Recent Posts in Sex Crimes Category

This past Friday, a Los Angeles man that sexually assaulted his girlfriend's 11 year old daughter and then killed her was sentenced to death for the second time.  The man, 58 year old James Heard, allegedly killed the girl because she bit off part of his tongue.

In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Heard's conviction, but then overturned his first death sentence.  The Court found that the trial judge improperly excused a man during the jury selection process.

Heard was sentenced again in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the death of Katrina Brown, which occurred in December 1990.  At the time of the crimes, the girl's mother was at work.  Prosecutors say that the girl bit off part of Heard's tongue during the attack.  Heard then poured a bottle of alcohol down the girl's throat in hopes that she would regurgitate his tongue before he strangled her.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer!

This week Friday, a man who pled guilty to raping and murdering a young woman will be sentenced.  The crime took place 15 years ago and the girl's body was found near Cal State San Marcos.

Now, Michael Eddie Williams will be sentenced for the first-degree murder and rape of 18 year old Shannon Conway.  Authorities say Conway was killed in July 1995 and that Williams said her death occurred during the rape.

The prosecution said that Williams, now 37 years old, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Williams was extradited back to California from Mississippi last December after a DNA match linked him to Conway's death.  Before his extradition, Williams was serving a 40 year sentence for raping a child.

If you have been charged with felony offenses, like rape or murder, it is important that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Contact our law office to set up a consultation with an attorney.

In Manassas, a high school teacher that was accused of sexually abusing a former student is now facing charges for child pornography.  Authorities say that 50 year old Kevin Garfield Ricks has been charged with transporting and possessing child pornography.

Ricks worked as a teacher at a high school in Manassas between September 2007 and February 2010, when he was arrested.  He was accused of having sexual relations with a 16 year old student prior to his arrest.

After his arrest, authorities searched his laptop and found pornographic images of children.   Ricks is currently being held at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center and will face at a sentence of five to 30 years if he is convicted.

Charged with transporting or possessing child pornography in L.A.?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.  We have experience handling all types of sex crime cases, including cases that involve child pornography.

In Minnesota, it is reported that a man that was accused of sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl died in jail.  The girl reportedly used her iPod and Facebook to get help.

This week, 42 year old Raymond Ernest Cesmat was found dead in his jail cell.  Cesmat used a bed sheet to hang himself this past Tuesday.  He had been alone when the incident occurred.  Jail officials found his body during a routine check on inmates.

Prior to committing suicide, Cesmat was charged with two counts of sexual conduct in the first degree.  If he was convicted, he would have faced 30 years of jail time for each offense.

On July 10^th, the victim was alone in her house with Cesmat, her mother's former boyfriend.  Despite their break up, Cesmat continued to rent the home with the girl's mother.  The girl told police that Cesmat had taken her phone when she went to bed because he didn't want her texting all night. 

She said that Cesmat entered her room naked and tried to remove her pants.  She kicked him and screamed.  When he left her room, she used her iPod and Facebook to summon help by contacting Cesmat's daughter.

Charged with a sex crime in Los Angeles?  Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

This week, the Boston Globe announced that federal investigators "have identified several dozen Pentagon officials and contractors with high-level security clearances who allegedly purchased and downloaded child pornography, including an undisclosed number who used their government computers to obtain the illegal material."

Numerous employees were under investigation for child pornography.  Detectives investigated workers from the National Security Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office.  Employees that work in these divisions deal with some of the most sensitive defense and intelligence work for the government. 

The Boston Globe said that many of the cases are numerous years old and some remain open at this time.  The newspaper wrote, "The fact that offenders include people with access to government secrets puts national security agencies 'at risk of blackmail, bribery, and threats, especially since these individuals typically have access to military installations,' according to one report by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service from late 2009."

The DCIS report was publicly released by the Department of Defense inspector general's office.

If you have been charged with child pornography, know that you are truly in for the fight of your life.  For this reason, it is imperative that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has vast experience handling sex crime cases.  Contact Okabe & Haushalter today!

In Connecticut, a 17 year old male has been arrested in connection with two sexual assault cases.  Police say that on Thursday, they arrested and charged Terrence Easton with first degree sexual assault and first degree burglary. 

Easton was arrested after police investigated two sexual assaults in the Black Rock section of the city.  During both incidents, police found that the perpetrator broke into the homes of women were alone.  One of the victims told news sources that due to the incident, she is now afraid to even go outside.

She said through the mail slot of her door, "I was in bed and I was awakened by a black man in a black ski mask with a gun."  Police say that in both cases, more charges may be filed against Easton, whose bail has been set at $1 million. 

Officers are still waiting for more laboratory work to be completed at this time.

Were you charged with a serious sex crime?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter to arrange a time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer that can help you fight your criminal charges.

This week, a second man stands accused of using social networking sites to share child pornography in western Pennsylvania. The man, 21 year old Ryan Chiles, pled guilty to exploiting children.

Chiles is of Hampton, Virginia and he entered his plea on Wednesday in federal court.  On Tuesday, 56 year old Stephen Sims pleaded guilty in the case.  He is from Palm Springs, California.

According to officials, both men will be sentenced in February.  They face a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for their offenses.

Prior to being caught, the two and others distributed thousands of explicit images and videos of children on a social networking site.  The defendants were part of a group that exchanged such material online.

Have you been charged with child pornography in Los Angeles?  If so, your best option is to consult with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has handled numerous other sex crime cases. Contact our law office today to get the legal advice and representation you deserve!

This week in Long Beach, California, a jury decided to convict a man that stood accused of repeatedly raping his niece and her two friends.  The girls were between the ages of 14 and 16 when the rape took place.

The jury presiding over the case took 90 minutes to convict the defendant, Carlos Aguirre Jr.  He was charged with 12 felony counts which included rape, possession of drugs for sale and possession of child pornography.  Now, he will face a life sentence for his crimes.

According to authorities, Aguirre (25) raped the girls between 2004 and 2006.  However, it is reported that he had started molesting his niece when she was only 5 years old.  Investigators say that they found pornographic images on Aguirre's computer, including an 18 minute video that shows the victim being raped by Aguirre and a 12 year old boy.

Have you been charged with sex crimes in Los Angeles?  If so, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange a time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa - it is reported that a man by the name of Arthur Neal has been sentenced with 30 years of jail time for producing child pornography.

Back in January, 47 year old Neal pled guilty to his sex crime charges.  This week, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Linda Reade.

Neal was accused of producing pornography with a girl he babysat for multiple years.  He was sentenced to a maximum sentence based on his sadistic and masochistic conduct, his criminal history and the fact that the abuse was ongoing also enhanced his sentence.

Reade said that Neal poses a "significant danger to children".  At this time, the victim is in a residential treatment program.  She called the court to give a victim's impact statement and said that she had resorted to using drugs because she cannot cope with the sexual abuse she had to go through due to Neal.

If you are in need of sex crimes defense in Los Angeles, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter and discuss your offense with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

According to KABC, a man in Simi Valley was recently arrested for committing a sex crime.  Allegedly, 32 year old Steven Soliz exposed himself to a traveler who was waiting for an Amtrak train.  The incident caused the commuter train to be delayed.

Supposedly, the woman was waiting for the northbound train when Soliz exposed himself to her.  He then proceeded to board the train and the victim called police. After officers arrived at the scene, the train was briefly delayed as they searched for Soliz.  The victim was able to identify him and he was placed under arrest.  No other witnesses came forward.

Police issued Stoliz with a misdemeanor citation for lewd conduct and he was released.

If you have been charged with a crime in Los Angeles County, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter to schedule an initial case evaluation with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

Recently, a Los Angeles County child abuse investigator was arrested for sex crimes.  The investigator, 45 year old Rod Carter, was arrested for suspicion of having sex with a 15 year old girl this past Sunday.  After paying bail, Carter was released from police custody.

According to Lt. Dan Keil, police found Carter and the victim having intercourse in a parked car.  They are still trying to determine if the girl was a prostitute or not.

At the time of the incident, the county Department of Children and Family Services say Carter was not on duty.  They also say that the 15 year old is not involved in the child welfare system. On Thursday, Carter refused to comment on the arrest.  He did say that he will be fired and has no plans to contest his termination because it is appropriate given the allegations.

Have you been charged with sex crimes involving a minor?  Now is the time to secure representation from a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.  Simply contact Okabe & Haushalter now!

In San Diego, a man from Oceanside that was investigated by authorities for illegal chemic sales on the Internet has been convicted by a federal jury.  The man, 45 year old David Grummer, was charged with 23 counts of child pornography.

According to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy, Grummer was convicted on Thursday.  His charges included 18 counts of receiving child pornography and 5 counts of possession of child pornography.  Each of his receiving child pornography counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and the possession of child pornography counts have a maximum of 10 years jail time.

Initially, the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency investigated Grummer for illegal sales of chlordane and DDT over the web.  However, while conducting investigations, they found pornography on Grummer's computers.  He was arrested on December 5, 1008 and will be sentenced on September 17^th.

Facing child pornography charges in Los Angeles?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange a time to meet with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

On Thursday, federal authorities were looking for victims they believe may have been molested by a former Fort Irwin Army soldier.  The soldier, 23 year old Joseph Scott Szymanski, was charged with possessing child pornography and also illegal sexual contact with children.

In June, police arrested Szymanski in Fairbanks, Alaska. Prior to his arrest, Szymanski was charged in federal court in Riverside County with possessions illicit photographic images of several children.  Police say that the children were babysat by Szymanski while he lived in Fort Irwin.

The FBI said that they found a memory card that contained sexual images of underage boys engaged in sex acts.  They were able to link Szymanski to the images by the furniture and other items displayed in the photos.

If you have been charged with sex crimes involving children, it is imperative that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer immediately.  Contact the Okabe & Haushalter to speak with a defense attorney.

In Gainesville, Georgia, a bus driver from Hall County pled guilty to charges of child pornography.  He entered his plea in federal court this week Friday.

According to reports, 41 year old John Cooper Spinks was accused of searching for, downloading and viewing explicit images of children.  He was also accused of distributing child pornography over the internet.

Spinks was caught in the act when he allegedly sent child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent while visiting a chat room on his computer.  On March 25^th, federal agents obtained a search warrant and confiscated Spinks' laptop and electronic media.  FBI agents said that during their investigation, they found numerous images of children on Spinks' computer.

For his offenses, Spinks faces up to 40 years of prison time and a fine of up to $500,000.

Were you charged with child pornography?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter to schedule a case evaluation with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

In Sacramento, it is reported that a 54 year old man by the name of Edwin Lionel Chartier has been sentenced with 16 years of prison time.  At this time, Chartier is serving the first weekend of his sentence after being convicted for molesting three young girls.

In May, Chartier pled guilty to three counts of child molestation.  It is reported that he had inappropriate sexual contact with three girls below the age of 14.  The molestations occurred between 2006 and 2009.

During Chartier's sentencing hearing on Wednesday, his victims tearfully addressed the court.  One of the girls spoke directly to the judge and said that she hoped Chartier would never get out of prison.  Aside from having to serve time in prison, Chartier will have to register as a convicted sex offender in California.

If you have been charged with a sexual offense involving a child, it is important that you retain representation from a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.  Contact Okabe & Haushalter immediately to receive the representation you deserve.

Authorities report that a man from Orange County is suspected of a rape in the state of Arizona may also be responsible for a sexual assault that took place across the country.  Accusations surfaced when investigators found hundreds of photos of unknown women and women's undergarments in the suspect's home.

The man, 44 year old Kevin Francois, is waiting extradition to Arizona after officers connected his DNA to a rape and burglary that occurred in 2003 in Tempe.  At this time, Francois remains detained by police.

Law enforcement officers arrested Francois in Newport Beach in January.  He was allegedly loitering near an apartment complex and resisted arrest.  Police were able to gather his DNA and he was released in May.  Authorities believe that Francois targeted younger women that lived near college campuses.  He would allegedly burglarize homes and in some cases, the women would be in the homes while Francois was committing offenses.

Have you been charged with a felony sex crime in Los Angeles?  If so, it is imperative that you retain representation from a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney now.  Contact Okabe & Haushalter to speak with a lawyer from our team.

Tagged.com is being watched by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office.  Cuomo is the Attorney General in New York and he is taking aim at the social networking set because it had sexually explicit pictures of young children. 

According to Attorney Cuomo, the site ignored its own policies by allowing the pornographic images to be viewed by users.  He also says that the site received complaints about the child pornography, but did not rectify the situation.  Attorney Cuomo sent a letter to Tagged.com and requested that it take immediate action within five days or face civil action. 

Cuomo told reporters, "My message to Tagged.com is: Clean up your act or we will see you in court immediately."

In response, the site said that it allows users to flag offensive material, which is then removed by the site's staff.  Tagged.com caters primarily to teenagers.  However, the Attorney General's office created fictitious accounts and found that despite complaints, the site failed to remove the images.

A lawyer representing the social network said that it would work with investigators.

If you have been charged with a serious sex crime,, like child pornography, now is the time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney from Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact us now!

This week, several news sources reported that Alex Da Silva of the hit show So You Think You Can Dance has pled not guilty to charges of rape.  Da Silva is a choreographer on SYTYCD and was accused of raping several women from 2002 to 2009.

Da Silva made a court appearance in Los Angeles and pled not guilty to eight rape charges, including:   four forcible rape charges, two assault with intent to commit rape charges and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object.

All of the charges were filed by four women who were students in his dance classes.  They all said that they were lured to Da Silva's home in North Hollywood and then raped.  In August, police arrested Da Silva and he was held in lieu of $6.2 million bail.  If he is convicted, he could face life in prison.

Were you charged with a serious sex crime?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter to arrange a time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

Last month, photos appear on the internet that showed actress Emma Watson nude.  The photos were in fact doctored and now the man who created the photos has been charged with child pornography.  The charges were brought against the man, 39 year old John Cavanaugh, because he superimposed an image of the Watson's head on top of an underage girl.

Cavanaugh has pled guilty to 19 counts of illegally creating an indecent image of a child.  Police say that the photos were found on Cavanaugh's computer after an eviction attempt.  The judge presiding over Cavanaugh's case said, "Miss Watson will be very distressed to know what you have been doing."

Watson is most infamously known for her role as Hermoine Granger in the hit Harry Potter series.  She is 20 years of age.

If you have been charged with a sex crime such as child pornography, now is the time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact our firm now!

In Los Angeles, news sources report that a man from El Monte who had applied for a position with the California Highway Patrol has pled guilty to child pornography charges.  The man, 30 year old Christian Client Hernandez, stated on his CHP employment application that he had viewed child pornography.

Hernandez entered his plea with the federal court on Thursday.  He is currently facing up to 30 years of prison and is expected to receive sentencing on November 1, 2010.

In October 2008, Hernandez applied with the CHP to become an officer.  After viewing his application, the FBI inspected his computer and found child pornography, including explicit images of a 5 year old girl.  When entering his plea, Hernandez said that he took the illicit photos of the young girl, who was sexually abused. 

Hernandez is also facing charges of molestation.

If you have been charged with sex crimes, contact Okabe & Haushalter to arrange to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

This past Monday, a man in the state of Indiana who was charged with child pornography was sentenced to 38 years imprisonment.  The man, 48 year old Dale Russell, was charged with this serious sex crime after he conducted "modeling sessions" with minors whose images were then placed on websites.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Russell was convicted after a six year long investigation.  Numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and even abroad, worked together to build a case against Russell.

During the investigation, Russell fled to Mexico from 2007 to 2009.  He was expelled from the country and returned to the United States, where he was placed under arrest in California.

Police say that Russell had produced child pornography on four separate occasions with two female victims.  The images he produced were found on the computer of another sex crime offender in Canada.  Aside from his sentence, Russell has been forbidden from having contact with minors once he is released from prison.

If you have been charged with a serious sex crime, now is the time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact us today to learn more about possible defenses and your rights.

This week, it was reported that Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) star and NFL Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, was arrested on suspicion of rape.  He was also arrested for suspicion of beating a 15 year old.

According to one news source, Taylor is, "being held in lockup on suspicion of third-degree rape."  Next Thursday, an arraignment has been scheduled for the NFL star and police are planning a news conference as well. 

For many, the news came as a complete shock as many felt Taylor was charming on Dancing with the Stars and commend Taylor for his NFL career.  More developments on the story are expected to follow in upcoming days.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, like rape, it is important that you have your case reviewed by a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact our law office now to set up a time to discuss your case. 

Authorities have arrested a rabbi in Gilbert, Arizona accused of raping a 7-year-old girl a decade ago.

Because the alleged crime occurred in New York City, U.S. Marshals and detectives from the New York Police Department were assigned to the case. They arrested Rabbi Bryan Bramley outside Temple Beth Shalom Synagogue in Gilbert.

The victim claims she was raped while spending the night at Bramley's family home in New York when she was just 7 years old. But it wasn't until last summer when the victim, now 17, finally came forward to report the incident.

Bramley is being held in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona pending his extradition to New York City. If convicted of the charges, Bramley could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and mandatory registration as a sex offender for life.

Aggressive Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Serving Los Angeles

If you or a loved one has been accused of rape or statutory rape, you can trust a Los Angeles sex crimes attorney at Okabe & Haushalter to vigorously fight your charges. We understand that felony sex crimes that like statutory rape must be aggressively defended from all angles, and are committed to doing whatever is legally necessary to ensure our clients are provided with the strongest defense possible. With your rights, freedom, and reputation on the line, trust your case to a law firm that not only has a great deal of criminal defense experience, but that also has helped countless successfully overcome their charges.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case!

Police in Torrance arrested a peeping tom last week with the help of a boys baseball team.

According to police, Manuel DeJesus Garcia, 33, had been following women into the bathroom at a McDonald's Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway. Inside the bathroom he would look up at them as they used the toilet from underneath the stall.

On March 13, video survellaince footage caught Garcia running out of the restaurant at the same time a women started screaming from the bathroom. Fast forward to March 21 when the boys were practicing baseball in a  park across the street from the McDonalds. Police approached the boys, showed them a picture of Garcia, and asked them if they had seen him.

Later that day, the boys recognized Garcia leave the restroom and run out of the McDonald's. Four of the boy's dads took off and were able to follow Garcia until police were able to catch up and place him under arrest.

This isn't the first time Garcia was arrested for peeping. He has been arrested at least three other times for voyuerism. It was not reported whether or not those arrests resulted in formal charges or a conviction.

If you are facing criminal charges for a sex crime, such as peeping, it's important to ensure your rights are protected by an experienced criminal defense attorney. Depending on the nature of your charges, you could be facing years in state prison, heavy fines, probation, mandatory counseling or therapy, and possible registration as a sex offender. An experienced Los Angeles sex crimes defense lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter can ensure your charges are aggressively defended from all angles in an effort to secure the best possible outcome.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to learn more about our experience and services.

Following the alleged rape and murder of 17-year-old Chelsea King, one California lawmaker is proposing legislation to stiffen the state's existing sex offender laws.

The legislation will be named after King, who disappeared February 25 while running in a park near San Diego. On March 2, her body was found near a shallow grave. It is believed that John Albert Gardner III, a known and convicted sex offender, raped and then killed her.

Now, with the support of King's parents, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher is proposing to review the state's current sex offender laws and revamp them, this time making them much more stringent. Fletcher plans to introduce "Chelsea's Law" sometime in early April, which he says will focus on a "one-strike" provision and parole reform. He also wants to focus on including GPS tracking for registered sex offenders. He said the current laws only inform authorities where registered sex offenders live, but not where they go every day. Through GPS tracking, authorities can watch if a convicted sex offender goes near a location frequented by children, such as a school, park, or playground.

"I'm really concerned where these sex predators go because where you live is one thing, but where you go is another matter," Fletcher said. "We're looking at the possibility of using technology. Using a GPS device that's a passive device, but the minute you cross into one of these safe zones it immediately pings a 911 call and you've committed a crime by violating it."

Gardner, who pleaded not guilty to the rape and murder of King, was previously convicted of molesting a 13-year-old girl and is currently suspected in the death of a 14-year-old girl from Escondido. He served five years in prison for the first offense.

If you have been charged with a sex offense, such as rape or child molestation, it's extremely important that you speak with an experienced defense attorney right away. Sex crimes carry heavy penalties, including years in state prison, thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and mandatory registration as sex offender. Furthermore, because of California's three strike laws, if you are facing your third violent felony offense for a sex crime, you will face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison, even if your first two felony convictions were not sexual in nature.

At Okabe & Haushalter, we understand the serious toll a sex crimes conviction will have on your life, and feel we have the experience, skills, and resources to put up an aggressive fight against your charges. If you're interested in learning more about our defense services, please feel free to contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our office today by calling (310) 543-7708.

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for a man suspected of raping a woman in a North Hollywood parking lot.

The attack took place March 11 around 12:45 a.m. near the 6900 block of Lankershim Boulevard. According to police, the suspect followed the victim for several blocks until he eventually grabbed her by the arm and led her to a nearby parking lot. He then raped the woman in the parking lot after telling her to undress. After the incident he fled the scene on foot.

Last month, the manager of a bowling alley in Arizona pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and engaging in indecent acts with a minor.

After entering his plea, 36-year-old William O’Rourke was handcuffed and taken into custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced for his crimes on March 26 in Pima County Superior Court before Judge Howard Fell.

O’Rourke faces between 10 and 24 years in prison just for the child pornography charge. He is likely to face additional years in prison for the indecent sexual activity with a 12-year-old boy. But even if O’Rourke is on his best behavior, the judge told him that prison is 100% certain, meaning it is unlikely he’ll be able to get any time off for good behavior.

As you can see, judges take child pornography charges extremely seriously. If you have been accused of possessing child pornography in Los Angeles or South Bay, nothing is more important than speaking with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer right away. At Okabe & Haushalter, we devote a large portion of our practice to child pornography and sex crimes defense, and have the experience, knowledge and resources to provide anyone facing these types of charges with the effective representation they need during this unsettling time.

To learn more about our criminal defense, please do not hesitate to contact a Los Angeles child pornography defense attorney at our office today!

A former gymnastics coach has been convicted of having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 16 year old girl.

According to Orange County prosecutors, 37-year-old Jason Wayne Scofield met the girl while working as a coach at Wildfire Gymnastics in Tustin. His sexual relationship with the teen lasted from February 2009 through the end of June 2009.

The girl’s parents alerted police after receiving a concerned e-mail from one of their daughter’s friends. At the time police were notified, Scofield had already quite his job at the gym and joined the Army. He was living in Arizona when investigators came looking for him.

After obtaining a warrant, police went to Arizona to arrest Scofield and bring him back to Orange County to face his charges. He pleaded guilty to the felony charges and will likely be sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation. A judge has scheduled his sentencing hearing for March 30.

A man will stand trial in Los Angeles after admitting to the FBI that he paid to have sex with a 14-year-old girl and several other children in Cambodia.

Michael Dodd, 59, is accused of traveling overseas to have sex with a minor. Dodd was in Cambodia teaching English when he was arrested by Cambodian authorities in 2008. A Cambodian court convicted Dodd of having a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old girl.

He has since been turned over to the U.S. and is now back on U.S. soil.  It has not yet been reported when Dodd’s U.S. trial is scheduled to be begin.

An Arizona man could spend the rest of his life in prison following a conviction for 11 counts of child pornography.

John Hartman is accused of possessing child pornography images on both his cell phone and his home computer. He was arrested in November 2007 after another man alerted police after finding Hartman’s cell phone. The police were able to track Hartman down and, upon searching his home computer, found more child pornography images there.

Hartman was convicted of all 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Because he faces 10 to 24 years in state prison for each count, he could be sentenced to 110 years in prison if he is ordered to serve out his sentences consecutively. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March.

Hartman’s attorney claims that someone stole her client’s phone and downloaded the pornographic images without her client’s knowledge.

Three Washington state teenagers are facing criminal charges for “sexting,” the crime of sending, receiving, or disseminating sexually suggestive images via text message or email. If convicted of the charges, the middle school-age teenagers could be ordered to register as sex offenders for life.

The three teens were charged for sexting a nude photo a classmate around their middle school. The victim allegedly took the nude photo of herself and emailed it to her boyfriend. When she and the boyfriend broke up he supposedly texted the photo to other students.

It’s important for all teenagers and their parents to realize that sexting charges are incredibly serious. Disseminating nude images of a person under the age of 18 is considered distribution of child pornography, even if the person disseminating the images is a minor themselves. And with child pornography charges comes mandatory sentencing guidelines, which include imprisonment and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

If your son or daughter has been accused of sexting, it’s important to consult an attorney who has experience in this new area of criminal law. At Okabe & Haushalter, we focus a large majority of our practice on sex crimes defense, and have the experience, skills, and resources to provide your child with the effective and aggressive defense he or she needs. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation with a  Los Angeles child pornography defense lawyer to discuss your child’s sexting charges,  contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7703.

A former Riverside police officer has been found guilty of forced oral copulation and petty theft. He has since been sentenced to six months in prison and three years probation.

Robert A. Foreman, an eleven-year police veteran, was arrested in October 2008 and charged with forced copulation after he forced a woman to perform oral sex on him in order to avoid arrest. He was also charged with sexual battery and a second count of forced oral copulation, but the jury deadlocked on the first offense and acquitted him of the second.   

Foreman was charged with assaulting three women between February and April 2008. He has denied the allegations and insisted that his sexual relations with one of the victims, a woman identified only as Kathryn, was consensual.

Kathryn, however, testified that Foreman assured her she would not be arrested as long as she agreed to cooperate. Foreman came to Kathryn’s house in response to a domestic disturbance call. At the house police discovered drug paraphernalia and evidence of check fraud. Worried she would be arrested for violating her probation, she agreed to “cooperate” with Foreman, who later returned to the house and demanded sex.

The jury sided with Kathryn and Foreman was found guilty of forced copulation.

Another woman, identified as Tessa, claims Foreman gave her a ride to a bus station and, upon dropping her off, put his hand down her pants and tried to kiss her as she got out of the vehicle. The jury found Foreman guilty of sexual battery, but only convicted him of taking item’s from one of Tessa’s costumers. Tessa is a known drug user and sometimes works as a prostitute.

A third woman, Nadia, a known prostitute and cocaine addict, claims that Foreman drove her to an isolated area and ordered her to perform oral sex. She testified that she complied because she felt she had no choice. Forman claims his interaction with Nadia was strictly limited to gathering information about drug suppliers. The jury sided with Foreman.

The judge presiding over the case gave Foreman a 125-day credit for good time and time served, which means he could get out of jail in as early as three weeks.

The district attorney may request a re-trial of the sexual battery charge, but at this time no such request has been made.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, such as forced oral copulation, it’s imperative that you speak with a highly trained and knowledgeable defense attorney right away. At Okabe & Haushalter, you can trust your case will be aggressively defended by a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer who has extensive practice representing clients throughout Los Angeles and South Bay who have been accused of committing a sex crime.

To learn more about the defense services offered at the firm, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708.

A man suspected of molesting at least four young girls in the Westlake area was recently caught and arrested.

For more than two years police have been searching for Daniel Merino, 41. Merino was accused of approaching at least four girls, each around the age of 9 or 10, and then sexually assaulting them. According to police, all four girls were walking alone when Merino approached them. After starting up a conversation Merino would then try to lure the girls into a car or building or would sexually assault them as they were walking.

Police were able to track down Merino after video surveillance caught him trying to leave a building after attempting to molest a victim. The image was circulated and, using a high-tech license plate scanner, police were able to track Merino’s location.

Merino was arrested and charged with kidnapping for sexual assault. He is being held on $4 million bail. If he is convicted of the charges he could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, as well as be ordered to register as a sex offender, probably for the rest of his life.

A Victorville man faces felony sex crime charges after police discovered him partially naked with a 12-year-old girl.

Efrain Cruz, 26, was arrested on Sunday after police spotted his vehicle on the side of the road and found him inside with the girl, who was also partially undressed. The officers said they noticed the vehicle after seeing a two-year-old boy in the back seat of the car.

Cruz and the girl, whose name has not been released, were in the front seat with the same articles of clothing removed.

Cruz has since been arrested on suspicion of sex crimes with a child.

Cruz was introduced to the girl when her mother began dating his stepfather.  According to police he has been picking up the girl from school and visiting her on a regular basis. The girl’s mother had no idea her daughter and Cruz were engaged in any type of sexual contact.

A registered sex offender is back in court again after soliciting oral sex from a 12-year-old girl.

According to police, the girl’s mother said 41-year-old Marco Julio Gonzalez offered her daughter $1,000 for oral sex last year, and ever since neighbors have been keeping an eye out for him.

When Gonzalez returned to the housing project where the girl lives last week, a resident recognized his vehicle and wrote down the license plate number.

Gonzales was eventually arrested and charged with soliciting sex from a minor. He was released on $40,000 bond the same day he was taken into custody.

Gonzales’ previous conviction was for indecent exposure.

A Nebraska woman is facing felony charges after her 15-year-old son told his counselor that she used to have sex with him nightly when he was in 7 ^th and 8 ^th grade.

The boy, now 15, said his mother was addicted to prescription drugs during the years she would have sex with him.

The woman, whose name has not been revealed to protect her son, was arrested Monday and booked in Douglas County Court. Her bond was set at $30,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 8.

Court records show the woman is no stranger to the courtroom.  This time last year she pleaded no contest to intentionally violating narcotics laws for trying to fill multiple prescriptions from seven different doctors. She was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to attend AA meetings as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

Statutory Rape

Any time an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor (someone under the age of 18) it is considered statutory rape. It does not matter whether the sexual acts were consensual or non-consensual. If you have sex with a minor, you will be charged with statutory rape.

At Okabe & Haushalter, we are committed to defending the rights of those accused of statutory rape and other sex crimes in Los Angeles and South Bay. If you are interested in learning more about our aggressive defense services, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense lawyer at the firm!