Pasadena Sex Crimes Lawyers
Being accused of a sexual offense in Pasadena comes with a stigma all its own. Local law enforcement treats allegations of sex and lewd conduct crimes with the utmost seriousness, and prosecutors often pursue the maximum possible penalties for these crimes.
Conviction for sex offenses can result in harsh penalties, including substantial jail time, hefty fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. This designation can impact nearly every aspect of your life.
This can include lengthy incarceration, and in many cases, it can impact your personal and professional life indefinitely.
Our sex crimes attorneys specialize in defending individuals accused of sexual offenses. We provide legal counsel, investigate cases, and represent clients in court, aiming to achieve the best possible outcome, such as dismissal of charges, reduced penalties, or acquittal.
If you're facing sexual charges in neighborhoods like Old Town Pasadena, Hastings Ranch, or Linda Vista, there are things that you need to know to ensure your rights as a defendant are protected.
California law enumerates many offenses labeled as sexual offenses, each carrying significant consequences. Some common offenses prosecuted in Pasadena are discussed below.
PC 647.6 - Annoying or Molesting a Child
California Penal Code 647.6 PC makes it a crime to annoy or molest any child under the age of 18, with the intent to disturb or humiliate the child. This statute is designed to protect minors from behavior that is not necessarily physical but still poses a threat to their well-being.
A conviction under this section can result in up to one year in county jail for a misdemeanor or several years in state prison for a felony offense. Additionally, this crime often triggers mandatory sex offender registration.
PC 647.6 says, "(2) Every person who, motivated by an unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in children, engages in conduct with an adult whom he or she believes to be a child under 18 years of age, which conduct, if directed toward a child under 18 years of age, would be a violation of this section, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment."
PC 314 - Indecent Exposure
Under California Penal Code 314 PC, exposing your private parts in public with the intention of sexual gratification or offending someone is considered indecent exposure.
A person can be charged even if physical contact does not occur. Misdemeanor convictions can lead to up to six months in jail, while aggravated cases (e.g., involving prior convictions) can escalate to felony charges with more severe penalties.
PC 314 says, "Every person who willfully and lewdly, either:
- Exposes his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby; or,
- Procures, counsels, or assists any person so to expose himself or take part in any model artist exhibition, or to make any other exhibition of himself to public view, or the view of any number of persons, such as is offensive to decency, or is adapted to excite to vicious or lewd thoughts or acts, is guilty of a misdemeanor."
PC 243.4 - Sexual Battery
California Penal Code 243.4 PC sexual battery occurs when an individual touches another person's intimate parts against their will for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.
This crime can range from misdemeanor charges to felonies, depending on aggravating factors like the use of force, threats, or intoxication. Penalties include jail time, fines, restitution to the victim, and mandatory sex offender registration.
PC 243.4 says, "(a) Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery. A violation of this subdivision is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, and by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000); or by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, and by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000)."
PC 288 - Lewd or Lascivious Acts with a Child
California Penal Code 288 PC criminalizes lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 14 when motivated by sexual intent.
The statute is a felony offense that is prosecuted aggressively, and penalties for conviction typically include lengthy state prison sentences and mandatory sex offender registration.
Because these cases often involve complex evidence and severe consequences, they are taken extremely seriously in Pasadena.
PC 288 says, "(a) Except as provided in subdivision (i), a person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years."
PC 261 - Rape
Under California Penal Code 261 PC, rape involves non-consensual sexual intercourse accomplished through force, threats, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent due to intoxication, unconsciousness, or mental impairment.
Rape is a serious felony, and penalties include substantial prison time, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and a strike on your record under California's "Three Strikes" law. (If a rape conviction constitutes a third "strike", the penalty escalates to 20 years to life imprisonment.
PC 261 says, "(a) Rape is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished under any of the following circumstances:
(2) If it is accomplished against a person's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury to the person or another.
(3) If a person is prevented from resisting by an intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or a controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known by the accused."
Other Common Sex Crimes in Pasadena
There are other common types of sex-related crimes in the City of Pasadena, CA, including the following:
- PC 236.1 Human Trafficking
- PC 261 Rape
- PC 261(a)(3) Intoxication Rape
- PC 261.5 Statutory Rape
- PC 264.1 Gang Rape
- PC 266c Unlawful Intercourse
- PC 266h Pimping
- PC 266i Pandering
- PC 266j Transport Minor
- PC 290 Failure to Register
- PC 647(a) Public Lewd Conduct
- PC 647(b) Prostitution
- PC 647(j) Revenge Porn
- PC 286 Sodomy
- PC 288 Lewd Acts with a Minor
- PC 288(b)(1) Lewd Acts by Force
- PC 288.3 Contact a Minor
- PC 288.4 Arrange Meeting
- PC 288.5 Continuous Sex Abuse
- PC 289 Foreign Object Penetration
- Federal Sex Crime Prosecutions
Enforcement for Sex and Lewd Conduct Crimes in Pasadena
Local and county law enforcement agencies, including the Pasadena Police Department, primarily enforce sex and lewd conduct crimes in Pasadena. Officers often patrol popular areas like Old Town Pasadena or community hubs in Linda Vista to monitor for criminal activity.
Once arrested, cases are prosecuted in California state courts, typically starting in the Pasadena Courthouse.
The prosecution must prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction. Given the complexity and stigma of these cases, they are often vigorously pursued by prosecutors to deter future crimes in the region.
The Pasadena Courthouse handles all criminal cases filed in its jurisdiction, which covers a wide radius around the courthouse, including Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, and parts of Los Angeles County.
The Pasadena Courthouse is located at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.
Police Departments in Los Angeles County
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
- Pasadena Police Department
- Glendale Police Department
- Long Beach Police Department
- Beverly Hills Police Department
- Burbank Police Department
- Culver City Police Department
- San Marino Police Department
- Torrance Police Department
Defending Against Sex Crimes in Pasadena
If you've been accused of a sex or lewd conduct crime, a timely and strategic defense is critical. A skilled Pasadena criminal defense lawyer can employ several strategies to challenge the prosecution's case, including:
- Challenging Evidence - Evidence such as eyewitness testimony, video recordings, or physical evidence can be scrutinized for inconsistencies, improper collection, or procedural errors.
- Consent - For crimes where consent is a potential defense, establishing that both parties willingly participated can weaken the prosecution's case.
- Mistaken Identity - Allegations may arise due to inaccurate identification, particularly in cases involving strangers or crowded public venues.
- Lack of Intent - Several sex crime statutes require proof of intent to commit the offense. Demonstrating a lack of intent can lead to reduced charges or dismissal.
- Constitutional Violations - If law enforcement violated your constitutional rights, such as conducting an illegal search and seizure, the resulting evidence may be suppressed.
- Plea Deals for Reduced Charges - Your attorney may negotiate that you will agree to plead guilty to a lesser offense to reduce your penalties or avoid mandatory sex offender registration. This can be effective if you're charged with multiple counts or crimes, or if the offense is a "wobbler" that could be charged either as a misdemeanor or a felony.
Contact Eisner Gorin LLP for a confidential consultation and a clear plan to protect your freedom and future.
By appointment, the law firm may meet the client at 1055 E Colorado Blvd., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91106 for case preparation, strategy, and review.
If you have one phone call from jail, call us! If you are facing criminal charges,