What You’ll Find In This Article:
- Why Do I Need a Sex Crime Lawyers?
- Types of Sex Crimes
- What Can a Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Do for Me?
- Why Hire Wallin & Klarich?
- Best Rated Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers
- Call Wallin & Klarich for Free Criminal Defense Consultation Today
- Do I need a Sex Crimes Lawyer Near Me?
- Can Sex Crimes Convictions Be Expunged?
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Sex Crime?
Wallin & Klarich was established in 1981, and throughout the past 38 years, our law firm has provided outstanding and aggressive representation to thousands of clients facing sex-crime charges. Whether our clients are being accused of child molestation, indecent exposure, lewd acts, oral copulation, sexual battery or rape, Wallin & Klarich has been by their side as their trusted law firm.
Sex Crimes Defense Attorney
Of all the possible crimes in California, no group of crimes can be more devastating to your life than a conviction for a sex crime. If you are accused of a sex-related crime, the punishment you face could include years in prison and expensive fines. However, these consequences may not be as severe as the lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. Under California Penal Code Section 290, sex offender registration is required if you are convicted of most sex offenses. This could have a major impact on your life. Your name and conviction information could be made available to the public, you may not be able to visit schools or parks, and you could find it difficult to obtain and maintain gainful employment. That is why you should speak to an experienced sex crimes defense attorney right away if you are accused of a sex crime.
With your freedom and your future at stake, you should put your trust in the hands of a skilled and knowledgeable Los Angeles sex crime attorney. If you do not wish to live with the negative stigma that comes with being a convicted sex offender for the rest of your life, the best thing you could possibly do is hire an attorney for sex crimes who has experience dealing with the specific crime you are accused of in the court where your case is pending.
Why Do I Need a Sex Crime Lawyers?
When you are accused of a sex offense, the most important thing you could do is hire a sex crimes defense attorney. This does not mean you should just hire any sex crimes defense attorney or go with the public defender. While these types of lawyers will aim to help you, the area of law involving sex crimes is very complex and requires the knowledge of someone who has handled these types of cases for many years.
So, why should you hire one of the best sex crimes attorney? Well, you wouldn’t go to a dermatologist and ask them to treat you for a brain tumor, would you? The same could be said about the law. It is extremely important that you know that sex crimes are different than other areas of law. Not only do they carry harsher consequences, but sex crimes cases have several complex factors. A sex crimes defense attorney will be best suited to handle your defense in a way that will help you obtain the best possible outcome.
Types of Sex Crimes
Under California law, the category of sex crimes covers a broad range of criminal offenses that involve some form of sexual activity that is illegal. Not all sex crimes involve physical contact with the victim, such as indecent exposure. Some sex crimes do not require the use of force to accomplish a sexual act, such as prostitution.
Here is a partial list of common sex crimes that a person can be charged within Southern California:
- Sexual battery (Penal Code § 243.4)
- Rape (Penal Code § 261)
- Sodomy by force (Penal Code § 286)
- Oral copulation by force (Penal Code § 287)
- Indecent exposure (Penal Code § 314)
- Prostitution (Penal Code § 647)
There are also many sex crimes that involve an adult engaging in sexual activity with a minor. These include:
- Statutory rape (Penal Code § 261.5(d))
- Sodomy with a child (Penal Code § 286(c))
- Oral copulation with a child (Penal Code § 287(c) (formerly § 288a(c))
- Lewd act with a child under the age of 14 (Penal Code § 288)
- Continuous sexual abuse of a child (Penal Code § 288.5)
- Forcible sexual penetration of a child under 14 (Penal Code § 289(j))
- Crimes related to child pornography (Penal Code §§ 311.1, 311.2, 311.3,
In addition, if you are convicted of any of the above-mentioned sex crimes, you will be required to register as a sex offender per Penal Code Section 290. This will result in annual reporting requirements and the likelihood that your name would be able to be found on the internet as being a convicted sex offender. If you are required to register as a sex offender per Penal Code Section 290 and you fail to do so, you can be prosecuted for a new felony or misdemeanor charge based upon the nature of the sex crime charge you were convicted of.
Facing a sex crime charge is a serious matter that you should not attempt to fight on your own. If you find yourself facing a sex crime charge in Southern California, you should retain an experienced Wallin & Klarich defense attorney as soon as possible. Our attorneys can find the weaknesses in the case against you, fight against improper police tactics and procedures, and fight to exclude any evidence that is the result of police misconduct. Having an experienced California sex crime defense attorney at your side can help you find the best possible outcome for your case.
What Can a Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Do for Me?
Sex crime lawyers will give you the best possible chance at obtaining a favorable result in your case. But why? This is because a sex crime attorney has experience handling cases involving sex crimes. That experience is meaningful because it means your sex crimes defense attorney will understand how to prepare the best defense strategy tailored to your case.
For instance, one of the things many sex crime lawyers do not do to help build your defense is work with medical experts. At Wallin & Klarich, our sex crimes defense attorneys have established excellent relationships with forensic psychologists who can testify on your behalf. If the forensic psychologist finds that you do not fit the profile of someone who would normally commit this type of sex crime, his or her findings will go a long way in defending you against these charges. The psychologist could prepare a report that states these findings, and your sex crime attorneys will enter it as evidence, or the psychologist could testify as to his or her findings in court.
Another way our sex crime lawyers are able to stand out from other criminal lawyers is by attacking the credibility of the alleged victim. Most sex crime cases are “he said/she said” cases, meaning they involve the defendant’s word against the accusers. By attacking the credibility of your accuser, our sex crime lawyers may be able to convince the jury or prosecution that he or she cannot be trusted. Meanwhile, by building up your credibility, our sex crime attorneys will show that you are a reliable person and that your word can be taken as the truth.
Why Hire Wallin & Klarich?
If you are searching for a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer in California, you should contact our law firm at Wallin & Klarich. Our sex crime lawyers have been successfully defending clients accused of sex crimes in California for more than 38 years. We’ve helped thousands of clients facing severe consequences obtain positive results in their cases, and we can defend you against sex crime charges now.
In addition, we pride ourselves on providing the best customer service possible. Our clients continue to write excellent reviews about our service and refer their friends and family to us because of the way we treat them. When you hire Wallin & Klarich, you are not just a client, you are a member of our family, and that is why we treat you and your case with the utmost respect and care.
If you are accused with committing a sex crime such as rape, sodomy, child molestation, indecent exposure, sexual battery, or lewd acts with a minor—there is no time to waste. Call one of our experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorneys now at (877) 4-NO-JAIL.
The call is free… will you be?
Best Rated Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers
Wallin & Klarich is synonymous with excellent sex crime attorneys. The consistent success of our sex crimes attorneys has earned our law firm a reputation for being one of the best, most experienced sex crime defense firms in the state. This has led us to earn achievements such as:
- 5 out of 5 AV rating on Lawyers.com
- 10 out of 10 on AVVO
- A+ on Better Business Bureau
Our lawyers have been featured prominently on local and national news outlets due to their experience in the field, such as SuperLawyers.com’s Rising Star for 2019.
Do I need a Sex Crimes Lawyer Near Me?
Wallin & Klarich has offices throughout Southern California and services Orange County, Riverside, Victorville, West Covina, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the surrounding areas. If you are accused of a sex crime, there is likely a Wallin & Klarich, a law corporation, office near you.
Can Sex Crimes Convictions Be Expunged? [CA Penal Code § 1203.4]
If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor sex crime, and you meet certain criteria, you may be eligible to have the conviction removed from your criminal record, or “expunged.” Removing a conviction from your record can open doors of opportunity for jobs, education, and housing and help you put your sex crime conviction in the past.
To be eligible to have your conviction expunged, you must first meet the following conditions:
- You successfully completed probation for the offense; and
- You either did not serve time in state prison; OR,
- You served time in state prison for a crime that has been reclassified as one for which you would now serve time in county jail instead of state prison after the enactment of Proposition 47 in 2014.
However, even if you meet these conditions, you might still not be eligible based on the crime for which you were convicted. If you were convicted of any of these sex crimes, you are not eligible to have the conviction removed from your record:
- Statutory rape (Penal Code § 261.5(d))
- Sodomy with a child (Penal Code § 286(c))
- Oral copulation with a child (Penal Code § 287(c) (formerly § 288a(c))
- Lewd act with a child under the age of 14 (Penal Code § 288)
- Continuous sexual abuse of a child (Penal Code § 288.5)
- Forcible sexual penetration of a child under 14 (Penal Code § 289(j))
- Crimes related to child pornography (Penal Code §§ 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 311.11)
Our experienced Southern California sex crimes defense attorney can talk to you today about your eligibility for expungement. With the help of a Wallin & Klarich sex crimes attorney, you might be able to put your past behind you and move forward with your life without the burden of a sex crimes conviction on your record.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Sex Crime?
Under California Penal Code section 801.1, the general statute of limitations for a sex crime committed against an adult victim is 10 years after the alleged crime took place. If the victim was under the age of 18 at the time of the criminal act, the district attorney can file a criminal charge at any time until the victim reaches his or her 40th birthday. If the district attorney does not file within those time periods, generally, the charges cannot be filed.
There are two exceptions to the above rules. First, a prosecution for a sex crime can begin within one year after the crime is first reported, regardless of when it took place, if these factors are all true:
- The statute of limitations under PC 801.1 has expired;
- The victim was under the age of 18 at the time of the criminal act;
- The crime involved “substantial sexual conduct,” which means it includes sexual penetration by any foreign object, oral copulation, or masturbation;
- Independent evidence corroborates the victim’s allegation; and,
- If the victim was 21 years of age or older at the time of the report of the crime, the independent evidence is clear and convincing.
The second exception involves the collection of DNA evidence. If DNA evidence can clearly establish the identity of the perpetrator after the normal statute of limitations expires, the clock begins to run from the time that the identity is established instead of when the crime took place. From that time, the district attorney must begin the prosecution of the case, no more than one year from the time the DNA evidence confirms a suspect’s identity.
The DNA exception applies under two time frames:
- For a crime that occurred prior to January 1, 2001, the DNA evidence must have been collected and analyzed no later than January 1, 2004; OR,
- For a crime that occurred on or after January 1, 2001, the DNA evidence must have been collected and analyzed within two years of the alleged crime.
If you have been charged with a sex crime, the first call you should make is to an experienced Los Angeles sex crime lawyer. Wallin & Klarich attorneys can review the timing of the charges to determine whether the statute of limitations has expired, and help you fight against any serious sex crime charges.
Call Wallin & Klarich for Free Criminal Defense Consultation Today
If you are accused of a sex crime, contact our skilled and knowledgeable sex crime attorney at Wallin & Klarich. Our law firm has a reputation for success in handling sex crimes, and our unrivaled experience will help us obtain a favorable outcome in your case.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, West Covina, Torrance, Los Angeles, and San Diego, our experienced sex crimes defense lawyers are available to help you no matter where you work or live.
Contact our office today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.