You never thought it would come to this. The accusation may be a misunderstanding, exaggerated, or false. In Santa Monica, 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.
You need The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our criminal defense attorneys have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience and know how to defend against sex crimes in Santa Monica, CA. 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 reach out online for a confidential, free case review.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Santa Monica, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction in Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- A potentially lengthy prison sentence
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- Public labelling as a sex offender
- Many collateral consequences
- Ongoing governmental supervision
Trying to "clear it up" with police, the accuser, or a school or Title IX office almost always makes the file worse. Call our attorneys now — we'll fight for your freedom from day 1.
What to Do if You Have Been Accused of a Sex Crime in Santa Monica, CA
- Avoid contact with the alleged victim — for any reason whatsoever. That can be charged as witness intimidation or violating a protective order.
- When interviewed, don't answer questions. Only provide answers after consulting with your Santa Monica, CA, sex crimes lawyer
- Don't share your phone or let investigators access your property if investigators don't have a warrant and without checking with your Santa Monica, CA, sex crimes lawyer first.
- Save any evidence. Deletion can be a crime in and of itself, and make you look guilty.
- Write a private timeline for your lawyer only: Without a full picture, they won't be able to build a complete defense.
- If given bail conditions, take every effort to adhere to them — failing to do so can send you to jail.
- Get counselling/mental health support — 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 Monica, 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 Monica, CA
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Santa Monica, 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).
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 Monica, 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
Not every statutory rape charge is the same, but all of them are serious. If the alleged victim was within 3 years of the alleged offender's age, it is a misdemeanor. Anything beyond that, and the prosecution has discretion to charge the crime as a felony. Additionally, there can be enhanced penalties if the alleged offender is over the age of 21 and the alleged victim is under the age of 16.
Online 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.
Prostitution
Prostitution has a long history in the United States, but is currently illegal in California. The state defines prostitution as exchanging a sexual act for something of value, which is often (but not always) money. The same law covers both acting as a prostitute and soliciting a prostitute, and the penalties include up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Additionally, sentence enhancements can add mandatory minimums of jail time and/or the suspension of your driver's license.
Related Charges
In Santa Monica, 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.
Get Legal Support From a Santa Monica, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer With All of the Below Charges
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. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Santa Monica, 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 obtain police reports, body-cam footage, SART/rape-kit notes, pretext-call recordings, phones, cloud accounts, and expert review of DNA, toxicology, and digital media. Many cases turn on delayed disclosure, inconsistent statements, suggestive interviewing of children, or missing intent.
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. 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. 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.
Looking for a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Santa Monica, CA? Don't Overlook These Factors
- Knowledge of how to handle the exact charges against you
- Readiness to help right away, no matter what stage your case is at
- Honesty and transparency when discussing your case
- Availability and a single point of contact
- A person-centered approach
Penalties (General Statutory Ranges)
| 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.
What You Need to Know About the Sex Offender Registry in California
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: indecent exposure (misdemeanor) and sexual battery (misdemeanor).
- 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., most rape offenses, aiding a rape attempt, pimping a minor) 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.
Defenses Our Santa Monica, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyers Use
- Consent is applicable in many cases where both parties were over the age of 18
- 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
- Misidentification — unfortunately, misidentification can result in false accusations, even if the alleged victim is not acting maliciously
- Lack of evidence — ultimately, it's on the prosecution to prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If they fail to do so, we will highlight that
- Illegally acquired evidence
- Entrapment, when law enforcement goes too far in convincing the alleged offender
- Statute of limitations or charging defects
Picking the right defense strategy is important, but it's not everything. You also need a persuasive Santa Monica, 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) — No Jail Time, No Sex Offender Registration, Dismissed Upon Completion of Probation. Our client was accused of statutory rape, a wobbler offense that could have resulted in incarceration, followed by a lifetime on the sex offender registry. Through skillful negotiation, we secured a deal that avoided prison, avoided the sex offender registry, and presented the possibility of all changes of being dismissed, after a probation period..
- Rape (PC § 261) — Facing 25 Years to Life, 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. 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. Through a defense built around consent, our lawyers secured a deal that released our client, crediting them for time served, 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 looked into the evidence, and found that the claims were false. At the preliminary hearing, the judge believed our story and dismissed the charges. No public record of the case remains.
These results are representative of past performance, but do not guarantee future results. Your Santa Monica, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you figure out the best approach to your case, and help you understand realistic outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions for Sex Crime Charges in Santa Monica, CA
If I didn't do it, should I still contact a sex crimes lawyer?
Absolutely — with an attorney on your side, you can ensure that the state listens to your side of the story, and challenge any misconceptions about the evidence.
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.
Can a sex offender get off the registry in Santa Monica, CA?
California's sex offender registry has three tiers — tier 3 offenses require lifetime registration, but tier 2 and 1 both allow the possibility of removal after a time period has passed.
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.
How fast should I call?
As soon as you are aware of an accusation, you should contact a lawyer (even if charges haven't been filed yet). The sooner you bring in an expert Santa Monica, CA, sex crimes lawyer, the better your chances of a positive outcome.
Do You Need a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Santa Monica, CA? Call David Chesley
There isn't an easy way out of this, but with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you'll get a team that is dedicated to protecting your rights and will fight for your freedom.
Our phone lines are open 24/7. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Santa Monica, CA, call now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online. We're committed to our clients.
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