcome.