California Criminal Lawyer Blog

Los Angeles police recently arrested a 20-year-old homeless man in Venice Beach on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Menlo Park girl who went missing in January.

According to police, Venice Beach is noted for having a number of young runaway girls. Based on a Mercury News story, this runaway had left home January 6th after a dispute with her parents. She then hopped a train to Los Angeles Union Station. The alleged, an admitted gang member, met the girl and offered her drugs and alcohol. He also threatened to hurt her or kill himself if she left him and proceeded to beat and sexually assault the girl.

On January 30, the girl turned herself in to Culver City police and was sent home to the Bay Area that night. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office indicated that the accused was involved in a 2009 sexual assault case, but prosecutors had not yet charged him of the sex crime in Los Angeles. He is currently being held in lieu of a $175,500 bail.

Continue reading "Police Arrest Homeless Gang Member for Sexual Assault" »

A husband and wife were arrested and charged with running a prostitution ring out of two upscale apartment buildings in Pasadena and Irvine, according to a Los Angeles Times news report. The couple allegedly managed about two dozen women, who officials say, charged $200 per hour. In addition to the couple, four other men between the ages of 20 and 45 were also arrested on prostitution charges. The couple is facing charges of pimping and pandering. Officials said they initially suspected that human trafficking was involved, but later discovered that the women were attracted to the Los Angeles and Orange County business because of relatively higher pay.

According to California Penal Code Section 647 (b), committing prostitution means "any lewd act between persons for money or other consideration." Pandering, defined under Section 266 i of the California Penal Code, is considered to be a crime committed by a pimp – recruiting prostitutes and soliciting customers for prostitution services. If you are convicted of prostitution or pandering, you are looking at significant jail time, probation, community service, AIDS testing, fines, and other penalties.

Continue reading "Couple Accused of Running Prostitution Ring in Los Angeles and Orange Counties" »

A history teacher at a Cypress school has been charged with sex crimes against a 17-year-old student, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. The 42-year-old history teacher has been accused of one misdemeanor and six felonies that allegedly took place on six separate occasions. Police have apparently obtained about 11 pages of sexually explicit text messages the teacher sent to the girl in September and October. According to the report, the girl's mother discovered the text messages and handed them over to police.

And in another recent high profile case, a former California Highway Patrol Lieutenant, was found guilty Tuesday in an Orange County court of attempted lewd acts on a child. Had had sent text messages to an undercover police officer who was posing as a 13 year old female.

Sex crimes, such as child molestation, are among the most forcefully prosecuted and severely punished offenses in our criminal justice system today in Orange County. Even if you are not guilty of the sex crime allegations, when you hold a profession, such as a teacher, police officer, or someone respected in society, you run the risk of ruining your reputation and losing your livelihood. Many sex offense defendants are drastically affected by sex crime charges, even if they are not convicted. This is especially true with regard to crimes involving children or minors. If convicted of a sex crime in Orange County, you may encounter extremely serious consequences including a lengthy prison sentence and registration as a sex offender for the rest of your life.

Continue reading "Orange County Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes" »

A school bus driver in Orange County has been sentenced to 151 years to life in prison for molesting and taking sexually explicit photos of three young girls. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the 54-year-old man lured the girls, including one 7-year-old, into his car with the promise of a trip to Disneyland. He was convicted of 15 felony child molestation counts, sentencing enhancements for committing lewd acts on multiple children, substantial sexual contact with a child, and kidnapping to commit a sexual offense against a child, the report stated.

Sex crimes like child molestation, especially those against young children, are vigorously prosecuted in our criminal justice system in Orange County. If convicted, those accused of child sex abuse may face spending the rest of their lives in prison. In this case, the judge said he issued the maximum allowable sentence because, as a school bus driver, this man was a "predator" who took advantage of his position of trust to exploit and molest these young, vulnerable victims.

Continue reading "Orange County School Bus Driver Gets 151 Years in Prison for Sex Crimes" »

A 50-year old high school teacher in Redondo Beach has been accused of engaging in lewd behavior in the presence of a student at the local high school. According to CBS news report, the teacher was arrested and booked for arranging a meeting with a minor "for purposes of engaging in lewd behavior." Redondo Beach police officials said that the incident involved a 16-year-old girl. The teacher is accused of talking about sex and engaging in "a sexual act in her presence." The teen reported the incident to school officials. The teacher, who has taught at the high school for eight years, is a married man with two children, according to the news article.

Sex crime charges can have devastating effects on a person’s life. As a teacher who is facing a serious sex crime charge, this individual is looking at prison time, hefty penalties and required registration as a sex offender. This could mean the end of his teaching career. He may not even be allowed to be around children or minors if convicted of this serious sex crime charge.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Area High School Teacher Charged with Sex Crime" »

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 pastor in an Anaheim church has been accused of molesting four girls in his congregation, The Orange County Register reports. The 45-year-old pastor was arrested in September and has been charged with one felony count of lewd acts on a child under 14, five felony counts of lewd acts on a child, two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for lewd acts on multiple children. He is accused of inappropriately touching four girls as young as 13 between April 2007 and September 2009. The Anaheim pastor, who has a prior conviction for sale or distribution of drugs, faces a state prison sentence of up to 11 years and four months if convicted.

Sex crimes are some of the most vigorously prosecuted and severely punished offenses in our criminal justice system today. This is particularly true when the alleged victims involve children or underage teenagers. If you are accused of a sex offense, whether you believe you are guilty or not, you need a strong and skilled criminal defense lawyer on your side. A sex crime conviction can lead to significant incarceration and mandatory registration as a sex offender in California for the remainder of your life.

Continue reading "Orange County Pastor Charged With Sex Crimes" »

Police in Inglewood are asking for the public's help in finding a 49-year-old man who they believe sexually molested two girls, including one girl who says she has been abused by the man since she was 7 years old. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the girl, who is the daughter of the man's girlfriend, recently came forward with the complaint. The second victim is now an adult. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has apparently filed two felony counts of child molestation against the man and has issued an arrest warrant with bail set at $1 million.

Sex crime charges, especially those involving young children or minors are extremely serious. If convicted of these charges, you could be looking at lengthy jail or state prison time, hefty fines and penalties, and required sex offender registration for the rest of your life. Your job and your career could be in jeopardy, and even finding a place to live can become a problem because of the stigma that sex offenders face in our society today.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Man Accused of Sex Crimes" »

A 27-year-old Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty to several counts of kidnapping and sex crime charges in incidents involving Orange County girls, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. Prosecutors say the most recent sex crime involved a 10-year-old girl whom the man tried to kidnap as she was throwing out trash behind her apartment complex in Anaheim. The man tried to lure the girl by showing her a handful of cash, officials said. The girl reported the incident to her father, who got all but one of the car's license plate numbers as the man drove away. Two other incidents were also reported, one involving the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in the man’s car.

Every sex crime case varies to a broad degree based on specific circumstances. Just because someone may have been charged with a sex crime, doesn't mean that they are automatically. As Los Angeles and Orange County sex crime attorneys, we have seen many cases where defendants are wrongly accused of committing a sex crime. This particularly happens in cases involving children. Some of the issues we have seen include mistaken identity and wrongful accusations by a spouse who is contemplating a divorce and wants sole custody of the children. The penalties for sex crimes are extremely severe and often include a lengthy prison sentence and required registration as a sex offender. When you are convicted or even charged with a sex offense, you must live with that stigma and the effects it has on relationships and employment.

Continue reading "Man Charged in Orange County Sex Crimes" »

Internet sex crimes in Southern California and throughout the rest of the country are becoming more and more common as Web sites such as Craigslist gain popularity. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, an 18-year-old Orange County man was arrested for possibly having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy who asked for an iPod Touch in exchange for sex on Craigslist. The 18-year-old San Clemente man apparently responded to the boy's ad saying he wasn't 18 yet, when he had in fact turned 18 in December. The 18-year-old is facing several charges including lewd acts with a minor, oral copulation with a person under 18 and luring a child with intent to commit a crime and possessing child pornography.

Computer records are apparently an important piece of evidence in this case. In most cases that involve child pornography or soliciting sexual acts involving children, e-mail records, text messages, and cell phone records may be used as prime evidence. In this case, the defendant is facing significant felony sex crime charges. If convicted, he faces a lengthy sentence in state prison, hefty penalties, and required registration as a sex offender, possibly, for the rest of his life. The individual is only 18, but the consequences he might face from these sex crime charges can last an entire lifetime.

Continue reading "San Clemente Teen Faces Serious Sex Crime Charges" »

The California criminal defense law firm of Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP is proud to make known the introduction of its new California sex crime defense website which focuses on the many legal complexities of various sexual offenses. The resourceful site, www.california-sexcrimedefense-lawyers.com/, is designed to help educate the public on the legal issues pertaining to rape, solicitation, molestation, sexual battery, lewd conduct, and much more.

As sex crime defense attorneys who have years of experience in California, Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP hopes its new website will be used as a helpful tool for those seeking information pertaining to sexual offenses and the consequences thereof. Sex crimes are often viewed with an unforgiving eye in our society even before an actual verdict has been made. Accusations relating to sexual offenses should never be taken or made lightly, considering the strict penalties that can be imposed upon a person. If convicted for a sex crime in California, a person may potentially be punished by having to register as a sex offender, serve a lengthy jail sentence, pay large fines, and risk the demise of close relationships with family and friends in addition to experiencing difficulty obtaining employment in the future.

Continue reading "Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP Launches New Sex Crime Defense Website" »

A police officer at the Los Angeles International Airport has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl at a foster home operated by his mother in Inglewood, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports. The 31-year-old officer reportedly "inappropriately touched" the girl. Police officials say no further misconduct was alleged.

When anyone is charged with a sex crime, such as child molestation, sexual battery or sexual assault, it is an extremely serious allegation that can have devastating consequences on their personal life and career. That is especially true when the defendant happens to be a law enforcement officer. If convicted, he or she would definitely face termination from their employment in the law enforcement agency. It will most certainly mark the end of their career in law enforcement. That is why it is extremely important to get skilled legal representation whenever you become aware that you are being investigated for a sex crime. The sooner a skilled and experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney intervenes and gets a handle on the case, the more you increase your chances of getting a positive outcome in your situation.

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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.

Continue reading "Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced for Molesting Girl" »

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" »

A 71-year-old Cypress man has been arrested for molesting four of his female family members over the last 15 years, the Orange County Register reports in a story. Two of the women are now adults and two others are still minors. The four alleged victims told police that the sexual abuse in Orange County began when they were 12, 3, 6 and 6 respectively. The investigation began last month when the four women went to the Cypress Police Department.

All four women accused the man of inappropriate touching, photographing and molesting. He threatened to "kill them" if they told anyone about the alleged incidents, the news report states. Police arrested him in his Cypress home on May 19 and also found nine revolvers, a semi-automatic handgun, a rifle and shotgun. They also seized three computers to search for other evidence such as photos, officials said.

Punishment for a sex crime offender varies by type and level of charge. A misdemeanor sex crime conviction can be punished by up to one year of county jail time. A conviction for a sex crime can also include lifetime sex offender registration, mandatory counseling, AIDS testing, community service, high fines and probation among other penalties. A felony sex crime conviction can result in a prison sentence. The length of incarceration could depend on the nature of the crime.

Continue reading "Female Family Members of Orange County Man Allege Long-Term Sex Abuse" »

A former youth church pastor has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for having sex with a 17-year-old girl he met through his youth ministry, according to this news report. Daniel John Pedroza, 28, pleaded guilty to three California felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of oral copulation of a minor and one count of sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor. Prosecutors asked the judge to give Pedroza a one-year-sentence. But the judge gave him 90 days and placed him on five years of probation.

Pedroza apparently met the girl at the Capistrano Beach church. Their relationship is said to have taken place between July 1 and December 1 at his home and hers when her parents were not home, prosecutors said. The girl told about their sexual relationship to Orange County Social Services staff. Pedroza was then fired by the church and charged.

Sex crimes in Orange County are among those that have the most serious consequences and almost all will involve jail time. Punishment for a sex crime offender depends on the type of crime alleged. A misdemeanor sex crime conviction could result in up to one year of county jail time. A rape, sexual assault or child sex abuse allegation can result in lengthy prison time.

Whatever the nature of the sex crime charges you are facing, you need the skill and expertise of an experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney right from the start. A skilled California criminal defense attorney will make sure that the case is thoroughly investigated and your side of the story is heard. If you are facing sex crime charges, please call Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff, LLP at 866-299-4111 for a free consultation and discussion of your case.

Michael Jackson, 24, of Chino Hills was arrested after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. Jackson was reportedly arrested after police say he attempted to kiss and entice a 13-year-old girl into having sex, San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials said. Jackson was apparently at the door of the girl's house selling magazines. The girl told officials that when she opened the door, Jackson made sexual advances and tried to get her to come out of the house.

Sex crimes in California are criminal offenses that are of a sexual nature. They vary in type and by severity of prosecution and punishment. Many of the commonly known crimes that fall into this category are rape, sexual battery, lewd contact, child molestation, prostitution, lewd acts and indecent exposure.

Consequences for a sex crime conviction can be quite severe. Apart from jail time and other hefty penalties, you will also be required to register as a sex offender, which means your name, address and photo could get on a public database. If you have been charged or accused of a sex crime in Southern California, please call Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP to find out how we can help you. We have extensive experience in handling sex offense cases. We will provide early preparation, including legal research and defense identification. Our Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys will investigate and identify all facts helpful to your defense. Please call us today at 866-299-4111 for a free consultation.

Police in Wildomar arrested an Orange County sheriff's deputy on suspicion of committing California sex crimes against a child younger than 14 years of age, the North County Times reports in a story. Wilbert Dale Garcia, 49, was arrested during a traffic stop in Murrieta. Garcia was placed on administrative leave following his arrest.

Sex crime charges are extremely serious because of the consequences. If convicted of committing lewd or sexual acts on children, you could be sentenced to serve time in prison, your reputation will be tarnished, your career could be in jeopardy and you will very likely be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. That is why, if you have been charged with committing a sexual crime against a child, you need a reputed and skilled Southern California criminal defense attorney, who has experience aggressively defending sex crime charges.

California Penal Code Section 288 (a) defines lewd act with a child under 14 as such: "Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, 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."

Whether the defendant is a cop, as in this case, or a civilian, these penalties do not change. Please contact an aggressive criminal defense lawyer who will sort out the facts in your case and help establish your innocence. If you or a loved one has been accused of committing sex crimes or child sex abuse or lewd acts on a child under 14, please contact an experienced sex crime defense lawyer in Orange County at Takakjian Sowers & Sitkoff LLP. Call 888-579-4844 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

A sex offender who recently moved to Joshua Tree was arrested after he ignored police officials' warnings that he should not move next to an elementary school. Rowland Chorn, 29, was arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with California sex offender registration guidelines, according to this news report. Chorn apparently came into the San Bernardino County Sheriff's station to register his new address, but deputies objected because his home was too close to the Joshua Tree Elementary School and Sunburst Park. Jessica's Law bans sex offenders from living within 2,640 feet of a school and within 2,000 feet from a park.

The tag "sex offender" doesn't come of after your conviction, incarceration or even after you serve time. You may think you have turned a corner or may have even served time for a sex crime you did not commit. But society is unforgiving and your sex offender label stays forever. It is becoming increasingly difficult for those who have been convicted of sex crimes in California to find housing. Many live on the streets as transients. This is probably the most devastating consequence of being convicted of a sex crime.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is critical that you immediately consult with an aggressive and skilled Southern California sex crime defense attorney. It would be even better if you contact an attorney while you are still being investigated. A skilled criminal defense lawyer may be able to nip the case in the bud even before charges are filed or before the story gets to the media and your reputation is dragged in the mud. At Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff, LLP. our attorneys are former prosecutors who know exactly how to find loopholes and discrepancies in the prosecution's case. Call us today at 888-579-4844 to discuss your case. We will help build a strong defense and get your charges dismissed.

Chase Guy Reynolds, a 40-year-old Malibu man, has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a Santa Monica college student on campus, the Los Angeles Daily News reports in an article. Reynolds has been charged with two counts of sexual battery by restraint, one count of attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of second-degree robbery. Prosecutors say Reynolds approached the female student in the college's library, sexually assaulted her and then stole her house key. If convicted, Reynolds faces up to 13 years in prison for his Los Angeles sex crime.

California Penal Code section 243.4 (a) defines the act of sexual battery as when a person "touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification or sexual abuse." Given the allegedly violent nature of this particular Santa Monica incident, the defendant is facing more severe charges.

In any sex crime case, there is a strong possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. This is exactly what raises the stakes in a sex crime case. If you have been charged with any sex crime such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, lewd conduct or sexual abuse, you would be well-advised to immediately contact an experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyer who will not only fight to protect your legal rights, but also make sure that your side of the story is heard and understood.

The skilled California sex crime lawyers at Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP will strive to craft a winning defense that will yield the best possible result in your case. Call us today at 888-579-4844 for a free and confidential consultation.

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Santa Monica man, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years on child rape charges, can sue the city of Long Beach and a police officer who he says fabricated the evidence in that case. According to this news report in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Leonard McSherry was exonerated thanks to DNA evidence of the 1988 kidnapping and sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl taken from a Navy housing complex in Long Beach. The DNA was matched to another man, George Valdespino, who was serving time in a different kidnapping and molestation case. The appellate court reversed the trial court's judgment dismissing the case.

We read about these kinds of stories all the time. Wrongful convictions occur more often than we hear or know about. This especially happens in sex crime cases where victims or witnesses identify the wrong person. In the absence of an aggressive and experienced sex crime defense attorney in California, it becomes impossible for a defendant to prove his or her innocence. People such as Leonard McSherry show us the importance of "innocent until proven guilty." However, too often the media and the public are eager to convict a defendant even before they have been proven guilty.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious felony such a rape, assault or murder in California, please understand that you have legal rights. Call 888-579-4844 to speak with one of our knowledgeable and experienced California criminal defense attorneys at Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP. We have the tools and skills it takes to get you an acquittal or even get your charges reduced. Contact us to schedule a free and comprehensive consultation.