A sex crimes lawyer in sex crimes lawyer in Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita, 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). Our goal is to find the best outcome for you, whatever that looks like for your situation.
We're ready for you 24/7. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online for a confidential, free case review.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Santa Clarita, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why Santa Clarita, CA, Sex Crime Cases Are Different
A sex crime charge is not a typical misdemeanor or even a typical felony. A conviction can mean:
- Incarceration
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- A social stigma that will follow you after release
- The potential loss of child custody
- Electronic monitoring
Don't wait while the Santa Clarita, CA, district attorney builds a case against you. Call your Santa Clarita, CA, sex crimes lawyer and start building your defense now.
You've Been Charged With a Sex Crime in Santa Clarita, CA: These Are Your Next Steps
- Don't talk to the person accusing you — even to apologize or "explain." You could face additional charges for witness intimidation.
- Don't speak without an attorney present. Plead the Fifth Amendment and politely ask to speak with your lawyer.
- Do not consent to a phone or home search if investigators don't have a warrant and if you haven't had a chance to check with your Santa Clarita, CA sex charges attorney.
- Save any evidence. Don't delete anything, as this can be twisted as hiding evidence.
- Write a private timeline for your lawyer only: It's important that your lawyer has a full view of the situation.
- Obey court orders — failing to do so can send you to jail.
- Get help handling the pressure — counseling can help give you clarity on how to move forward.
On your own, it can be hard to stay on top of everything. But with a leading Santa Clarita, CA, sex crimes lawyer, you have an advantage inside and outside of court.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley Defends All of the Below Sex Crime Charges in Santa Clarita, CA
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Santa Clarita, CA. Rape, in particular, is treated extremely harshly for allegedly using force to coerce someone into sexual intercourse. Sexual assault, meanwhile, is a catch-all term for several violent sex crimes (often including rape and sexual battery).
Spousal rape under former PC § 262 was repealed in 2021. As of January 1, 2026, SB 258 also removed the remaining spouse-capacity carve-out in PC § 261. Rape inside a marriage is charged like rape between any other two people.
Child Sex Crimes
Child sex crimes are some of the most harshly viewed accusations in Santa Clarita, CA, making it essential to work with an experienced sex crimes lawyer to fight them. 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 Clarita, CA, child sex crimes lawyer before taking a plea or establishing a defense.
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-Generated Sexual Content Involving Children
Child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material, is illegal at both the California state and federal levels — even if it was generated with AI. This applies regardless of whether the child was real or not — creating and distributing these types of images is against the law. If you're accused of this, you need a sex crimes lawyer who can defend you in both state and federal court.
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 Santa Clarita, 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.
Accused of a Below Sex Crime? Call Us Today
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
Step-by-Step Guidance From an Experienced Santa Clarita, CA, Sex Crimes Attorney
Pre-filing and investigation. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Santa Clarita, 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. 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. Since prosecutors have large caseloads, they often prefer to settle through a plea deal rather than go to trial. The right sex charges defense attorney can leverage this to their advantage and find a good deal that protects your record.
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 Santa Clarita, CA, Sex Crime Lawyer Needs to Have These Qualities
- Previous experience defending clients against similar or the same charges
- Dedication to Connections with prosecutors and judges in Santa Clarita
- A defense strategy that you can understand
- 24/7 availability
- A person-centered approach
Santa Clarita, CA, Sex Crime Penalties: What You're Facing
| 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 these numbers represent typical, general ranges, they can be altered by enhancing factors. Every case is individual. But a conviction won't just lead to incarceration; it can also put you on the sex offender registry.
California's Three-Tier Sex Offender Registry System
Not every sex crime in California requires a person to register as a sex offender (prostitution, for example, normally does not). When it is required, though, it typically falls into one of the below three categories:
- Tier 1 — generally 10 years (5 years in some juvenile cases). Examples: most misdemeanor sex offenses fall into this tier, and some non-violent felony offenses.
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: incest, some rape cases, and penetration with a foreign object.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., forcible rape, many child-victim force cases, many felony child pornography convictions) 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.
Defense Strategies Against Santa Clarita, CA, Sex Crimes Charges
- Consent can be a powerful defense and/or mitigating factor — so long as the alleged victim had the capacity to give it
- Reasonable, good-faith mistake as to the accuser's age (the "Hernandez defense," CALCRIM No. 1071) — available for statutory rape under PC § 261.5, but not available for lewd acts with a child under 14 (PC § 288) or for human trafficking (PC § 236.1), where a defendant's belief about age is not a defense as a matter of law
- False or motivated accusation False accusations — sometimes, it can be just as important to show why the person is making the accusation as it is to show your innocence. If an ulterior motive is revealed, this can be a powerful part of a defense startegy
- Identity / alibi
- Insufficient proof of a required element (intent, force, "lewd purpose," knowledge of age, possession vs. unsolicited file)
- Illegally acquired evidence
- Child interviews that were coached or led to a certain end
- Entrapment in cases like prostitution
- Statute of limitations or charging defects
Picking the right defense strategy is important, but it's not everything. You also need a persuasive Santa Clarita, CA, sex crimes lawyer to present it.
Former 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) — No Jail Time, No Sex Offender Registration, Dismissed Upon Completion of Probation. When our client was accused of statutory rape, we leveraged our defense to negotiate a probation sentence which, if completed, will allow for the dismissal of all charges, no prison time, and keep our client off of the California sex offender registry.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Facing 25 Years to Life, 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. The case records not viewable by the public.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — We Protected Our Client Against Prison and Sex Offender Classification. By evaluating the evidence and presenting a narrative of 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) — Charges Dismissed at the Preliminary Hearing. 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. No public record of the case remains.
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 Santa Clarita, CA, is evaluated on its own facts, and results depend on the specific evidence and circumstances involved.
Common Questions for Sex Crime Charges in Santa Clarita, CA
Do I need a lawyer if I am innocent?
Yes — unfortunately, the police can make mistakes in their investigations and end up charging the wrong person. Your freedom and rights deserve professional protection.
Is there a risk of deportation if I'm convicted?
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.
Does statutory rape require registration now?
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.
Do sex offenders have to notify neighbors in California?
California does not require sex offenders to manually inform their neighbors after moving into a new residence.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley Is Ready to Defend Your Sex Crimes Case
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 Santa Clarita, CA, get in touch now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
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