A sex crimes lawyer in sex crimes lawyer in Panorama City, CA is a person you're probably not excited to call, but if you're facing accusations, you need one immediately. Whatever your situation is, this isn't the time to sit around and wait. The sooner you reach out to an expert, the better your chances are of a positive outcome. You need to get help now.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends people accused of sex crimes in Panorama City, CA — with offices across Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties) as well as Central and Northern California (Kern, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Fresno, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Sonoma, Alameda, San Joaquin, and San Francisco counties, and beyond). When you call us, you're getting a team that's ready to help, whatever you need.
We're here to help, not to judge. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online for a confidential, free case review.
President David S. Chesley, Panorama City, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
The Realities of a Panorama City, CA, Sex Crime Charge
Panorama City, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- A potentially lengthy prison sentence
- Registration as a sex offender
- Public labelling as a sex offender
- The potential loss of child custody
- Extensive fines and restitution requirements
Don't try to face these consequences alone. The right Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you minimize or even avoid them.
Arrested for a Sex Crime in Panorama City, CA? Take These Steps Now
- Do not contact the accuser — No matter what your intentions are, it's a bad idea. This can hurt your case in the long run.
- Keep quiet during interrogations. Only provide answers after consulting with your Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer
- Don't give permission to search your property without a warrant and if you haven't had a chance to check with your Panorama City, CA sex charges attorney.
- Protect evidence that you have access to. Don't delete anything, as this can be twisted as hiding evidence.
- Talk about your case with your sex crimes lawyer in Panorama City, 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.
- Talk to a professional for help handling the stress — handling criminal charges is stressful, and it's normal to need some professional help.
No matter what else you do, the main thing you need to do is get help from an expert Panorama City, CA, sex crimes defense lawyer right away. They can help guide you through the rest..
Get Help With the Following Panorama City, CA, Sex Crime Charges
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape is charged under Penal Code § 261. In Panorama City, CA, it is a felony with a triad of 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison in a typical case, plus fines and usually Tier 3 lifetime registration. Sexual assault, meanwhile, is a catch-all term for several violent sex crimes (often including rape and sexual battery).
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
Child sex crimes are some of the most harshly viewed accusations in Panorama City, CA, making it essential to work with an experienced sex crimes lawyer to fight them. 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
Whether or not a minor agreed to have sex with an adult, the adult can be convicted of statutory rape (AKA unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor). This charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and prosecutorial discretion. But a prison sentence isn't the only concern: You can also be forced to register as a sex offender, particularly if the alleged offense occurred after December 31st, 2025.
Internet and Digital Sex Crimes
Online and digital sex crimes can be particularly complicated in California. For example, sexting with a minor is illegal, even if the supposed minor turned out to be an adult who was pretending. This is because the relevant statute (PC § 288.2) applies if the alleged offender believed they were talking to a minor, even if that wasn't true. Sexting can also overlap with stalking charges.
AI and Deepfake Pornography
As AI continues to advance at a fast rate, California lawmakers are setting limits for its use. These laws often intersect with sex crimes as they relate to pornography. Recent laws have established that AI-generated child pornography can be prosecuted as if it were an image of an actual child. Deepfake pornography is also addressed in other California criminal laws. As these laws continue to develop, it's important to work with a sex crimes lawyer in Panorama City, CA, who is familiar with the most recent laws and updated regulations.
Lewd Conduct in Public
It may be easy to confuse lewd conduct in public with indecent exposure, but these are separate offenses in Panorama City, CA. Where indecent exposure refers to a person showing off their own genitalia in an offensive manner, one difference with lewd conduct can involve another person. Lewd conduct involves the alleged sexual touching of one's own or someone else's privates in a public place, offending other people in the area. Intentions don't matter — just whether or not someone was present who was upset by the actions.
Related Charges
In Panorama City, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), human trafficking (PC § 236.1), failure to register (PC § 290.018), prostitution and solicitation (PC § 647(b)), loitering with intent to commit prostitution (PC § 653.22), pimping/pandering (PC §§ 266h, 266i), 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 Your Panorama City, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help
Pre-filing and investigation. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Panorama City, 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. We don't just let the district attorney build a case against you — we reexamine any evidence and look for inconsistencies or other weaknesses. We can also reach out to expert witnesses and forensic labs to review everything and look for alternatives to the state's narrative.
Motions. Suppression. The right motions can set your case up for success. In addition to motions we commonly file (like suppression and dismissal), in sex crime cases we often file a motion to suppress identification. Unfortunately, misidentification can occur more often than it should in criminal cases, and sex crimes are no exception.
Negotiation. Many criminal charges in Panorama City, CA, end in plea deals. With relationships in courts across California, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are ready to negotiate on your behalf.
Trial and sentencing. Some lawyers won't want to take cases to trial. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we're prepared to present your defense in front of a judge and jury.
Looking for a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Panorama City, CA? Don't Overlook These Factors
- Experience with your case type
- Relationships in Panorama City, CA, courts
- Honesty and transparency when discussing your case
- A positive reputation with former clients
- A feeling that you're being treated like a person, not a paycheck
Panorama City, CA, Sex Crime Penalties
| 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. . However, a jail sentence is often over long before the other main consequences of a sex crime conviction: Being placed on the sex offender registry.
Sex Offender Registry Tiers in California
If convicted, many sex crimes require you to register at one of the three below tiers:
- Tier 1 — normally 10 years, but some minors will only be put on the registry for 5 years. Examples: most misdemeanor sex offenses fall into this tier, and some non-violent felony offenses.
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: repeated annoying of a child, some sodomy cases, and some rape cases.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., sex trafficking of a child, sodomy by force, forcible rape) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
After the minimum period, Tier 1 and Tier 2 registrants may petition for termination under PC § 290.5 if they meet the statutory criteria. Tier 3 is different — relief, if any, is narrower. Failure to register is its own crime. Your Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer should treat registry exposure as a charging and plea issue from day one, not an afterthought at sentencing.
Defense Strategies Your Panorama City, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer May Use
- Consent can be a powerful defense and/or mitigating factor — so long as the alleged victim had the capacity to give it
- 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 (custody, immigration, breakup, school discipline)
- Identity / alibi
- Failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against you (intent, force, "lewd purpose," knowledge of age, possession vs. unsolicited file)
- Unlawful search of phones and cloud accounts
- Entrapment when the supposed offender did not have a predisposition towards the crime, and the government coerced them into it
- 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 Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer to present it.
Recent Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. Our client was accused of soliciting a prostitute who was actually a police officer. We negotiated a diversionary program and the dismissal of all charges.
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Protected Client From Jail, Sex Offender Registry, and Record. The client faced years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration. We negotiated a reduced-charge resolution that carried no custody time and no registration requirement, with dismissal available after successful completion of probation.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Felony Accusation, All Charges Dismissed at Preliminary Hearing. 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. This also protected our client's reputation, as no records of the case are public.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — Facing 6 Years State Prison, No Jail Time, No Sex Offender Registration. Through a defense built around consent, we protected our client from an extended jail sentence and secured a favorable outcome, with no strike and no 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. Our client was being held without bail and could have been sent to prison for life, if convicted. We examined the prosecution's evidence and were able to demonstrate to the court that the accusation was false, securing a dismissal. Our client's reputation is also protected, as there are no public records of this case.
The above cases are selected as a representation of the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's results — they do not guarantee a specific outcome in a given case. Every case in Panorama City, CA, is evaluated on its own facts, and results depend on the specific evidence and circumstances involved.
Common Questions for Sex Crime Charges in Panorama City, CA
Can a sex crimes lawyer still help if the accusations aren't true?
Yes — unfortunately, the police can make mistakes in their investigations and end up charging the wrong person. Your freedom and rights deserve professional protection.
Will a sex crime in Panorama City, CA, affect immigration status?
To protect your immigration status, you need to take these charges seriously. A conviction can be considered an aggravated felony or crime of moral turpitude, depending on the statute.
Is it possible for sex crime charges to be reduced or dismissed?
Whether or not charges can be reduced or dismissed depends on the specifics of your case — talk with your Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer to determine if this is an option for you.
Does California's sex offender registry include statutory rape?
For many PC § 261.5(c) and (d) offenses committed on or after January 1, 2026, yes — Tier 1 — unless the 10-year age-gap exception applies. The court may still order PC § 290.006 registration. Get the dates and ages reviewed before you plead.
How fast should I call?
Before you speak to police if you can. The sooner you bring in an expert Panorama City, CA, sex crimes lawyer, the better your chances of a positive outcome.
Accused of a Sex Crime? Call Now
Working with the right attorney can protect your freedom and defend you against the related social stigma. And you need to get started right away.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Panorama City, CA, call us right away at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
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