Articles Posted in Sex Crime

Manhattan Beach police conducted a sex sting at a public bathroom on the beach on Marine Drive after local lifeguards alerted them of suspicious activity at that location. According to a CBS News report, police said the men were frequently using the facility, returning to the location, and loitering in the area. City maintenance staff also found sexually explicit graffiti and holes that were drilled into the partitions of the bathroom stalls.

Police detectives apparently started to monitor web sites and chat rooms where there were discussions about the “Marine Bathroom,” which was described as a meeting place for sexual activity. As a result, 18 people were arrested after police set up a series of sting operations. The men who were arrested were between 21 and 59 years old. The charges included soliciting, lewd conduct in a public place, and indecent exposure.

“Stings” or “raids” are common tools used by local law enforcement officials. There is often room for misunderstanding or wrongful arrests to take place in such situations. For example, an individual may get arrested simply because he or she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A 37-year-old Anaheim man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting two boys and recording it. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, one of the alleged lewd acts occurred in Santa Ana between 2007 and 2008 and the other occurred between 2009 and 2011. Officials say the man secretly photographed and recorded the boys in the restroom in addition to molesting an 11-year-old sleeping boy and a 9- to 11-year-old boy who was awake at the time. Officials were allegedly watching the home to investigate a child pornography case when they traced a download of commercial child pornography to the residence.

After they made an arrest on March 1, 2012, they learned about the alleged sexual assaults in California. He faces three felony counts of lewd acts on children, two felony counts of possession of child pornography, and a felony count of distributing child pornography punishable by up to 45 years to life in prison.

Under California Penal Code 288: “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.”

A 29-year-old male substitute teacher was charged with child molestation after an alleged incident with a female junior high student. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the alleged molestation incident occurred at Los Coyotes Middle School in La Mirada. The girl’s mother alleged that the man touched her daughter inappropriately and, after speaking to students and staff, officials arrested the man for misdemeanor child molestation. He was charged on March 14.

In a case involving child molestation or a lewd act with a child, the prosecution will have to prove that the defendant willfully touched any part of the child’s body with the intent of arousing or appealing to the sexual desires of the defendant or the child. The details of the alleged incident will have to be examined thoroughly, including not only what form of touching actually took place, but also the intention behind the act.

It is common for individuals who work with children to be wrongfully charged and even convicted of lewd acts with a child after a misunderstanding or a false allegation. While it is important to protect innocent children, it is also important to investigate allegations thoroughly. A conviction for child molestation or a lewd act can have a devastating impact on an individual’s social standing, career, and future.

More than 30 people were arrested in a Los Angeles County undercover prostitution sting involving female officers pretending to be sex workers. According to a CBS News report, the operation was conducted from 4 a.m. March 7, 2012 till 12 a.m. March 8, 2012 in Sun Valley on Lankershim Boulevard between San Fernando Road and Neenach Street. Among the many people arrested for soliciting prostitution is a 42-year-old man who works for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. In addition to facing criminal charges, he has already been put on unpaid administrative leave during the proceedings.

According to California Penal Code Section 647: “Every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor: (b) who solicits or who agrees to engage in or who engages in any act of prostitution. A person agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, he or she manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation to so engage, regardless of whether the offer or solicitation was made by a person who also possessed the specific intent to engage in prostitution.”

It is common for individuals facing a disorderly persons or a misdemeanor charge to not take it seriously and fail to get quality legal representation. A conviction for lewd behavior or prostitution in California can result in heavy fines and jail time. Additionally, individuals accused of prostitution related charges might experience social and professional consequences.

A 41-year-old woman has been charged with committing lewd acts with a 14-year-old boy. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the woman was arrested at her Irvine home. Officials say the alleged incidents occurred between the part-time teacher’s aide and the boy at her home over a six-week period. The report does not contain information regarding what types of activities occurred or what evidence officials have against the teacher.

Under California Penal Code 288, lewd acts are prohibited with a minor under the age of 14 or with a minor who is 14 or 15 and is at least 10 years younger than the accused. There are many types of acts that may be considered molestation or sexual abuse. Seemingly harmless acts, such as touching bare skin or touching a minor’s body through his or her clothing, are considered lewd acts if the intent is sexual gratification.

The nature and extent of the charges usually depend on the circumstances of the incident, the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the age of the victim, and the defendant’s criminal history. Cases involving force or violence could involve increased penalties. While misdemeanor child molestation charges can result in a one-year county jail sentence, a felony conviction could result in up to eight years in the state prison and a $10,000 fine.

A 50-year-old former third-grade teacher has been arrested on sexual abuse charges involving children under the age of 14. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the man has been charged with 16 criminal counts stemming from alleged lewd acts committed between September 2010 and April 2011. His credentials were pulled and he was put on unpaid leave after his arrest in October of 2011. His Feb. 15 court hearing could involve charges that could result in 15 years to life in prison. The incidents allegedly involved three girls and one boy, all under the age of 14.

There are many types of acts that may be considered “lewd” under the law. California Penal Code Section 288 defines a lewd act as “any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…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.”

These types of serious allegations can have a devastating impact on the defendant’s social and professional life. It is crucial for anyone facing charges of lewd behavior to speak with an experienced sex crime defense attorney who will protect his or her reputation and fight the charges.

A 61-year-old Los Angeles elementary school teacher was charged with molesting 23 children. According to an Associated Press news report, officials say that the man, who taught in the same school for more than 30 years, committed lewd acts against the students. Authorities obtained photographs showing children in blindfolds with their mouths taped and some with live cockroaches on their faces. The alleged victims include boys and girls between ages 7 and 10. Officials say the alleged incidents occurred between 2008 and 2010. The photographs were turned in to police by a film processor. The teacher was fired from his job when the investigation began. Officials say the man had no prior criminal record.

According to California Penal Code Section 288 (a): “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…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.”

When a person in a position of authority, responsibility, or trust is accused of such serious crimes, the consequences can be extremely severe. One does not need to be convicted of the alleged crimes in order to suffer these consequences. Just the accusations alone can taint an individual’s reputation for a very long time. If convicted, individuals could face a number of consequences for the sex crime, including lengthy prison sentence, hefty fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

A 42-year-old Newport Beach man was sentenced to five years in state prison for sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl he met through a social networking site in November 2010. Police say the man pretended to be 24 and was arrested when he was about to meet the girl. Prosecutors said the man picked up the girl from her junior high school and took her to the Back Bay area in Newport Beach where he had sexual relations with her. On another day, he again took the girl to his home in Newport Beach where he sexually assaulted her, officials said.

The girl’s mother contacted authorities after she saw text messages exchanged between the two. The man accepted a plea deal, which amounts to two strikes under the California Three Strikes Law. He pleaded guilty to 23 felony counts of luring a child with the intent to commit a lewd or lascivious act. This means that if he has another brush with the law after being released from prison, it could be considered a third strike. A third conviction could lead to life in prison.

Under California Penal Code Section 288: “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…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.”

Five new charges involving three new victims have been filed against a 19-year-old Valencia man who has been arrested in connection with a series of sex offenses in the Santa Clarita Valley. According to a news report in The Signal, the teen now faces 34 charges involving 17 victims. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to life in prison. The man was arrested last month after several local girls came forward and said that he had performed sexual acts with them. Prosecutors allege that the man lured the girls through social media. His arraignment has been continued to Feb. 6. The teenager faces several charges of lewd acts on a child including unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation of a person under 18, and sexual penetration by a foreign object.

According to California Penal Code Section 288 (a): “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.”

These charges are extremely serious because, as with this case, it could result in life-changing consequences for the defendant. Those who are convicted of sex crimes may not only have to serve a lengthy prison sentence, but must also pay hefty fines and face mandatory registration as a sex offender.

A Huntington Beach sex offender with a prior sex crime conviction has been sentenced to 26 years in federal prison. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the 53-year-old man pleaded guilty to filming an explicit video of an 8-year-old girl while taking a trip with the child and her mother to the beach in 2007. The man’s relationship to the girl or her family has not been explained. Officials searched the man’s home and found numerous images of child pornography in addition to the video of the girl. The man was convicted in 1991 of child molestation in Orange County. Officials say the man must serve a minimum of 25 years in prison after which he will still be on supervised release for the rest of his life.

Repeat child sex offenders face not only enormous scrutiny, but also the potential for a lengthy prison sentence and other dire consequences. All child sex offenders face hefty fines, time in state prison, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. These requirements make it extremely challenging for convicted sex offenders to assimilate into society or even get a job or residence. Anyone can look up their name, address, or photograph on the Department of Justice’s Megan’s Law Web site.

While it is important to protect our children from dangerous predators, it is also important to protect individual rights, especially after that person has served the time for the crime. If you have been charged with a sex crime for the first time, it is critical that you retain the services of an experienced Orange County sex crime defense lawyer who has an excellent track record with getting these types of cases dismissed or charges reduced. The stakes are extremely high in child sex crime cases. There is absolutely no room for error or carelessness.