Lawyers know that a child molestation charge is emotionally devastating against a person. The mere accusation of this crime can seriously damage your reputation, career and relationships.

Child Molestation, also known as Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault on Child and Indecent Liberties, generally involves any type of sexual contact with a child under the age of 14 (this age varies from state to state). Los Angeles criminal lawyers know that an adult can also be accused of sexual assault on minor in all states, which is usually defined as sex with a person under the age of 18. Both child molestation and sexual assault on a child or minor is a crime that can also be synonymous to statutory rape, which is generally defined as sexual intercourse with minors or children. Here is a state by state comparison of age of consent for statutory rape offenses.

If convicted of this crime, you can face a lifetime sex offender registration and severe fines and penalties. A child molestation, sexual abuse, indecent liberties, sexual assault, or statutory rape conviction can plague you for the rest of your life, and you can be found guilty even when the only evidence is the victim’s word.

Marital Rape is a nonconsensual sexual act alleged to have occurred within the context of a marital relationship. The accuser only has to claim a single sexual act was evoked with the use of intimidation, threat, or coercion during the marriage in order to claim rape occurred. An accusation of marital rape is sometimes made or threatened during contentious divorces. Because of the complexity and nature of this type of sex accusation you need a criminal defense attorney experienced in rape and investigations to find weaknesses and holes in the opposing side’s arguments and statements.

Many people mistakenly believe the police will not investigate an allegation of rape made by one spouse against the other. However, these allegations often arise in the context of a fight between a married couple, and they often involve equally serious allegations of kidnapping, false imprisonment or domestic violence. If you are being investigated for marital rape to your spouse, it is imperative you call our criminal defense attorneys immediately. The sooner a criminal attorney starts working, the better. In some cases, effective intervention early on by an attorney may clear you and halt the indictment.

Depending on the severity of the victim’s allegations, sexual assault can be classified as a felony. The risk exposure and severity of the penalties are largely dependent on the victim’s claims, and pre-trial preparation is vital.

There are rarely eyewitnesses, and these are typically “he said, she said” criminal cases, so thorough investigation is a must. Credibility can be a key point, and expert witnesses are often a useful tool that can tip the scales toward the defense.

The mere accusation of sexual assault can have a devastating effect on your life, including serious harm to your reputation, career and personal relationships. A sexual assault conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. If convicted, you can face a lifetime registration as a sex offender and severe criminal penalties. Regardless of the severity or circumstances of your offense or crime, your sex offender registration becomes public record, and your neighbors and employers will be able to see this identification for the rest of your life.

Child pornography charges can be particularly devastating because of the serious social stigma of child sex offenders. Los Angeles Criminal lawyers know that with computers and spammy websites, it is easy to unknowingly commit this crime. For example, if you view an image on a web site of someone you thought was an adult but was under 18, you can be charged with this crime. Even if another person used your computer to view such images or if an unsolicited email was sent to you containing such images, copies of these images may unknowingly be on your hard drive.

While possession of pornographic images may seem like a minor offense, this crime must be taken seriously and defended aggressively. There is currently a nationwide witch hunt for sexual predators led by sting operations, overzealous prosecutors, politicians and the media. Employers, other employees, and even computer repair shops often have the ability and right to view files on your computer, and the feds are eager to aggressively prosecute these offenses.

Failing to register as a sex offender can have serious consequences, including imprisonment in some states. Many sexual related crimes require a convicted person to register as a sex offender. Whenever the registered sex offender moves, he or she typically must re-register in the most current jurisdiction.

Failure to comply with sex offender registration rules prescribed in a particular jurisdiction will lead to additional criminal charges and, if convicted, further penalties. Failing to maintain up to date sex offender registration only compounds your problems by adding further criminal penalties.