Los angeles defense attorneys

Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyer

Former Prosecutor. 75+ Years of Combined Defense Experience. Fighting for You.

The California Penal Code defines a broad range of sex offenses, each carrying distinct legal standards and consequences. Los Angeles prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively, particularly when allegations involve minors, and many cases turn on the credibility of a single witness with no corroborating physical evidence. At Stein & Markus, our team includes a former Los Angeles criminal prosecutor with 33 years of experience who understands exactly how the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office builds and pursues these cases. That prosecutorial perspective, paired with over 75 years of combined defense experience, shapes every case we take on.

We handle both state and federal sex crime charges and are available around the clock from the moment of arrest. Whether you need counsel immediately after being taken into custody or are facing a formal investigation, we’re prepared to act fast on your behalf. ¡Hablamos español!

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 consultation. ¡Hablamos español!

Defending Against Sex Crime Charges Throughout Los Angeles

We represent clients facing sex crime charges from the moment of arrest through final resolution. The Los Angeles County DA’s Office has a dedicated Sex Crimes Division that evaluates evidence before filing charges and moves quickly once it decides to proceed. Our team draws on direct insight into how that office operates to anticipate prosecution strategy, challenge evidence at the earliest stage, and create opportunities to reduce or avoid charges where the facts support it.

Local courts in Los Angeles can impose sentencing enhancements under California law, particularly for repeat offenses. Working with a defense team that knows these courtrooms, the applicable rules of evidence, and the procedures the DA’s office follows puts you in a significantly stronger position from the start. We represent clients facing all types of sex offense charges, including:

Lewd & Obscene Conduct in Public

Definition: Indecent exposure is the public revealing of one’s naked body. Public indecency applies to consensual or solitary sexual acts performed in public view, such as intercourse on a public bus or public masturbation.
Penalties: Typically a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in county jail, fines, and a stay-away order.
Aggravating Factor: Engaging in this behavior in view of children, on school grounds, or near a childcare center may be considered an aggravating factor that affects the severity of the charge.

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, punishable by up to one year in jail.
- Pimping: A felony, punishable by three, four, or six years in state prison. It may also lead to human trafficking charges and potential federal prosecution.

Sexual Assault & Battery

Definition: Sexual assault is 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 conduct and the victim’s age.
- Misdemeanor: Punishable by up to six months in jail (or up to one year for certain aggravated forms) 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 person into sexual intercourse or penetration when that person is unwilling, unconscious, mentally unable to consent, or intoxicated.
Penalties: State law outlines various forms. Penalties are substantially escalated by factors such as use of a weapon, physical violence, or immediate threats of harm.

Statutory Rape

Definition: Statutory rape occurs when one party is above the age of consent (18 in California) and the other is below it. The laws are designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors by adults, with some provisions for consensual relationships between teenagers with a moderate age gap.
Penalties: Penalties depend on the ages of the parties involved and can range from misdemeanor to felony prosecution, potentially resulting in years in state prison and significant fines.

Crimes Against Children

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

Know Your Rights After a Sex Crime Arrest in Los Angeles

Two constitutional protections apply the moment you are arrested, and how you handle the first hours after an arrest can significantly affect the outcome of your case. The Fifth Amendment protects you against self-incrimination: anything you say to law enforcement can be used against you at trial. The Sixth Amendment guarantees your right to counsel. You can request an attorney at any point during questioning, and once you do, interrogation must stop.

The Right to Remain Silent (Fifth Amendment): You aren’t legally obligated to answer police questions or act as a witness against yourself. Stay calm, comply with officer instructions, and say nothing beyond identifying yourself. Resisting arrest can result in additional charges on top of the underlying allegation.
The Right to Legal Counsel (Sixth Amendment): Every person charged with a crime has the right to an attorney. Public defenders carry large caseloads that limit how much time they can dedicate to each client. Private defense representation means more individualized, time-intensive attention to your case. We’re available around the clock and can visit you in jail if needed.

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California’s Three-Tier Sex Offender Registration System

California uses a three-tier framework to determine how long a convicted person must remain on the sex offender registry. The tier assigned depends on the specific offense and its severity, and registration carries consequences that extend well beyond the criminal sentence itself.

Tier 1: Minimum 10-year registration period for lower-level offenses. After completing the minimum period without a new offense, the registrant may petition the court for removal.
Tier 2: Minimum 20-year registration period for mid-level offenses, including lewdness with a minor under 14. Petition for removal follows the same process after the minimum period is complete.
Tier 3: Lifetime registration for the most serious offenses, including rape and sexual assault on a child. In most cases, no petition for removal is available, though a narrow subset of Tier 3 registrants classified based solely on a risk assessment score rather than the offense itself may petition the court for termination after 20 years.

Registered offenders are listed in California’s Megan’s Law public database at meganslaw.ca.gov, which anyone can search by name or location. Approximately 25% of registrants are excluded from public disclosure by law based on offense type, but the majority remain publicly searchable. Registration requires annual re-registration, immediate notification of any address change, and in some cases re-registration every 30 or 90 days. Failure to comply is itself a criminal offense that can result in new felony charges and a return to custody.

Collateral consequences of registration extend into nearly every area of daily life:

Residency Restrictions: Los Angeles County prohibits registered offenders from living near schools, parks, daycare centers, and other facilities regularly used by minors.
Custody and Visitation: A conviction can lead to loss of child custody or visitation rights.
Professional Licenses: Certain professional licenses are automatically revoked upon conviction.
Job and Activity Restrictions: The sentencing judge may impose additional restrictions on employment and activities beyond what state law requires.

We advise clients on registration obligations from the beginning of the case and work to minimize or avoid registration through strategic defense. Avoiding registration is a possible goal in some cases, and we pursue it wherever the facts and law support it.

Immigration & Employment Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction

A sex offense conviction in Los Angeles produces consequences that reach far beyond the criminal sentence. Many sexual offenses under California and federal law qualify as crimes of moral turpitude or aggravated felonies, which can trigger deportation, bar visa or green card eligibility, or result in denial of citizenship. These immigration consequences can arise not only from a formal conviction but also from a guilty plea or facts admitted during court proceedings. Non-citizens facing sex crime prosecution should retain counsel immediately, before entering any plea.

Beyond immigration, a conviction creates lasting barriers to employment and housing. Many employers and landlords conduct background checks, and a sex offense on a criminal record substantially narrows available options. Registered offenders also face geographic restrictions on where they can live, compounding the practical consequences of a conviction. We handle both state and federal charges, which is critical for clients whose cases carry federal immigration exposure.

What to Do If You Are Under Investigation in Los Angeles

A sex crime investigation can move quickly. Investigators frequently serve search warrants, review digital devices, and record witness statements early in the process, often before a suspect is formally notified. Law enforcement may also conduct pretext calls, recording phone conversations with a suspect without their knowledge, to gather evidence before an arrest. Anything said during these calls, or during informal interviews framed as “clarifying discussions,” can be used as evidence in subsequent proceedings.

Remain Calm and Request Legal Representation: If contacted by law enforcement, stay calm, avoid making any statements, and request legal representation as quickly as possible.
Preserve Time-Sensitive Evidence: Our attorneys can take immediate investigative steps on your behalf, including preserving video footage, electronic records, and other evidence that might otherwise be lost.
Act Early: Early intervention by defense counsel is one of the most effective ways to seek to prevent charges from being filed or to limit the scope of charges ultimately pursued.

Common Defenses to Sex Crime Allegations in Los Angeles

A strong defense starts with a thorough review of every fact, witness statement, and piece of physical or digital evidence the prosecution intends to use. Our team draws on former prosecutor insight to identify weaknesses in the government’s case before charges are even filed, and that perspective shapes how we approach investigation, pretrial motions, and trial strategy.

Several categories of defense apply frequently in Los Angeles sex crime cases:

Consent: The central issue in many sexual assault cases. When the facts support it, we build a detailed record of the circumstances surrounding the alleged encounter.
False Accusations: Some accusations arise from custody disputes, personal vendettas, or other ulterior motives. We investigate the accuser’s background and the circumstances that may have prompted the allegation.
Mistaken Identity: When the prosecution can’t reliably place the defendant at the scene, alibi witnesses and surveillance footage can directly challenge identification.
Lack of Corroborating Evidence: Many sex crime cases rest entirely on a single person’s testimony. When no physical, forensic, or digital evidence supports the allegation, that gap is central to the defense.
Illegal Police Conduct: Miranda violations, unlawful searches, and improper evidence collection can support suppression motions that exclude evidence before trial. In appropriate cases, we file Pitchess motions to investigate an officer’s history of misconduct.

How forensic evidence was collected, handled, and analyzed matters as much as what it shows. Defense review of chain of custody and lab procedures regularly reveals procedural errors that can change the trajectory of a case. Reputational damage from a sex crime accusation can begin before any formal charge is filed, which is why acting before charges are set is one of the most consequential steps you can take.

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How a Los Angeles Sex Crime Defense Attorney at Stein & Markus Can Help

The most important steps after an arrest or accusation are also the simplest: remain silent and contact a defense attorney. This isn’t because explaining yourself won’t help; it’s because police are focused on building a case, not evaluating your side of the story. False accusations do happen, including in custody disputes and personal conflicts, and the instinct to correct the record immediately can produce statements that follow a defendant throughout the entire proceeding.

Our team includes a former Los Angeles criminal prosecutor with 33 years of experience who knows how the DA’s Sex Crimes Division evaluates evidence, selects charges, and prepares for trial. That direct knowledge of prosecution strategy gives us a clearer picture of what the government is likely to argue and where the case can be challenged. Combined with over 75 years of combined defense experience across our team, we bring both sides of the courtroom to every case we handle.

Not every sex crime case goes to trial. When the prosecution’s evidence is substantial, plea negotiations may offer a path to reduced charges or a lighter sentence. Not every case qualifies, particularly those involving minors or repeat offenses, but charge reduction through strategic negotiation is a possible option in the right circumstances. When trial is the right path, our attorneys are prepared to challenge evidence, cross-examine witnesses, file suppression motions, and present a complete defense before the jury.

We know Los Angeles courtrooms, the rules of evidence that govern them, and how local prosecutors construct their cases. That familiarity can create negotiation opportunities and advantages for clients. We handle both state and federal charges and are available around the clock.

Speak with a Los Angeles Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Today

Don’t wait to get legal counsel if you are under investigation or have been charged with a sex crime in Los Angeles. Time matters in these cases, and early action can give you an important opportunity to protect your freedom, your reputation, and your future. Our attorneys can visit you in jail if needed.

Call (562) 512-7030 or contact us online today to schedule your initial consultation. We’re available 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I Be Arrested Immediately After an Accusation?

Police in Los Angeles may make an arrest right after a report, but they often complete a brief investigation first. The timing depends on the severity of the allegation, available evidence, and whether there is a risk to others. Officers may contact you for questioning before making a formal arrest.

How Long Do Sex Crime Cases Take to Resolve in Los Angeles?

It varies. Some cases resolve in weeks if evidence is weak or charges are dropped, but most last several months or longer, especially when serious charges lead to pretrial motions, discovery, and negotiation. Cases involving trials or multiple charges can take a year or more to conclude.

Can Sex Crime Charges Be Dismissed Before Trial?

Dismissal before trial is possible when evidence is insufficient, errors occurred during the investigation, or key witnesses are unreliable. Prosecutors and courts review all facts before proceeding, and early involvement of a defense attorney can increase the chances of dismissal or charge reduction.

What Should I Do If a Police Investigator Contacts Me?

Don’t provide statements or information until you’ve spoken to a lawyer. Anything you say can be used as evidence, and legal advice from the start is one of the most effective ways to protect your rights.

Is Sex Offender Registration Always Required After a Conviction?

Not every sex offense conviction triggers registration. The specific charge, severity of the case, and plea agreement terms all determine whether registration is required and for how long. A sex crime defense lawyer can explain whether registration applies to your situation and what options exist to minimize long-term impact.

What Are the Three Tiers of Sex Offender Registration in California?

California’s three-tier system assigns registration duration based on offense severity. Tier 1 requires a minimum of 10 years; Tier 2 requires a minimum of 20 years; Tier 3 requires lifetime registration. After completing the minimum period for Tier 1 or Tier 2 without a new offense, a registrant may petition the court for removal from the registry.

Can a Sex Crime Conviction Affect My Immigration Status?

Yes. Many California sex offenses qualify as crimes of moral turpitude or aggravated felonies under federal immigration law. A conviction, a guilty plea, or facts admitted in court can trigger deportation, bar eligibility for a visa or green card, or result in denial of citizenship. Non-citizens facing sex crime charges should retain counsel before entering any plea.

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