Orange County Child Molestation Lawyer

A conviction for a child molestation crime will typically lead to multiple years of incarceration and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A first-time offender convicted of lewd or lascivious conduct with a minor will be obligated to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 20 years. A second or subsequent conviction will result in sex offender registration for life.

A person’s registered sex offender status may be publicly accessible and will almost certainly appear in background checks. This means that registered sex offenders have an extraordinarily difficult time securing housing, employment, and other opportunities. Any kind of sex crime conviction can thus haunt you for many years after you have served a jail or prison sentence, underlining the importance of promptly seeking guidance from an experienced Orange County child molestation lawyer.

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Understanding California’s Child Molestation Laws

Multiple sections of the California Penal Code address child molestation charges and punishments. As a general rule, a “child” in the state of California is considered to be anyone under the age of 18, though some statutes define charges involving minors who are of an even younger age.

It should come as no surprise that is unlawful to have sex with anyone who is under the age of 18, as a minor is considered unable to give consent. This act is formally referred to as “statutory rape.” Unlike some states, California does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” law, meaning a person still commits statutory rape whenever they have sex with a minor, even if they are a minor themselves or are close to the victim in age.

Several child molestation charges concern “lewd or lascivious acts.” A lewd or lascivious act involves touching a child’s body for sexual purposes or compelling a child to touch themselves or another person for sexual purposes. The offending physical contact does not necessarily have to involve bare skin.

Some California child molestation crimes do not involve any physical contact at all. It is unlawful to contact a child with the intent to commit a felony, including any sex crime. It is illegal to arrange a meeting with a child if one intends to engage in sexual activity. Sending explicit material with the goal of arousing or seducing them is also unlawful.

In some instances, allegations of a child molestation crime are the result of a misunderstanding of someone’s intent, especially where no physical contact has occurred. When you have been accused of any of these crimes, you need to discuss your defense options with an Orange County child molestation attorney right away.