Okabe & Haushalter
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Okabe & Haushalter

Los Angeles Federal Sex Crimes Attorney

Federal Sex Crimes Lawyer

Legal Defense Against Federal Charges In Los Angeles

Criminal offenses in the area of Child pornography cover internet pornography, the use of chat rooms to solicit Sex with a minor, the production and sale of pornography involving minors, child trafficking, and prostitution, and other sex crimes. If you are convicted under state laws, penalties can include fines, registration as a sex offender, community service, probation, parole, and time spent in jail. A conviction will become part of your permanent criminal record.

Child Pornography And Federal Offenses

No matter the child pornography crime you are being charged with, your rights and freedoms are at risk. It is essential, therefore, to use a proven Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney to prepare and aggressively carry out your defense.

There are many federal laws that can be applied to child pornography offenses as well. Mailing or advertising child pornography across a state border (including through the use of e-mail) falls under federal statutes. Receiving this type of material, possessing it, promoting it and other actions can also become federal crimes. If any sort of pornography is sent to a person under 18 years of age, or the material is offered to a minor, the federal government can charge you with a crime.

Fighting Federal Charges

In our firm, Mark Haushalter and Ryan Okabe have the experience and knowledge required to successfully defend against federal child pornography charges. State and federal laws differ and if you are convicted on federal charges the penalties will be much more severe. The age of the child can result in much harsher penalties under federal law. When you have prior convictions for similar offenses, the punishments can be increased as well.

The federal government can also charge you with being involved in a child exploitation enterprise. There are specific elements to this crime but if you are found guilty you can be sentenced to a term in a federal prison of not less than 20 years up to life behind bars. In our firm, we work tirelessly to raise a reasonable doubt in your case. The burden of proof is with the prosecutor. We look for and exploit weak points in their case which can be used on your behalf. Being charged does not have to result in a guilty verdict.

The Sex Offender Registry

Under Penal Code 290, California law requires that those convicted of certain types of sex crimes register as sex offenders. While the sex offender registry is no longer necessarily a lifetime registry for every conviction (as of January 1, 2021), the registry still places significant burdens on those who have to register. Depending on the seriousness of the conviction, a person will have to register for 10 years, 20 years, or life.

When a person is on the sex offender registry in California, they have to register with local law enforcement agencies annually and anytime they move. Additionally, they must notify law enforcement officials they travel, and they will also have to notify officials in the location that they are traveling to, even if they go for just a few days.

Those on the sex offender registry face intense scrutiny. Various types of information about their lives will be made public, including where they live, where they work, a current photograph, what vehicles they drive, a list of their charges, and more.

Common Defenses We Could Employ

When a person faces a sex crime in California, it is crucial that they work with a skilled Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney who has experience handling these claims. No two cases are exactly alike, but there are various types of defenses that can be employed in these situations. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • The person charged is actually innocent: The reality is that many people are accused of sex crimes and are actually innocent. If a person is innocent, a good criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles will work to sow enough doubt in the courtroom so that a jury will have a hard time convicting.
  • The person charged was entrapped: Depending on what type of sex crime charges a person is facing, entrapment could be part of the defense. Entrapment is when a person commits a crime only because another party (law enforcement, the victim, etc.) coerced or tricked them into doing so.
  • Consent was given by all parties: Depending on the actual sex crime charge a person is facing, it may be determined that consent was actually given at the time, but the accuser later decided to falsely accuse a person of committing a sex crime.
  • The person charged is mentally incapacitated or insane: A criminal defense attorney will explore the possibility that their client was mentally incapacitated or of an unsound mind at the time the alleged incident occurred.

Contact a Federal Sex Crimes Attorney in Los Angeles Today

If you or somebody you love has been charged with a federal sex crime in the Los Angeles area, turned to the team at Okabe & Haushalter as soon as possible. Our nationally recognized attorneys have extensive experience helping clients handle both state and federal charges related to sex crimes, and we are ready to get to work on your behalf today. When you need a Los Angeles federal sex crimes attorney by your side, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799.