You never thought it would come to this. The accusation may be a misunderstanding, exaggerated, or false. In Bakersfield, CA, a sex crime allegation can put prison, PC 290 registration, and your reputation at risk before a case is even filed. What you do in the first 48 hours matters.
For Bakersfield, CA, residents in need of defense against sex crime accusations, there's a clear choice of who to turn to: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our attorneys fight for our client's rights. We handle everything from investigation to trial.
We're ready for you 24/7. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to speak with a sex crimes lawyer in Bakersfield, CA, about your charges.
President David S. Chesley, Bakersfield, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
The Realities of a Bakersfield, CA, Sex Crime Charge
Bakersfield, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- Months or even years behind bars
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- Public labelling as a sex offender
- The potential loss of child custody
- Extensive fines and restitution requirements
It's never a good idea to try and handle these charges on your own. Without help, you might be digging a hole you can't get out of. A sex crimes lawyer can change that.
How to Handle Bakersfield, CA, Sex Crime Accusations
- Avoid contact with the alleged victim — Any contact, for whatever reason, is not a good idea. That can be charged as witness intimidation or violating a protective order.
- When interviewed, don't answer questions. Say only: "I want to speak with my attorney."
- Don't give permission to search your property if investigators don't have a warrant and without counsel.
- Protect evidence that you have access to. Trying to delete or hide evidence can end up making you look more guilty.
- Talk about your case with your sex crimes lawyer in Bakersfield, CA: It's important that your lawyer has a full view of the situation.
- Obey all conditions of release — breaking these can hurt your case.
- Get help handling the pressure — counseling can help give you clarity on how to move forward.
Together with your Bakersfield, CA, sex charge defense attorney, you can set your case up for a positive outcome.
Charges a Bakersfield, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help You Fight
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Bakersfield, CA. Rape, in particular, is treated extremely harshly for allegedly using force to coerce someone into sexual intercourse. "Sexual assault" is not one statute — it often means rape, sexual battery (PC § 243.4), nonconsensual oral copulation (PC § 287), sodomy (PC § 286), or penetration with a foreign object (PC § 289).
In the past, California has separate laws for rape between spouses versus general rape. However, this was repealed and does not apply today.
Child Sex Crimes
Common charges include lewd acts with a child (PC § 288), continuous sexual abuse (PC § 288.5), annoying or molesting a child (PC § 647.6), oral copulation or penetration involving a minor, and enticing a minor (PC § 288.3) or arranging a meeting with a minor (PC § 288.4). California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law, so it's illegal for an adult to have sex with a minor even if they are close in age.
Statutory Rape
In California court, statutory rape is often referred to as "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor." These allegations state that a person had sex with someone under the age of 18. This technically makes it illegal for two minors to have sex with each other, but most of the time, these allegations are used in cases where an adult supposedly had sex with a minor. Common defenses include demonstrating an honest belief that the adult believed the minor was over the age of 18 or that sexual intercourse did not occur (though the latter defense can still result in other child sex crime charges). Talk with your Bakersfield, CA, child sex crimes lawyer before taking a plea or establishing a defense.
Online and Digital Sex Crimes
These include child sexual abuse material (PC §§ 311–311.11), sending harmful matter to a minor (PC § 288.2), sexting involving a minor, and sting cases built on chats with an officer posing as a minor. Adult "revenge porn" is a separate offense under PC § 647(j)(4) and related statutes. Digital forensics — who had the device, hash values, unallocated space, account takeover, and intent — often decide the case.
AI-Generated and Deepfake Sexual Content
California law is rapidly evolving to regulate AI-generated sexual content. Effective January 1, 2025, AB 1831 and SB 1381 expanded Penal Code §§ 311, 311.2, 311.11, and 311.12 to criminalize the creation, distribution, and possession of AI-generated or digitally altered child sexual abuse material — treated the same as material involving a real child, regardless of whether an actual child was used to produce it. Separately, SB 926 extended California's revenge-porn law (PC § 647(j)(4)) to cover non-consensual, AI-generated sexually explicit images of adults that appear authentic. These are new, fast-evolving statutes, and you need a sex crimes lawyer in Bakersfield, CA, who is an expert on AI functionality to defend you.
Prostitution and Related Offenses
Prostitution is illegal in much of the United States ostensibly for moral reasons. In California, prostitution-related crimes include the act of prostitution itself, soliciting a prostitute, and pimping/pandering (AKA helping someone else break a prostitution law for a profit). What this ultimately means is that involvement with prostitution can lead to criminal charges from any angle, even if it was a sting operation. Don't take these charges lightly — your Bakersfield, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you find a positive outcome.
Related Charges
In Bakersfield, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), lewd conduct in public (PC § 647(a)), failure to register (PC § 290.018), human trafficking (PC § 236.1), incest (PC § 285), aggravated sexual assault of a child (PC § 269), and assault with intent to commit a sex offense (PC § 220). Those pages are linked from the list below.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley Defends Each of the Following
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child · AI-Generated / Deepfake Sexual Content · Annoying or Molesting a Child · Arranging a Meeting With a Minor · Assault with Intent to Commit a Sex Offense · Child Molestation (PC 288) · Child Pornography · Enticing a Minor · Failure to Register · Human Trafficking (Sex Trafficking) · Incest · Indecent Exposure · Lewd Acts · Lewd Conduct in Public · Loitering to Commit Prostitution · Oral Copulation by Force · Oral Copulation or Sodomy With a Minor · Penetration by Force · Pimping and Pandering · Prostitution / Solicitation · Rape · Revenge Porn · Sex With a Minor / Statutory Rape · Sexting Involving Minors · Sexual Abuse · Sexual Assault · Sexual Battery · Sodomy by Force
How a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Bakersfield, CA
Pre-filing and investigation. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Bakersfield, CA, if you even think you are under investigation. We can help you set up your future case for a positive outcome, or avoid court entirely.
Discovery and forensics. Anything that the police and prosecution find, they have to turn over to us in discovery. Our team will then comb through the evidence, looking for holes in the prosecution's case and opportunities to create reasonable doubt.
Motions. Suppression. If we find that any of the state's evidence was wrongfully obtained, we will file a motion to suppress it, removing it from the case against you. And if their case is sufficiently weakened, we'll follow up with a motion to dismiss the charges against you.
Negotiation. A sex crime charge defense isn't just about avoiding incarceration; it's about staying off of the sex offender registry. A plea deal can be a compromise that protects your reputation.
Trial and sentencing. If the case should be tried, we try it. If there is a conviction, we litigate strikes, enhancements, and PC 290 placement.
Looking for a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Bakersfield, CA? Don't Overlook These Factors
- Experience with your case type
- Relationships in Bakersfield, CA, courts
- Honest assessment of registration risk, not just "jail vs. no jail"
- 24/7 availability
- Confidence and honesty when planning your defense
Legal Punishments for Sex Crime Convictions in Bakersfield, CA
| Charge | Statute | Level | Typical Custody Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rape | PC § 261 | Felony | 3, 6, or 8 years state prison; fine up to $10,000 |
| Statutory Rape | PC § 261.5 | Misd. or wobbler | Up to 1 year jail, or 16 months–4 years (facts-dependent) |
| Sexual Battery | PC § 243.4 | Misd. or felony | Up to 6 months jail, or 2, 3, or 4 years prison |
| Lewd Act With a Child Under 14 | PC § 288(a) | Felony | 3, 6, or 8 years (higher if force or younger child) |
| Arranging a Meeting With a Minor | PC § 288.4 | Wobbler | Up to 1 year jail, or 2, 3, or 4 years prison |
| Indecent Exposure | PC § 314 | Misd. or felony | Up to 1 year, or 16 months–3 years |
| Child Pornography Possession | PC § 311.11 | Wobbler / felony | Jail, or 16 months–3+ years; registration often Tier 3 if felony |
| Prostitution / Solicitation | PC § 647(b) | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months jail; fine up to $1,000 |
While the majority of sex crime cases may follow these guidelines, sentencing enhancements can greatly alter the end punishment. Your case needs to be evaluated for its unique qualities. If convicted of rape, you may also be required to pay a fine.
Sex Offender Registry Tiers in California
California uses a three-tier system (SB 384, in effect since 2021):
- Tier 1 — generally 10 years (5 years in some juvenile cases). Examples: many misdemeanor sexual battery and indecent exposure convictions; some PC § 261.5 convictions for offenses on or after January 1, 2026, under SB 680.
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: lewd acts with a minor under 14 and some sodomy cases.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., forcible rape, kidnapping in conjunction with a sex crime, aggravated sexual assault of a child) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
On top of the lengthy time periods of registration, failure to register is an offense in and of itself. While on the registry, you can be facing challenges finding a house or job, restrictions on where you are able to travel, and a devastating social stigma. Your sex crimes lawyer can help you petition for removal once you're eligible for relief.
Defenses Our Bakersfield, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyers Use
- Consent is applicable in many cases where both parties were over the age of 18
- Honest misunderstandings regarding the age of the alleged victim. If they lied about their age, that may be enough to prove a lack of intent
- False or motivated accusation False accusations — unfortunately, some people will make up criminal accusations in order to get something they want
- Alibi — one of the strongest defenses against a sex crime accusation is to prove you were elsewhere at the time
- Failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against you — when the prosecution fails to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, your attorney can use that to sway the jury
- Evidence obtained in a way that violated your rights
- Child interviews that were coached or led to a certain end
- Entrapment, when law enforcement goes too far in convincing the alleged offender
- Charges were filed outside of the statute of limitations
Picking the right defense strategy is important, but it's not everything. You also need a persuasive Bakersfield, CA, sex crimes lawyer to present it.
Prior Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. This client was accused of soliciting a prostitute who was a police agent working undercover. We evaluated potential entrapment issues and enrolled our client in a diversionary, educational program. The court dismissed the charges, and no lingering public records are available..
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Protected Client From Jail, Sex Offender Registry, and Record. Our skillful team leveraged plea negotiations to help our client avoid a prison sentence and stay off of the ex offender registry.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Felony Accusation, All Charges Dismissed Before Trial. Our client came to us after being accused of rape. They were present at an event where two other individuals (charged separately) had assaulted a woman, but our client took no part in it. We presented our defense in the preliminary hearing and the case was dismissed. No public record of the case remains.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — Our Defense Protected Our Client From 6 Years in Prison and Sex Offender Registration. Through a defense built around consent, our lawyers secured a deal that released our client, crediting them for time served, avoiding a felony strike and sex offender registration.
- Child Molestation (PC § 288) and Sodomy with a Child Under 10 (PC § 288.7) — Defense Secured Dismissal of Charges, Avoiding Prison and Sex Offender Registration. The client faced three potential life terms with no bail. We demonstrated that the allegations had been fabricated, and the court dismissed all charges at the preliminary hearing. No public record of the case remains.
These results are representative of past performance, but do not guarantee future results. Our sex crime defense attorneys will evaluate your case based on its own merits and help you in finding the best outcome for your unique situation.
Frequently Asked Questions for Sex Crime Charges in Bakersfield, CA
Can a sex crimes lawyer still help if the accusations aren't true?
It's critical to work with an attorney, whether or not the accusation has any merit. It's easy for mistakes to be misconstrued, and your lawyer can help you present your side of the story.
How will a sex crime conviction in Bakersfield, CA, affect immigration status?
Convictions of sex crimes can be harmful to your immigration status, and potentially lead to deportation. Talk to a sex crimes defense lawyer who can also act as your immigration attorney and help you protect your status.
Does California have a law against sexting?
Sexting in and of itself is not illegal, but California does have restrictions on it. It is a crime if consent wasn't obtained, or if a minor was involved.
Does statutory rape require registration now?
California updated its sex offender registration requirements for statutory rape effective January 1st, 2026. This mandates Tier 1 registration for most statutory rape convicts, unless the age gap was more than 10 years. Talk to your sex crimes lawyer before accepting any plea.
When should I call a lawyer?
As soon as you believe you're under suspicion. After an accusation or a "detective wants to hear your side" call, hours matter.
Accused of a Sex Crime? Call Now
Don't try to handle this yourself and end up digging a hole you can't get out of. With the right defense and the right lawyer presenting it, you'll maximize your chances of a positive outcome.
Our phone lines are open 24/7. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Bakersfield, CA, call now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online. We're dedicated to your case.
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