Torrance Child Molestation Defense Attorney
What is Child Molestation?
Child molestation is a broad term that refers to unlawful sexual conduct or contact involving a minor. Accusations of molesting a child can destroy your personal and professional life. That’s not to mention the severe legal penalties you face. The prosecutor can charge you with child molestation in Torrance without any sexual contact ever occurring between you and a child. If someone has accused you of child molestation, you should consult with our experienced defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich without delay.
Child Molestation Charges in Torrance
At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys specialize in defending clients accused of sex crimes, including those involving children. Child molestation includes the following charges in Torrance:
- Lewd or lascivious acts on a minor
- California Penal Code 288 prohibits sexually touching a child’s body or making the child touch themselves or someone else in a sexual manner.
- Oral Copulation with a minor
- California Penal Code 287 forbids performing oral sex with a minor under the age of 18.
- Contacting a minor with intent to commit felonies
- California Penal Code 288.3 PC bans contacting a minor for the purpose of committing a serious felony or sex crime.
- Soliciting a minor for lewd purposes
- California Penal Code 288.4 forbids making arrangements with a minor to meet and engage in unlawful sexual conduct.
- Continuous sexual abuse of a minor
- California Penal Code 288.5 prohibits engaging in the ongoing sexual abuse of a minor younger than 14 years old.
- Sex with a child 10 years or younger
- Penal Code 288.7 prohibits engaging in sexual acts with a child under 10 years old.
- Annoying or molesting a child
- Penal Code 647.6 defines annoying or molesting a child as any conduct motivated by an abnormal sexual interest in a child and likely to disturb, upset, or be observed by the child or other children.
- Statutory rape– Penal Code 261.5 prohibits sex with minors under the age of 18, which is the age of consent in California. This means anyone under 18 years old cannot consent to sex.
Punishments for Child Molestation | What You’re Facing
If the prosecution convicts you of child molestation in Torrance, you stand to lose many things you hold dear, including your reputation and freedom. Your sentence for a child molestation conviction depends on the specific crime you’re facing. Certain molestation charges can be either misdemeanors or felonies, but others are always felonies under California law. We’ve summarized the potential penalties for misdemeanor and felony child molestation below.
Misdemeanor
- Jail
- For example, the court can sentence you to 364 days in jail for a misdemeanor conviction of molesting a child (PC 647.6).
- Fines
- A maximum fine of $5,000 for misdemeanor molestation of a child (PC 647.6).
- Probation
- Registration as a sex offender
Felony
- Prison
- 3 years in prison for felony molestation of a child
- up to six years in prison with a prior conviction
- Fines
- The maximum fine is $5,000 (PC 647.6)
- Registration as a sex offender
- Law requires you to disclose this conviction on job applications
- Ban on firearm possession
Professional and Personal Consequences
Allegations of child molestation quickly spur rumors and gossip, damaging your credibility and making people in your community steer clear of you. Your friends and family members may even question your innocence. But it doesn’t end there. A conviction for child molestation sticks with you much longer than the initial rumors of scandal. After serving your time, your criminal record will weigh you down for the rest of your life. Finding a job or pursuing a career will involve dredging up your past with criminal background checks and trying to explain what happened. In addition, potential landlords may turn you away from housing, only adding to your burden.
While you may feel defeated, all hope is not lost. Our skilled defense attorneys are here to provide you with understanding and guidance. With our expert legal defense team, you can beat false accusations of child molestation. We specialize in child molestation cases and have helped many clients get charges dropped in Torrance, CA. There is no time to waste. The sooner we’re able to begin building your defense, the better your chance of ensuring a favorable outcome. Take the first step toward clearing your good name and contact us today for your free consultation at (877) 466-5245
Avoid Conviction | Defenses To Child Molestation Charges
Don’t settle for some half-hearted legal defense and risk your freedom. Hire an attorney with experience to defeat false allegations of child molestation. At Wallin & Klarich, we are up for the fight with an entire defense team dedicated to proving your innocence. We’ll employ multiple strategies to prepare for court. In addition, our team will examine every detail of your case to gather supporting evidence for your side of the story. We’ll be ready with a solid defense to fight aggressive prosecution when your trial arrives. For over 40 years, we’ve presented effective defense strategies for child molestation in Torrance and throughout Southern California, some of which include:
False Accusation
Sadly, false accusations result in far too many arrests and convictions for a variety of crimes, including child molestation. Mandated reporters include nurses, doctors, teachers, and many other individuals. They are required to report suspected abuse. However, their reported suspicions can quickly become evidence of your guilt even without further solid proof.
In addition to this, false accusations also frequently arise in heated custody fights. One spouse may “suspect” abuse and make a report, hoping to gain sole custody of the children. Some cases involve one parent coaching of the alleged victim. For example, your spouse files a police report saying she saw you acting inappropriately with your son. Additionally, your son is now accusing you of hurting him. In this case, your attorney would call expert witnesses to testify the boy’s behavior compared to how victims of abuse act. We also may present a thorough psychological evaluation to prove you’re not a sexual predator.
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
Our attorneys have successfully argued insufficient evidence in many child molestation cases. If we raise an argument for insufficient evidence, the judge will conduct a review of the evidence against you. Without enough evidence to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the court must dismiss your charges. Even when unsuccessful, our argument will cause the jury to question the prosecution’s version of events, which may lead to a not guilty verdict.
In recent news, insufficient evidence led to the reversed conviction of Bruce Clotfelter. The prosecution had charged him with annoying or molesting a minor, a violation of Penal Code 647.6. However, their case against him was based primarily on his criminal record rather than evidence of his guilt. The appellate court reviewed his case and found his conduct did not rise to the level of annoying or molesting a child. They also found that his counsel was ineffective and should have objected to prejudicial testimony given by the state’s expert witnesses. You don’t want to be a victim of inadequate counsel. Contact Wallin & Klarich today for the skilled legal representation you need.
Mistaken Identity
Mistaken identity occurs when prosecutors rely heavily on eyewitness identification without supporting evidence. The child could be confused about the attacker’s identity due to their age. Also, the child could’ve blamed the wrong person out of fear. If mistaken identity occurred in your case, we’ll fight to prove your innocence.
Hiring The Top Child Molestation Defense Lawyer | How We Can Help You
You don’t settle for an average lawyer with your future at stake. Instead, you hire an experienced attorney with the knowledge to defend you against serious charges. At Wallin & Klarich, we believe everyone deserves excellent legal representation. While choosing the right defense lawyer requires careful consideration of many factors, four key aspects quickly set skilled law firms apart from the rest:
- Commitment to clients
- Integrity in action
- Legal expertise
- Community respect
Our Commitment To You | The Wallin & Klarich Difference
At Wallin & Klarich, we are committed to our clients. When you trust us with your case, we never take it lightly because we understand your life’s hanging in the balance. We set aside time to go over what to expect and any new developments in your case, so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Our attorneys treat you with integrity, starting with an honest, genuine conversation between us. We’re upfront with all our fees from the very beginning, and once we’ve had time to investigate your case thoroughly, we lay all your available options on the table. To ensure your questions and concerns never go unheard, we return your phone calls and emails within 24 hours and keep an on-call criminal defense lawyer for after-hours legal emergencies. Most importantly, we guarantee a judgment-free environment for you and your loved ones.
Wallin & Klarich | Unparalleled Legal Expertise
Our 40+ years of experience sets us apart from the crowd of defense lawyers. We’ve successfully defended numerous clients falsely accused of molesting a child. Some of our clients came to us with nowhere else to turn and no hope of winning their case. However, our background allowed us to spot strengths in their cases, which an attorney with less experience would’ve missed.
By tailoring our defense strategies to fit the specific details of your case, we increase your chance of success. We have the added advantage of knowing the techniques of local prosecutors and the personalities of judges in Torrance. Our passion for defending the unfairly accused is the driving force behind each of our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich.
Discover how our experienced criminal defense attorneys can help you fight false accusations in Torrance, CA. Contact us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL.
Respected & Recognized | Wallin & Klarich
The community recognizes the Wallin & Klarich name for our strong values and legal expertise. For over 40 years, we’ve built our powerful reputation by maintaining our integrity, valuing our relationships with clients, and consistently striving to redefine excellence. For more insight, check out our recent and past success in the courtroom.
Our Notable Cases | Wallin & Klarich Newsworthy Legal Strategies
Many attorneys point to their experience or skill in defending clients accused of child molestation, but our attorneys deliver positive results even in the most complex legal dilemmas. Over the past 40+ years, many of our legal battles have captured the media’s attention. Television, newspapers, and the digital world have covered some of our most notable moments. We encourage you to explore our newsworthy cases below to learn more about our law firm.