Tustin Sex Crime Defense Attorney
What Is a Sex Crime?
In Tustin, sex crimes are acts involving coerced or illegal sexual conduct with another person. These crimes can include anything from child pornography to indecent exposure to rape. Because of the seriousness of sex crimes, you should contact our experienced defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich immediately if you have been charged.
At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have successfully defended many clients facing sex crime charges in Tustin. Some of the most common sex crimes include:
- Indecent exposure
- Sexual assault
- Rape or statutory rape
- Child pornography
- Child sexual abuse
- Lewd acts with a child
- Prostitution or solicitation
Tustin Sex Crimes Penalties
Depending on the type of sex crime and your criminal history, your penalties may vary. For certain sex crimes like sexual battery, the prosecution may decide to charge you with either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. Some of the common penalties for sex crimes are listed below.
Misdemeanor Penalties
- For most misdemeanor sex crimes such as indecent exposure or lewd conduct, you may be facing up to 6 months in county jail.
- For most misdemeanors, there is a maximum fine of $1,000.
- Probation
- Sex offender registration
Felony Penalties
- For felony sex crimes such as rape or sex crimes involving minors, you may be facing 3 to 8 years in state prison.
- For most felonies, there is a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Sex offender registration
- Ban on firearm possession
Personal and Professional Consequences
Even if you are not found guilty, the mere accusation of a sex crime could destroy your reputation, relationships, and quality of life. Due to the social stigma around sex crimes, it may be difficult to preserve your marriage or friendships or regain standing in your community after an accusation. If you are convicted, your future employment opportunities or dating life may be compromised by your mandatory sex offender registration. In order to protect your livelihood, contact an experienced defense attorney immediately if you suspect that you may be the victim of a false sex crime allegation.
Defenses for Sex Crimes
If you are accused of a sex crime in Tustin, you may feel lost and overwhelmed. With over 40 years of experience, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich can put your mind at ease. We have helped many clients successfully defend against sex crime charges, using the defense strategies below.
No Sexual Contact
For many sex crimes, a requisite element of the crime is sexual contact. If the prosecution cannot prove that you made sexual contact with the alleged victim, you may be acquitted. For example, if you were accused of child molestation, an innocent hug or pat on the back without any sexual motivation would not suffice to convict you. Your attorney can present witness testimony to support your side of the story and use this defense.
Consensual Sex
If you are accused of a sex crime like rape, your lawyer may be able to argue that the sex was consensual as a defense. For instance, you engage in intercourse with your partner who does not object. Later, she regrets it and accuses you of rape. Your attorney can present evidence such as text messages or your relationship history so that the court can decide whether you reasonably believed that consent was given.
Insufficient Evidence
In order to convict you, the prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In the above example, your partner accuses you of rape. However, she did not go to the doctor or tell anyone else. Since this crime did not occur, the prosecution will not be able to satisfy the threshold of evidence needed to charge you. As such, your case will likely be dismissed.
Entrapment
When a police officer coerces or persuades a defendant to commit a crime in their presence, it is called entrapment. These tactics are particularly prevalent in sex crimes. If, for instance, an undercover police officer approaches you repeatedly to coerce you into paying for sex, you may be able to use entrapment as a defense. However, keep in mind that merely offering someone the chance to take part in criminal behavior does not constitute entrapment.
False Accusation
False accusations happen more often than you may think. Sometimes, these allegations may be motivated by animosity towards you, such as during a custody battle or divorce. Other times, it may simply be a case of mistaken identity, where the alleged victim did not get a good look at the perpetrator. If that’s the case, our lawyers will look into the circumstances of your case and locate evidence that the reported occurrence never happened. Our team will fight to prove your innocence and drop the charges against you.
Hiring a Tustin Defense Attorney | How We Can Help You
When you are facing serious criminal charges in Tustin, you need a skilled attorney with a history of success in the courtroom. At Wallin & Klarich, we believe in four key aspects that set us apart from other firms:
- Experience
- Communication
- Success
- Credibility
40+ Years of Experience Defending Sex Crime Charges
With over 40 years of experience and offices throughout Southern California, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich know the best strategies to use in the courtroom based on the specific details of each case. Our lawyers know how to use the most successful defense methods in even the toughest situations, often getting cases completely dismissed so that our clients have total relief. We are also familiar with the Southern California courts, having offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, Torrance, West Covina, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This allows us the additional advantage of knowing local prosecutors and judges. You, as our client, will undoubtedly benefit from our resources and knowledge.
24/7 Communication with Your Attorney
We believe that communication and transparency are the foundation of success here at Wallin & Klarich. We guarantee that we will always be open and honest in our communications, and we are never more than a phone call or email away. We want to keep you updated on the details of your case and take time to listen to and address your concerns. With 24/7 open lines of communication, our attorneys are always here when you need us.
Track Record of Success
Our staff has a proven track record of success with thousands of clients spanning over 40 years. Because of the stigma of sex crime charges and the potential for serious repercussions, you need a qualified and experienced defense attorney to help you achieve redress. We want you to be just as confident in our abilities, so we invite you to look at some of our clients’ success stories and big wins in the courtroom.
Reputation and Credibility
It can be challenging to choose the right law firm to defend you. Because our clients know we are committed to them, Wallin & Klarich has been a well-respected firm in the Southern California community for many years. Our team will continue to serve our community with integrity and excellence, and we hope that you will give us the chance to defend you as well.
Discover how our skilled negotiators can help you fight a sex crime charge. Contact us today, toll-free at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free consultation with a skilled defense attorney.