California Criminal Lawyer Blog

A 39-year-old Westminster pastor has been charged with molestation of a minor as well as possession of child pornography. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the alleged lewd act occurred in the parking lot of an Orange County grocery store. An 8-year-old girl and her mother told Huntington Beach police that the man rubbed the girl's legs, thighs, and arms before giving her $40 to stay quiet. During the investigation, officials say they found images of child pornography on the suspect's computer. The pastor faces several charges, including lewd acts on a child under 14, kidnapping for child molest, attempting to dissuade a witness, and possession of child pornography. His penalties could include 30 years to life in state prison.

California Penal Code 288 makes it a crime to commit an act of lewd or lascivious nature on a minor under the age of 14. Lewd act cases typically involve accusations of inappropriate touching or fondling. It is often challenging to uncover the truth in these types of cases. It is common for the only evidence to be the words of a young child and for juries to seek the most severe penalties possible because of the age of the alleged victim.

Depending on the circumstances of the incident, the resulting charges can be a misdemeanor or a felony. A conviction for a sex crime involving a minor can have serious consequences, including incarceration, fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. The stigma of being labeled as a sex offender can potentially have life-changing consequences for an individual.

The skilled Westminster sex crime defense attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff have a proven record of successfully handling sex crime cases in southern California. If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime, please call our offices at (866) 430-8383 for a free case evaluation.

A 32-year-old Downey man has been convicted of performing lewd acts on a teenage girl in an Orange County water park, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. The man was convicted of rubbing up against a girl and attempting to do the same with another girl. Prosecutors said during the trial that the parents of the two girls pulled their daughters from the wave pool in the park after they saw the man close to the girls. He faces up to three years and four months in prison. The defense attorney argued that the touching was inadvertent and was caused by the wave action in the pool. His sentencing has been scheduled for June 17.

This story is an example of how even an inadvertent act in a public place like a water park could have serious consequences. According to California Penal Code Section 288 (a): “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”

Sex crimes against children carry severe consequences including a lengthy state prison sentence, hefty fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Since the stakes are extremely high, it is critical that anyone who has been accused of a sex crime against a child immediately contact an experienced Orange County sex crime defense lawyer to learn more about the legal options available to them.

The reputed attorneys of Takakjian & Sitkoff have successfully represented many who have been accused of serious sex crimes in California. We use our decades of experience as prosecutors and trial attorneys to work toward the best possible outcome for our clients – be it acquittal or getting the charges reduced. If you or a loved one has been accused of a sex crime in Los Angeles, Orange, or Ventura County, please call 866-430-8383 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Huntington Beach police have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Anaheim man for two counts of attempted lewd acts with a child under 14. He allegedly attempted to contact a fictitious child over the Internet with the intent to commit a specific lewd act and went to meet the minor to engage in lewd conduct. According to the OC Register, the arrest was made possible by a sting operation put on by the Huntington Beach police department.

The police posted an ad on craigslist.com. They posed as a 13-year-old girl soliciting favors. The defendant responded and arranged to meet with the girl, who turned out to be a Huntington Beach police officer. In their correspondence, the defendant supposedly instructed the girl to have red underwear on when they were to meet.

The defendant had been convicted of a sex-related offense in 1989 in Arizona. After his recent sex crimes arrest, police found child pornography in his home; which will likely be used as additional evidence in his case. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison if he is found guilty of the sex offenses.

Continue reading "Craigslist Sting Operation Results in Huntington Beach Arrest" »

A 37-year-old massage therapist is being accused of sexual assault. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, prosecutors say that the man who was working as an independent masseur, who formerly worked out of a San Juan Capistrano chiropractor’s office, assaulted a 21-year-old woman by touching her inappropriately during a massage. Police are looking for other women or customers of this masseur who may have been sexually assaulted. Police say they have investigated this particular masseur before this complaint. Two years ago, a woman in her 50s told officials that she had been inappropriately touched by the man. But at the time, there was not enough evidence to file charges, officials said. Two other women filed complaints, but those cases were outside of the statute of limitations.

Sex crimes are criminal offenses of a sexual nature and can vary to a great degree. Punishment for a sex crime depends on the type of offense and level of the charge. A misdemeanor sex crime conviction can be punished by up to one year of county jail time. Some sex crimes, such as violent sexual assault, are "three strikes" offenses with a third strike resulting in a sentence of 25 years to life. Furthermore, a conviction for some sex crimes will result in registration as a sex offender or sexual predator and public disclosure.

Continue reading "Massage Artist Charged with Sexually Assaulting Woman" »

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to one year in jail for allegedly groping a 15-year-old girl whose father was in the hospital. According to this news report, the 45-year-old courtroom bailiff from Long Beach pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of committing lewd acts with a minor.

The deputy was sentenced to three years probation and will be required to register as a sex offender. Officials say the victim was a daughter of the man's friend, who was in the hospital. The deputy was relieved from duty at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

If you are being accused of a sex crime it is critical that you talk to experienced criminal defense attorneys. A sex crime conviction could mean long-term incarceration in a county jail or state prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender for the rest of your life. A skilled Los Angeles County sex offense lawyer will confidentially yet aggressively defend you and ensure that your constitutional rights are protected.

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Recent news reports indicate that participants may be arrested for participating in the annual “Mooning Amtrak” event that has been held for over thirty years in Laguna Niguel, California. This unsponsored event has drawn thousands of people as they stand next to the rail lines “mooning” passing trains. It is unknown just how many people will show up this time on Camino Capistrano Road on Saturday, July 18th and “moon” passing trains. A smaller crowd is likely because some have said that this year city officials will allegedly “crack down” on the “flashing” conduct and arrests are possible.

Technically a violation of law, exposing one’s buttocks, genitals or private parts is defined as indecent exposure by the California Penal Code. A first offense conviction for indecent exposure in Orange County could involve jail time and repeat offenders can receive up to a year in the county jail or be charged with a felony. Although the law is aimed primarily at those who flash or expose themselves on city streets, a subsection of the law also punishes those who arrange events for others to expose themselves in public. These events supposedly incite lewd or lascivious acts.

Continue reading "“Mooning Amtrak” 2009 - City of Laguna Niguel Hints Arrests May Be Made" »