Experienced Sex Crime Lawyers in Los Angeles County: Defending Southern California Clients Facing Criminal Charges for Sex Crimes

Sex crimes are punished severely in California due to their intimate nature and the lasting impact on the victims beyond the initial crime. Being accused of a sex crime should be handled extremely carefully. Such accusations carry not just legal implications, but can drastically affect your personal and professional life. Navigating the complexities and nuances of such charges requires expertise and a deep understanding of California’s legal system.

If you or a loved one is faced with sex crime allegations, your immediate course of action should be to secure representation from a knowledgeable sex crimes defense attorney in Los Angeles, such as Wegman & Levin. We can guide you through the legal maze, ensuring your rights are protected, and bringing our experience to devise a defense strategy tailored to your unique situation.

To learn more about the benefits of retaining our legal counsel, please contact us to schedule your free case evaluation today.

What Are Considered Sex Crimes Under California Law?

Navigating the complex landscape of sex crimes in California requires a thorough understanding of what constitutes illegal sexual conduct. At Wegman & Levin, as experienced sex crime lawyers in Los Angeles, we encounter a myriad of cases that fall under this category. To better grasp the scope and seriousness of these offenses, it’s crucial to understand the broad range of actions that can result in charges. 

Without exhaustively listing every statute and law, it is generally illegal to engage in any of the following actions:

• Non-Consensual Acts: The foundation of any intimate relationship is mutual consent. Engaging in sexual acts or penetration without the explicit consent of the involved parties is one of the gravest offenses in the eyes of the law. Those accused of such actions need an experienced sex crimes defense attorney in Los Angeles to help defend themselves
• Sexual Activity with a Minor: The law is unequivocal about the protection of minors. Any adult engaged in sexual activity with someone underage can face severe consequences
• Coercion: Manipulating, threatening, or coercing someone into unwanted sexual acts is another grave offense
• Unlawful Documentation: In our digital age, taking unauthorized photographs or recordings of someone in compromising positions can lead to legal repercussions. Whether done with malicious intent or otherwise, photographing or recording someone sexually without their consent is taken seriously
• Distribution of Explicit Materials: Sharing intimate photos or videos of someone without their explicit consent, especially if they are underage, is a punishable offense. Such cases can be complicated, and we would recommend seeking guidance from an experienced sex crimes defense attorney in Los Angeles
• Prostitution and Solicitation: While often viewed differently from other sex crimes, offering or soliciting sex acts for money remains illegal in many jurisdictions

When faced with any of the above charges or others related to sex crimes, securing legal representation from a trusted sex crime lawyer in Los Angeles should be a priority. At Wegman & Levin, we are committed to providing effective, conscientious defense and guidance to our clients.

What Are the Potential Consequences if Convicted of a Sex Crime in North Hollywood?

There are very few criminal offenses that are as fiercely prosecuted as sexual assault and other sex crimes in Southern California. If found guilty in a court of law, prosecutors are likely to seek the most severe penalties and may even attempt to make an example of the defendant. Like other harmful and violent crimes, a sexual offense is often charged as a serious felony, and the convicted individual could receive punishments that forever alter the trajectory of their life.

Potential penalties that may be handed down by judges in sex crime cases may include the following:

• In lighter sentences, you may receive time behind bars in a county jail. However, it is much more likely that, if found guilty, the defendant will face a lengthy sentence in state prison facilities. In hopes of securing reduced penalties, you must work with a skilled criminal lawyer to represent your case
• Depending on the sex crime conviction, those convicted may be required to register as sex offenders in the state of California. In tier one sex offender registration matters, first-time offenders with victims over the age of 18 may be forced to register as sex offenders for a full decade. Repeat offenders who have victims over the age of 18 may be required to undergo mandatory registration for a 20-year period. In the most severe cases, such as sex offenses involving minors, the convicted person may have to endure a lifetime registration as a sexual offender
• Professionals in the fields of healthcare, the law, real estate, education, and other industries or lines of work may lose their professional licenses, which can harm the way they make a living
• Defendants may receive a probation order that requires them to make regular check-ins, appear in therapy or counseling, and potentially be monitored around the clock by electronic devices. Depending on the severity of the sexual offense, probation periods may last between three and 10 years
• Non-citizens and green card holders may be forced into deportation proceedings or see their visas denied, as there may be immigration consequences for a sex crime conviction
• If convicted, the defendant will have a permanent criminal record that shows their sexual assault or other sex crime in their criminal history. Having a sex offense in your record can forever negatively impact your life, potentially robbing you of opportunities in housing, education, employment, and other areas

It’s crucial that you take early intervention measures to defend your legal rights and hope to secure reduced charges and more favorable sentencing. In some cases, experienced attorneys may be able to challenge evidence or find procedural errors, which could result in the case being dismissed. Additionally, it may be advantageous to negotiate with prosecutors for a favorable plea deal.

What Types of Sex Crime Cases Do Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Represent?

The experienced team at Wegman & Levin APC assists clients through every stage of the legal process of their criminal cases. Our years of practice in criminal law make us uniquely qualified to represent your constitutional rights and seek a favorable outcome to your complex legal issues.

Over the years of practicing criminal law, we have represented clients in several different types of sex crime cases, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Aggravated sexual assault
• Child pornography, including the recording, possession, distribution, and other unlawful acts involving pornographic material featuring minors
• Felony sex crimes, which can include acts of coercion or physical harm, sexual intercourse involving a foreign object, sex without consent, and sex crimes with aggravating factors
• Human trafficking, which is a felony 
• Internet sex crimes, such as online solicitation, internet-based prostitution, identity theft, unwanted sexting, distribution of obscene materials, and other indecent acts in the digital space
• Lewd acts in public, such as indecent exposure and other unpleasant actions
• Prostitution-related charges, such as solicitation or engaging in the act of prostitution. Though usually charged as a misdemeanor offense, these crimes can still carry hefty penalties, including costly fines, mandatory counseling, and probation
• Sex crimes involving minors, including statutory rape, and alleged errors about misjudging the age or consent of the victim
• Forced oral copulation
• Sexual battery, which is the nonconsensual touching of another person’s private parts for the purpose of sexual arousal or abuse
• Pimping and pandering prostitutes for financial gain
• The failure to register as a sex offender, which can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the nature of the offense
• All instances of rape, which can include spousal rape and date rape
• And more

How Can Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Help You Craft a Strong Defense Strategy?

If you’ve been placed under arrest for the suspicion of committing an unlawful sexual act, our law firm can help you create a uniquely tailored defense strategy that raises reasonable doubt and potentially saves you from severe penalties.

Potential defense strategies and other legal options include the following:

• Your criminal defense lawyers will gather evidence that could potentially raise questions about whether the sexual act was consensual. We may be able to do this by exploring the history of the two parties, reviewing communication between the defendant and the accuser, and cross-examining witnesses
• After performing a thorough investigation, we may discover that the prosecution has insufficient evidence to convict in a courtroom trial
• Mistaken identity, which can occur due to faulty identification methods or the confusion of a rattled victim, can be challenged using digital forensics, DNA evidence, alibis, surveillance footage, and phone records
• Some accusations of sexual assault come from accusers acting out of jealousy, revenge, embarrassment, or seeking child custody modifications 
• The police and other law enforcement agencies must follow specific procedures during the arrest and investigation of a sex crime accusation. If there were Miranda violations, unlawful search and seizure measures, or coercive interrogation methods, it may be possible to suppress the evidence obtained by these rights violations

In some instances, negotiating with prosecutors in hopes of securing a satisfactory plea bargain may be in the best interests of the accused. To learn more, please contact our law firm to discuss your questions and concerns.

Is it Possible to Remove Your Name from the Sex Offender Registry?

It used to be the case that every person convicted of a sex crime had to register as a sex offender for the duration of their lifetime. Under newly enacted legislation, California recognizes a three-tiered approach to sex offender registration guidelines. Now, Tier 1 and Tier 2 offenders who have satisfied the mandatory 10- or 20-year registration requirement may petition the court to have their names removed from the sex offender registry. 

Our trusted and knowledgeable sex crime lawyers are ready to guide you through the petition process, upholding your rights and advocating for your best interests every step of the way. If you’re ready to finally move forward and into the brighter future you deserve, give us a call today.

Contact Our Law Offices to Schedule a Free Consultation with Our North Hollywood Sex Crime Lawyers Today

Being charged with a sex crime carries severe implications, both legally and socially. Regardless of the circumstances that landed you in this spot, you cannot risk being convicted of a sex crime due to the harsh penalties and the stigma that come with such a conviction. Wegman & Levin, with their vast experience as sex crime lawyers in Los Angeles, will advocate fiercely for you, aiming to prevent jail time and registration as a sex offender. If you’re in a situation where the stakes are this high, act promptly and reach out to us.

Wegman & Levin have extensive experience and a proven track record in defending individuals against sex crimes in North Hollywood, Burbank, San Fernando, Glendale, Los Angeles County, and throughout Southern California. If you find yourself facing charges related to sexual offenses, don’t hesitate to contact our office today at 818-495-8330.