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"Sextortion" is a serious crime involving threats to reveal sexual images, videos, or explicit materials unless the victim meets certain demands. These demands often include money, more explicit content, or other actions. This crime is highly invasive and carries severe legal penalties. In many...

If you're accused of domestic violence or a sex crime in California, there's a high chance you'll be served with a restraining order. This legal step helps protect the victim by restricting the accused's actions. Such an order can lead to questions about whether it becomes part of the public record...

Let's see whether your misdemeanor conviction will appear on a California background check. A key concern for defendants is how such convictions might impact their employment prospects. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, which is a relatively minor offense, you might be given probation...

Rephrase here. Sodomy, as defined in a legal context, is a sexual act involving any penetration involving the penis of one individual and the anus of another person. The length of time over which said penetration occurred, or the degree to which it was performed, are irrelevant factors in terms ...

When facing a sex crime charge in California, a typical and pressing question is, "How long will my case take?" Although the Constitution guarantees a "speedy trial" and California's criminal justice system aims to offer defendants prompt resolution, the actual duration of a criminal case can...

If you've been accused of statutory rape in California (which involves having sex with a minor), you could face severe penalties and damage to your reputation if convicted. The consequences are serious and should not be underestimated. But what if the minor lied about their age-and...

Rape kits are considered reliable evidence in sexual assault cases because the DNA they gather is highly precise and can help identify perpetrators, connect related crimes, and exonerate innocent individuals. Nonetheless, their success relies on proper collection procedures and prompt testing...

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 268, which will classify rape of an intoxicated victim as a violent felony. This classification means the offense qualifies as a “strike” under California's Three Strikes law, substantially increasing punishment for recidivists and making offend...

If your child is accused of a sexual offense in California, you should speak with our experienced juvenile sex crimes defense lawyers. We have represented countless minors accused of sexual offenses. Convicted juvenile sex offenders face harsh penalties under....

The consequences of a false accusation of rape can be catastrophic for the accused, even in cases where the charges are ultimately dropped. A recent news story reminds us of the profound damage such accusations can inflict. Crystal Mangum, who made headlines in 2006 when she accused three Duke U...

Let's review if you can still be charged with California Penal Code 261.5 PC statutory rape if a minor lies about their age. If you have been accused of statutory rape in California (i.e., having sex with a minor), you could be facing significant penalties and a tarnished reputation if you are c...

Lewd and lascivious conduct is a sexual act that is offensive to community standards of decency and often involves a minor under 18. Physical penetration is not necessary for lewd and lascivious conduct, such as groping a minor. Lewd and lascivious conduct is a type of felony sex....

Any offense prosecuted in federal court is a serious issue. If you are facing federal sex crime charges, you may be facing time in prison and having lifetime registration as a sex offender. Most sex crimes are prosecuted in state courts, but some sex crimes fall under state and federal....

The term “sex addiction” describes a wide range of behaviors that involve compulsive sexual behavior, such as an addiction to pornography. The opinions on whether it can be used to explain and mitigate illegal sexual conduct are mixed. This condition has sometimes been used as a successful mitigating factor but has also...

When you or someone you love is facing sex-related criminal charges in California, you must have an experienced sex crimes defense attorney to obtain the best possible outcome. Simply put, the most important decision you will make is which sex crimes defense lawyer to hire. Some essential questions to consider are: How...

Under various laws, registered sex offenders can typically obtain a passport and travel internationally, but there might be some restrictions on where they can travel. Under United States federal laws, they are allowed to travel outside the country, but other countries might have entry restrictions against registered sex...

In some sex crime cases, a defendant might be able to use the defense of consent to avoid a conviction. The defense of consent applies only to sexual-related crimes where consent, or lack thereof, is an element of the crime. An “element” is a factor that must be proven beyond reasonable doubt by the district attorney in a crime...

In California, there is no specific law prohibiting having sex in your car, but you could still face criminal charges in certain situations. In other words, a sex act in the car could break several different laws.  People engaging in sexual activity in a vehicle is certainly nothing new, but the question of whether it’s legal is often...

For those individuals who must register as a sex offender under California Penal Code Section 290 PC and end up violating the registration requirements, getting arrested, and picking up a new case, they're facing serious consequences.  Many people pled guilty to strikes, so now they're looking at a second-strike case....

Initially, in the early 1990s, California was one of the first states that had sex registration, and they were very harsh as it related to this.  People who were being convicted as sex offenders had to register for the rest of their lives.   Then, Megan's Law came in, and they were put on a website. Prosecutors even realized there...

California Penal Code 243.4(a) PC sexual battery law applies whenever someone touches an intimate part of another person's body while restrained. The touching must be against the victim's will and must be done for sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse. Sexual battery is a wobbler that can be filed as either...

Let’s review the common mistakes people make who are being investigated or charged with sex offender registration violations in California. If you or a loved one is being investigated or charged with violating the terms of their sex registration, you want to get an attorney right away.  That’s the first common mistake...

Let’s review the most common mistakes people make when they are being charged with California Penal Code 261.5 PC statutory rape, commonly known as having sex with an underage person. As most people know, the age of consent in California is 18. So, if you or a loved one is charged with having sex with...

Let’s review whether you will go to prison if charged with California Penal Code 289 PC forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object. This Penal Code Section 289 – forcible sexual penetration – is a grave crime because a prosecutor alleges that you or your loved one touched a woman in a way that amounted to...

Let’s review how much prison time you might face if you’re charged with California Penal Code 290 PC for failing to register as a sex offender. Those people who fail to register as a sex offender are typically facing many years in prison.  One reason is that their prior conviction is often a strike. So, when they get...