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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...

First and foremost, if you have no criminal record and argue that it may have been an accident if it’s not an utterly egregious situation, the attorney can help you avoid a 10-year sex registration. California Penal Code 243.4 PC defines sexual battery, also called “sexual assault,” as touching someone on an intimate...

Let’s review what criminal charges you could face if you’re caught sexting with a minor in California. More and more these days, people are on their phones on the internet, and they get themselves caught up in a situation where they’re sexting with a minor. When this occurs, you face registering as a sex offender...

Let’s review whether you will go to prison if convicted of California Penal Code 288.4 PC for arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes for some sexual act. This particular crime seems to be getting charged a lot where people are on the internet, and they’re arranging meetings with minors, which is...

An attempted rape charge is severe, and you’d be facing registering as a sex offender with your local law enforcement agency for the rest of your life. Under California Penal Code 664 PC, an unsuccessful attempt at a criminal act can be punished. An attempt is deemed a crime if you intend to commit the crime...

Let’s review why authorities treat human or sex trafficking defendants so severely. I’m seeing people charged with sex trafficking and human trafficking at a record number.  They are trying to put those people away for many years in prison.  All sorts of different enhancements are being used to jack up the sentence... 

Let’s review what you or your loved ones face if you’re charged with federal charges of 18 U.S.C. 2252 or California Penal Code 311 PC child pornography in Los Angeles County. Many recently have been victims of the FBI coming to their houses, knocking their doors down, and seizing their devices, such as their...

Usually, when we talk about these SART exams, also called a “rape kit,” which stands for suspected abuse response team and is a term used to describe an evidentiary medical forensic exam. This means they’re examining you and trying to build a case that somehow you raped another individual, for example...

For those people who are charged with California Penal Code 647.6 PC child molestation, they’re facing prison time and a lifetime of sex registration. The critical thing is to start your course in defending yourself in the right direction, and that requires sitting down with a seasoned criminal defense...

For those people who are charged with California Penal Code 261.5 PC statutory rape, they are facing the stigma of a conviction for this offense and also potential sex registration as part of their probation. By definition, rape involves having sexual intercourse with someone without their consent. In...

Regarding sex crime cases, one of the favorite things that prosecutors like to do is bring up past conduct against the defendant to prove the current charges. It doesn’t seem fair that prior accusations or convictions should be used against a defendant in a new filing. Under California Evidence Code 1108...

These cases where you’re accused of sexting with a minor are very serious.  Suppose you send any body part nudity to a minor or worse yet. In that case, you have a minor send you some nude information, whether it is photographs or video – you’re putting yourself in a position where you’ll likely get...

More and more today, as I continue in my career of over 30 years, I’ve seen the most prosecutions ever as it relates to sex trafficking-related offenses.  If you or a loved one is charged with one of these crimes, you’ve got to figure out your best course of action because you’re facing state prison, you’re facing...

CCB, or the criminal courts building, also known as the Clara Shortridge Foltz Building, is the main downtown courthouse.  They prosecute many rape cases there because they handle a massive jurisdiction of cases. They have the most sex crime prosecutors in that particular courthouse at 210 West Temple...