What is Child Molestation?

Child molestation refers to any sexual conduct or contact affecting a minor. Even if your case doesn’t involve physical contact, you can still face prison time. Remember, it’s the child’s word against yours. When someone accuses you of molesting a child, this can result in the loss of your career, close relationships, and freedom.

Without a skilled criminal defense attorney, you may struggle to prove your innocence. However, our experienced defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich specialize in defending clients accused of child molestation in West Covina. Call us today for your free consultation.

Child Molestation Charges in West Covina

Wallin & Klarich has over 40 years of experience providing expert legal representation for clients facing a wide range of child molestation charges in West Covina, including:

• Lewd or lascivious acts on a minor – PC 288
• Oral Copulation with a minor PC – 287
• Contacting a minor with intent to commit felonies – PC 288.3
• Soliciting a minor for lewd purposes – PC 288.4
• Continuous sexual abuse of a minor – PC 288.5
• Sex with a child 10 years or younger – PC 288.7
• Annoying or molesting a child – PC 647.6
• Statutory rape – PC 261.5

Punishments for Child Molestation | What You’re Facing

Accusations of child molestation place your freedom and reputation in grave danger, but a conviction of this nature can destroy your life. The West Covina prosecutor determines your charges according to the details of your case and previous criminal history. Most child molestation cases are charged as felonies whenever the law allows for it because California takes these crimes seriously.

The court will also consider your criminal record and the facts of the case during your sentencing hearing. Your penalties will dramatically increase if you have prior sex crime convictions or “strikes” on your record under California’s Three Strikes Law. Below, we’ve summarized some of the penalties for misdemeanor and felony child molestation in West Covina.

• Misdemeanor
  Jail
  For example, a misdemeanor conviction of molesting a child (PC 647.6) carries a jail sentence of 364 days.
• Fines
  A misdemeanor conviction for molestation of a child (PC 647.6) may result in a fine of up to $5,000.
  Probation
  Sex offender registration
• Felony
  Prison
  Felony molestation of a child carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
  Previous convictions can double or triple your sentence.
• Fines
• A maximum fine of $5,000 (PC 647.6)
• Sex offender registration
• Must disclose the conviction on job applications
• Loss of the right to possess a firearm

Learn more about child molestation penalties in West Covina and how we can help you fight conviction by calling Wallin & Klarich for your free consultation today!

Professional and Personal Consequences

As soon as word spreads of your involvement in a child molestation case, your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances may cut ties and avoid contact. The same situation can occur at your workplace, church, and other community organizations. However, a conviction can wreck your chances of ever proving your innocence. Even after serving time, your record may interfere with job and housing opportunities. In addition, with your name on the California sex offender registry, future acquaintances can easily find out about your conviction, ruining the potential for a relationship before it even begins.

At Wallin & Klarich, our sex crime attorneys understand what a nightmare you’re facing. We have over 40 years of experience handling child molestation cases, so we can offer you sound legal advice. With our help, you have a fighting chance. Our legal defense team will stand up for your rights and ensure your side of the story gets heard, as we’ve done for many clients in West Covina, CA. However, it’s crucial to contact us as soon as possible. Doing so gives us the time to investigate your case and prepare a solid defense. Our goal is to help you clear your good name and stay out of prison. Contact Wallin & Klarich today for a free consultation at (877) 466-5245

Fight Conviction | Defenses To Child Molestation Charges

Accusations of child molestation require a criminal defense lawyer with years of experience and confidence. You don’t want a lawyer who will look at you as just another number. Hiring a sex crime attorney from Wallin & Klarich places you in the best position for a fair fight. With our experience and skills, we can effectively challenge the prosecution’s case. Every member of our team is committed to providing you with a superior legal defense. Our lawyers begin constructing the best defense strategies while our investigators find evidence to support your story. Our approach has helped numerous clients beat child molestation charges in West Covina for over 40 years. Some of the defenses we’ve successfully used in past child molestation cases include but are not limited to:

False Accusation

One misunderstanding can lead to false accusations of child molestation. While they may mean well, mandated reporters like doctors, nurses, and teachers can mistakenly believe sexual abuse occurred when nothing happened. Their great caution stems from laws that require them to report suspected abuse. However, we’ve found more alarming reasons behind false reports in cases involving ugly divorce battles and family rivalries.

For example, you win partial custody in court. However, your ex calls the police when the child returns home and says you acted inappropriately with the child. The police believe the story and arrest you. While the child is initially confused, she later says the alleged act made her feel uncomfortable and scared. In this example, your attorney would cross-examine witnesses against you to demonstrate the faults in their story. In addition, we’d present a thorough psychological evaluation and expert testimony to dispute the prosecution’s claim.

No Sexual Motivation

The prosecution must prove your actions were motivated by an unnatural sexual interest in the child to convict you of child molestation. For example, let’s say you’re a teacher monitoring recess. You help a child get onto a swing. Another teacher accuses you of child molestation. Our attorneys would argue that you did not touch the child inappropriately and had no sexual interest in the child. You were merely helping the child as your job required.

Insufficient Evidence

We’ve had child molestations dismissed because the prosecution lacked enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. When our attorneys argue insufficient evidence, the judge reviews the evidence and decides whether to grant our motion. If successful, the court can drop the charges. However, this argument can make the jury doubt the prosecution and convince them to find you not guilty.

Recently, a California appellate court reversed Bruce Clotfelter’s child molestation conviction due to insufficient evidence. The prosecution convicted him for violating Penal Code 647.6, annoying or molesting a child. However, the appellate court found that the prosecution relied on his criminal history to prove his guilt instead of solid evidence. On top of this, his ineffective counsel made no objections to expert testimony against him.

This case highlights the need for an experienced lawyer to fight unfair prosecution and protect your rights. Contact Wallin & Klarich today for the skilled legal representation you need.

Mistaken Identity

Many factors can lead to mistaken identity in a child molestation case. Mistakes can occur when the alleged victim is very young. While someone may have sexually abused the child, they may not be able to articulate what happened or the identity of the alleged abuser. On the other hand, the actual abuser could have threatened the child, leading to them naming the wrong person out of fear.

If this is true in your case, our sex crime attorneys can present experts to testify about the scientific evidence supporting our claim. Call Wallin & Klarich today to receive your free legal consultation!

Hiring A Skilled Defense Attorney | How We Can Assist You

Serious accusations require a skilled and experienced defense attorney. With 40+ years of experience, Wallin & Klarich stands out among the crowd of West Covina criminal defense firms. Our attorneys specialize in defending clients accused of child molestation and understand the most effective defense strategies. You should consider many factors when choosing a criminal defense lawyer. However, some of the key characteristics that set us apart include:

• Loyal Advocates
• Skilled Negotiators
• Solid Record for 40+ Years
• Specialized Legal Knowledge

Your Local Advocates | The Wallin & Klarich Difference

Loyalty is hard to find. Unfortunately, many law firms treat clients like case numbers rather than real people. At Wallin & Klarich, we believe you deserve respect and dedication. But we don’t just say it; we show it through our devotion to your defense and our interactions with you. Our attorneys promptly address all your concerns because we never want you to feel dismissed or unheard. Rest assured, our communication with you will always be straightforward and genuine. With Wallin & Klarich at your side, you can walk into court confident that we have your best interests in mind. Moreover, we’ll be prepared to put up our strongest fight.

Skilled Negotiators | 40+ Years of Success

Wallin & Klarich has a history of success spanning 40+ years. We’ve obtained the best possible results in complex child molestation cases and helped our clients avoid spending time behind bars. Their stories stand as a testament to our skilled legal negotiation. More importantly, they renew our motivation to defend others falsely accused of molesting a child in West Covina. Our passion for helping clients has not wavered in over four decades and counting. Discover how our skilled negotiators can help you fight false accusations of child molestation in West Covina, CA. Contact us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free consultation with an experienced West Covina lawyer.