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 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.

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.

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 the city of Sacramento, proposed legislation that would have banned sexual offenders from using social networking sites, like Facebook, has died in an Assembly committee.

This Friday, it is reported that the Assembly Appropriations Committee held two Democratic bills on the issue due to cost concerns.  In order to be considered by the entire assembly, the legislation needed the committee's approval. 

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani told news sources that if it had passed, the legislation would have prohibited sex offenders from using the internet to communicate with minors via social networking sites.  The measure would have also cut down on sexual offenders accessing pornography, but would have cost $20 million a year to implement in California.

Have you been charged with a sex crime 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, like the lawyers at Okabe & Haushalter. Contact our law office today to get the legal advice and representation you need to fight your sex crime charges!

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.