Some court cases, like traffic tickets, generally don't have major long-term impacts. You can contest it or pay the fine, then move on. Not so with sex crime cases. For those, you could be facing years in prison, massive fines, and sex offender registration. You need a sex crimes lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA to help you handle these charges.
For Redondo Beach, 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 investigate, challenge the evidence, negotiate when that protects you, and try the case when it does not.
We will fight for you. Call (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to talk to a sex crimes lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA.
President David S. Chesley, Redondo Beach, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why You Need to Treat Sex Crime Charges Seriously in Redondo Beach, CA
Sex crime charges are serious. A conviction can lead to:
- State prison or jail
- Registration as a sex offender
- A social stigma that will follow you after release
- The potential loss of child custody
- Electronic monitoring
It's never a good idea to try and talk your way out of these accusations. Without help, you might be digging a hole you can't get out of. A sex crimes lawyer can change that.
Arrested for a Sex Crime in Redondo Beach, CA? Take These Steps Now
- Don't talk to the person accusing you — for any reason whatsoever. You could face additional charges for witness intimidation.
- Do not talk to police, detectives, or campus investigators. Plead the Fifth Amendment and politely ask to speak with your lawyer.
- Don't give permission to search your property if there isn't a warrant for it and without counsel.
- Gather any evidence you can find. Don't delete anything, as this can be twisted as hiding evidence.
- Share everything you know with your defense attorney: The more your attorney knows, the better defense they can build.
- If given bail conditions, take every effort to adhere to them (stay-away orders, no-contact, travel, devices).
- Get help handling the pressure — a counselor or one trusted person who will not post about it.
On your own, it can be a lot to handle. But with a leading Redondo Beach, CA, sex crimes lawyer, you have an advantage inside and outside of court.
Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Redondo Beach, CA
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape is charged under Penal Code § 261. In Redondo Beach, 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, a rape accusation between spouses had different consequences that were considered more lenient. Today, though, this no longer applies, and alleged rapes between spouses are treated the same as any other.
Child Sex Crimes
Child sex crimes are some of the most harshly viewed accusations in Redondo Beach, 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
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor is a misdemeanor or a wobbler depending on ages. Important 2026 change: for offenses on or after January 1, 2026, SB 680 added certain PC § 261.5(c) and (d) convictions to PC § 290. Those cases can require Tier 1 (10-year) registration, unless the defendant was not more than 10 years older than the minor and that is the only registerable conviction. Courts can still order registration under PC § 290.006. Offenses before January 1, 2026 are not brought onto the registry by SB 680. This should be analyzed before any plea.
Internet and Digital Sex Crimes
Internet sex crimes vary widely in nature. Some overlap with child sex crimes (the possession, production, or distribution of child pornography, for example), while others are crimes even if the conduct only involved adults (posting of revenge porn, for example). Defenses often hinge on whether or not the alleged offender was the one to break the law, or if another person was using their computer/profile.
AI and Deepfake Pornography
As AI continues to advance at a fast rate, California lawmakers are setting limits for its use. This is related to sex crimes, specifically for generative pornographic content. 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 Redondo Beach, CA, who is familiar with the most recent laws and updated regulations.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is a subcategory of human trafficking under California law. Human trafficking is defined as depriving someone of their freedom and forcing them into labor — sex trafficking is the informal name for when that labor involves a sexual nature (such as pimping or creating child pornography). In particular, sex trafficking involving children is treated harshly and can result in life imprisonment in some circumstances. Some people may think that trafficking charges only happen (or apply) to immigrants, but the alleged victim can be of any nationality.
Related Charges
In Redondo Beach, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), lewd conduct in public (PC § 647(a)), 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
Will Help You Fight the Charges
Pre-filing and investigation. The fight for your freedom doesn't begin when charges are filed — it begins as soon as the authorities start to look at you. These early days are crucial for setting your case up for success — having an expert sex crimes lawyer can help you preserve exculpatory evidence and maybe even negate charges from being filed in the first place.
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. Many criminal charges in Redondo Beach, 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. Not every case can be handled through negotiations. When talks break down, we use our defensive strategy to persuade the jury. And if the outcome is guilty on any charge, we'll advocate for you in sentencing.
Your Redondo Beach, CA, Sex Crime Lawyer Needs to Have These Qualities
- Previous experience defending clients against similar or the same charges
- Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
- Ideas for how to approach defense in your case
- A positive reputation with former clients
- A feeling that you're being treated like a person, not a paycheck
Legal Punishments for Sex Crime Convictions in Redondo Beach, 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. . But a conviction won't just lead to incarceration; it can also put you on the sex offender registry.
The Sex Offender Registry (PC 290)
California maintains a public sex offender registry. The length of time a person is required to be on the registry depends on the specific offense:
- Tier 1 — normally a 10-year period on the registry. 5 years in some juvenile cases. Examples: misdemeanor sex crimes are often Tier 1, notably sexual battery and some child pornography possession.
- Tier 2 — 20 years for adults, but 10 years for some juveniles. 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.
Life on the sex offender registry is difficult — the public is able to look up your information, and it can impact employment opportunities, and leave lasting impacts long after a prison sentence. Talk to a sex crimes attorney to get help once you're eligible for removal.
Effective Defenses Versus Sex Crime Charges in Redondo Beach, CA
- Consent applies in several sex crime charges, since many are only illegal if a party did not consent
- In some cases, mistakes about the age of the other person can be used as a defense. This is most applicable in statutory or other minor-related cases, and isn't applicable in some others (e.g. forcible sex crimes)
- 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)
- Illegally acquired evidence
- Entrapment or lack of intent in sting cases
- Technical issues with the way the case was filed
Picking the right defense strategy is important, but it's not everything. You also need a persuasive Redondo Beach, 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) — Client Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Dismissal Available After Probation. 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) — We Protected Our Client Against Prison and Sex Offender Classification. Using a consent-based defense, 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) — All Charges Dismissed, No 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. As an added bonus, our client's privacy is protected as any remaining records are not available to the public.
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. If you have questions about realistic outcomes for your case, talk to one of our Redondo Beach, CA, sex crime lawyers today.
Frequently Asked Questions for Sex Accusations in Redondo Beach, 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.
Is there a risk of deportation if I'm convicted?
Many sex convictions are treated as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude. Discuss immigration consequences before any plea.
Do I have to stay on the sex offender registry for life in Redondo Beach, CA?
If you were convicted of a tier 1 offense, you can generally apply for removal after 10 years. Tier 2 is similar, just after 20 years. Tier 3 results in a lifetime sex offender registration.
Will I be put on the sex offender registry if I'm convicted of statutory rape?
The specifics of statutory rape and the sex offender registry depends on the ages of those involved, when the alleged offense occurred, and the court's discretion. Contact an attorney prior to accepting any deal that includes sex offender registration.
Does California require sex offenders to inform their neighbors?
No — sex offenders themselves are not required to inform their neighbors, just register with local law enforcement. Law enforcement may decide to make a public announcement, though.
Do You Need a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA? Call David Chesley
We won't sugarcoat it: These charges are a big deal, and you need someone who knows how to fight for your rights.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA, call us right away at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
Payment Plans
