“Sex crimes” is a broad term used to refer to various criminal charges under the California Penal Code. Crimes such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and lewd acts with a minor are all considered sex crimes, although each of these charges is governed by a different part of the law and comes with unique penalties if convicted. Being accused of a sex crime can be a frightening experience, leading to alienation from family and friends as well as severe penalties such as incarceration or steep fines for those convicted of these crimes. If you need a sex crimes defense lawyer, the team at Okabe and Haushalter are here to assist you.
Different parts of the state law govern different sex crimes, and the penalties if convicted of these crimes vary widely even if they are all grouped under the same umbrella term.
The crime of sexual battery is outlined under California Penal Code Section 243.4 as unwanted touching of a sexual nature of any sort, either over or under the clothing. This could include touching another person’s body or some way compelling another person to touch your body in a sexual manner. Depending on the circumstances in which the battery is alleged to have taken place, the sexual battery may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
Rape is defined under California Penal Code Section 261 as sexual intercourse taking place without consent. The lack of consent could be overt, such as rape by force or threat. However, some individuals cannot legally give consent, such as intoxicated people, people under the age of 18 (statutory rape), or people with certain developmental disabilities. Anyone who has intercourse with one of these individuals could face rape charges, even if verbal consent was obtained prior to the sex acts taking place. Anyone convicted of rape could face several years in prison as a penalty.
As criminal defense experts, we have experience and knowledge of all types of sex crimes, and we have a solid history of providing excellent defense for our clients in court. Some of the kinds of sex crime cases we can handle include:
Don’t let being charged with a sex crime destroy the life you have worked so hard to build. If you need a sex crimes defense lawyer in Torrance, contact the attorneys at Okabe and Haushalter to find out more about your legal options. Our team of knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys can help you fight your charges in court, and may be able to reduce stacked charges to a single charge via a plea agreement and reduce your sentence if convicted. We are known for our tough defense tactics—tactics that get real results for our clients—and for providing nothing short of courtroom excellence. Call now for a free consultation.
