Accused of Child Molestation or Child Sexual Abuse in Southern California?

If you’ve been charged with child molestation in Southern California, you don’t have a minute to waste. Without a skillful molestation defense attorney by your side, you face the prospect of a ruined reputation, a cloud of suspicion trailing you wherever you go, and even the loss of your freedom.

With the help of a San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and Los Angeles County molestation defense lawyer, you will have every advantage and the best possible chance of having the charges dropped, negotiating to a lesser charge, or being acquitted at trial. The stakes are incredibly high, so swift action is required.

There are many different California laws that outline crimes associated with child molestation and child sexual abuse – each with a severe penalty for a conviction. The crimes and penalties include: 

Oral Copulation

• Oral copulation with a person under the age of 18 (Penal Code Section 287(b)(1)): Jail or prison term up to one year
• Oral copulation by someone over the age of 21 and someone under the age of 16 (Penal Code Section 287(b)(2)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of 18 months, 2 years, or 3 years
• Oral copulation with someone under the age of 14 and more than 10 years younger than you (Penal Code Section 287(c)(1)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of three, six, or eight years
• Non-consensual oral copulation using force with someone under the age of 14 (Penal Code Section 287(c)(2)(B)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of 8, 10, or 12 years
• Non-consensual oral copulation using force with a minor over the age of 14 (Penal Code Section 287(c)(2)(C)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of 6, 8, or 10 years

Lewd or Lascivious Act

• Sexually touching someone under the age of 14 (Penal Code Section 288(a)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of three, six, or eight years
• Sexually touching someone under the age of 14 using force (Penal Code Section 288(b)(1)): Felony conviction carries a prison term of five, eight, or ten years
• Sexually touching someone 14 or 15 years old and more than 10 years younger than you (Penal Code Section 288(c)(1)): A misdemeanor conviction carries a one-year jail sentence and a felony conviction carries a prison term of one, two, or three years
• A conviction for any of these also carries a maximum fine of $10,000

Prosecutors rarely charge just one crime in child molestation and child sexual abuse cases; rather, they charge several related crimes in the hope that one or more will stick. For example, in addition to one or more of the above, a prosecutor might charge someone with arranging a meeting with a minor in order to expose genitals (Penal Code Section 288.4), engaging in three or more sexual acts over three months with a someone under the age of 14 (Penal Code Section 288.5); or having sex with someone under the age of 10 (Penal Code Section 288.7).

In Riverside County and the rest of California, a child molestation or child sexual abuse conviction can carry both an incarceration penalty and a monetary fine. Moreover, if you’re convicted, you’ll likely be required to register as a sex offender – a label that can dog you for the rest of your life.

Molestation defense lawyer Alan Spears is on your side. With his help, you have every possible advantage in fighting the Southern California criminal justice system and in protecting your future.

Examples of the molestation defenses he may use in your case include:

• Your accuser mistakenly identified you
• Another adult committed the molestation
• Someone coached your accuser into falsely claiming molestation
• Your accuser often lies when talking about other people’s actions
• The touching was accidental or wasn’t intended to sexually arouse you or the child
• The child’s age doesn’t meet the age criteria outlined in the law
• The police interviewer was biased
• No DNA evidence was found
• No evidence of physical injury was found

Molestation defense attorney Alan Spears will use the law to your advantage and develop the best possible molestation defense strategy to protect your innocence and your future. Every minute you wait matters, so call immediately 951-400-4574 for a free, confidential consultation. Get legal help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your future depends upon it.