You never thought it would come to this. The accusation may be a misunderstanding, exaggerated, or false. In Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, 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. Our goal is to find the best outcome for you, whatever that looks like for your situation.
Don't give up before speaking to one of our attorneys. Call (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to set up a no-strings-attached review of your charges.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Santa Ana, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why You Need to Treat Sex Crime Charges Seriously in Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana, 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 Megan's Law listing in many cases
- The potential loss of child custody
- A federal firearms ban and, in some cases, passport restrictions
Don't wait while the Santa Ana, CA, district attorney builds a case against you. Call your Santa Ana, CA, sex crimes lawyer and start building your defense now.
Arrested for a Sex Crime in Santa Ana, CA? Take These Steps Now
- Do not contact the accuser — even to apologize or "explain." That can be charged as witness intimidation or violating a protective order.
- Don't speak without an attorney present. Respectfully request to speak with your attorney.
- Do not consent to a phone or home search if investigators don't have a warrant and if you don't have a defense attorney present.
- Save any evidence. Trying to delete or hide evidence can end up making you look more guilty.
- Write a private timeline for your lawyer only: Without a full picture, they won't be able to build a complete defense.
- Obey all conditions of release — you can face serious penalties for breaking these.
- Get help handling the pressure — counseling can help give you clarity on how to move forward.
No matter what else you do, the most important thing you need to do is get help from an expert Santa Ana, CA, sex crimes defense lawyer right away. .
Charges a Santa Ana, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help You Fight
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape is arguably the most serious sex crime charge you can face in Santa Ana, CA. A conviction can send you to prison for years, and permanently put you on the sex offender registry.
Sexual assault (or sexual abuse) charges are often used as a catch-all that can include rape and other sexual crimes, most notably sexual battery. Sexual battery is defined in its own statute as the touching of another person's intimate parts without their consent, while the alleged victim was restrained. This touching must have been done for sexual purposes.
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). Some child sex crimes don't even have to involve actually abusing a child — California's enticing a minor statute makes it a crime just to try and presuade a child into engaging in sexual conduct, whether or not they actually do.
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 Santa Ana, CA, child sex crimes lawyer before taking a plea or establishing a defense.
Online 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.
Lewd Conduct in Public
It may be easy to confuse lewd conduct in public with indecent exposure, but these are separate offenses in Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, 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
Santa Ana, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Guidance at Every Stage of Your Case
Pre-filing and investigation. If you are being investigated but not yet charged in Santa Ana, CA court, we try to control contact with police, preserve favorable evidence, and, when appropriate, present a package that argues against filing.
Discovery and forensics. Evidence can play a major role in sex crime cases. We'll not only look at everything that the state has discovered, but also conduct our own investigations to find anything that can help your defense.
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.
What to Look for in Your Santa Ana, CA Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Direct experience with your statute (PC 261 is not the same case as PC 288.4)
- Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
- A defense strategy that you can understand
- 24/7 availability
- A record of results in Santa Ana, CA, courts — not just a list of charges
Santa Ana, 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 |
Enhancements (great bodily injury, weapon use, multiple victims, age of the complaining witness, prior strikes) change these numbers. Talk to a sex crimes lawyer about what your exposure actually is. 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.
What You Need to Know About the Sex Offender Registry in California
California uses a three-tier system (SB 384, in effect since 2021):
- 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 — 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., sex trafficking of a child, sodomy by force, forcible rape) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
Rather than automatically being removed after a time period, it's on the individual to request removal after their time is up. Your sex crimes attorney can help you petition for removal from the sex offender registery.
Defenses Our Santa Ana, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyers Use
- Consent applies in several sex crime charges, since many are only illegal if a party did not consent
- False or motivated accusation False accusations — some people use false sexual assault or rape allegations as a way to hurt another person or gain leverage in a custody battle
- Alibi — when you can show that you were not present when the alleged offense was committed, you can convince many people of your innocence
- Failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against you — you have the presumption of innocence on your side. When the prosecution fails to overcome this, your defense needs to explain it to the jury
- Violation of your rights
- Entrapment in cases like prostitution
- Technical issues with the way the case was filed
When you have the right defense strategy and the right defense attorney on your side, you're maximizing your chances of a positive outcome.
Past Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. The client was accused of offering money for sex to an undercover officer in a "fake prostitute" sting — a common tactic that can raise entrapment issues. We enrolled the client in an educational diversion program, and upon proof of successful completion, the court dismissed all charges. No public record of the case remains.
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Charges to be Dismissed. 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. When our client was wrongly accused of participating in an assault, we presented a defense showing their lack of participation. 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 negotiated a resolution giving the client credit for time served, and our resolution also kept our client off of the California sex offender registry.
- 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 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.
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 Santa Ana, CA
Is it still important to hire an attorney if you're innocent?
Yes. Innocence does not stop an investigation, an arrest, or a filing decision. Counsel is how your evidence gets into the file and how illegal searches and bad interviews get challenged.
Would a conviction of a sex crime affect my 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.
Will I be put on the sex offender registry if I'm convicted of statutory rape?
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.
What are the rules for sex offenders in California?
Every Santa Ana, CA, resident on the sex offender registry is required to update their information regularly with local law enforcement. Some people may face additional restrictions, such as notifying law enforcement before travel, a ban on firearm possession, and restricted use of the internet.
Accused of a Sex Crime? Call Now
This isn't a time to settle for second best. You need a strong, experienced criminal defense attorney to build your defense. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Santa Ana, CA, get in touch now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
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