I was Charged with Child Molestation in Orange County. Will I have to Register as a Sex Offender?

California Penal Code section 290 lists all crimes that require you to register as a sex offender if convicted. Annoying or molesting a child in Orange County, under California Penal Code 647.6, is one of the crimes listed under California Penal Code section 290. Therefore, if you are charged and convicted of child molestation you will be subject to mandatory sex offender registration.

If you are required to register as a sex offender in Orange County pursuant to California Penal Code section 290, you must annually register with local law enforcement agencies and consistently provide them with information about your whereabouts. Furthermore, under section 290.46, also known as Megan’s Law, your name, address and the sex crime you were convicted of will be posted online and be available to the public.

In order for you to be convicted of child molestation, the prosecution must prove that you engaged in conduct with a minor that would have disturbed, irritated, offended or injured a normal person, and that your conduct was motivated by unnatural sexual interest in the minor. Depending on the facts of your case, an experienced California criminal defense attorney can raise a number of defenses to help prevent you from being convicted of child molestation and from having to register as a sex offender.

If you are charged with molesting a child under California Penal Code section 647.6, it is imperative that you hire an experienced and knowledgeable sex crimes defense attorney. The consequences of a conviction for child molestation can be devastating and affect you and your family for the rest of your life. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 30 years of experience defending clients in sex crime cases and will passionately fight to prevent your conviction. Contact us today at (877) 466-5245 for more information. We will be there when you call.