You need a sex crimes lawyer in Culver City, CA. Maybe it was a rough breakup that led to a false accusation. Maybe it was a misunderstanding that's being blown out of proportion. Or maybe you made a mistake and are looking for a way forward.
For Culver City, CA, residents in need of defense against sex crime accusations, there's a clear choice of who to turn to: The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our attorneys fight for our client's rights. Our goal is to find the best outcome for you, whatever that looks like for your situation.
We will listen to your side of the story. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to talk to a sex crimes lawyer in Culver City, CA.
President David S. Chesley, Culver City, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction in Culver City, CA
Sex crime charges are serious. A conviction can lead to:
- Months or even years behind bars
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- A social stigma that will follow you after release
- Family, job, and immigration challenges
- Electronic monitoring
Don't try to face these consequences alone. The right Culver City, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you minimize or even avoid them.
How to Handle Culver City, CA, Sex Crime Accusations
- Don't reach out to the alleged victim — for any reason whatsoever. You could face additional charges for witness intimidation.
- Keep quiet during interrogations. Plead the Fifth Amendment and politely ask to speak with your lawyer.
- Do not consent to a phone or home search without a warrant and if you haven't had a chance to check with your Culver City, CA sex charges attorney.
- Preserve everything. Deletion can be a crime in and of itself, and make you look guilty.
- Tell your Culver City, CA, sex crimes defense attorney everything: Without a full picture, they won't be able to build a complete defense.
- Follow every release condition exactly — you can face serious penalties for breaking these.
- Get support outside the case — handling criminal charges is stressful, and it's normal to need some professional help.
Early counsel can sometimes intervene before filing, especially in online sting, statutory, and "he said / she said" investigations.
Get Help With the Following Culver City, CA, Sex Crime Charges
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Culver City, CA. Rape, in particular, is treated extremely harshly for allegedly using force to coerce someone into sexual intercourse. "Sexual assault" is not one statute — it often means rape, sexual battery (PC § 243.4), nonconsensual oral copulation (PC § 287), sodomy (PC § 286), or penetration with a foreign object (PC § 289).
California used to have a separate law regarding spousal rape, but this was repealed in 2021.
Child Sex Crimes
In California, child molestation is not covered by a single law, but is a category for acts such as lewd acts with a child and the sexual abuse of a child. Even in cases where there wasn't a physical, sexual act involving a child, you can face charges for enticing a minor for lewd purposes.
Statutory Rape
Whether or not a minor agreed to have sex with an adult, the adult can be convicted of statutory rape (AKA unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor). This charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and prosecutorial discretion. But a prison sentence isn't the only concern: You can also be forced to register as a sex offender, particularly if the alleged offense occurred after December 31st, 2025.
Internet and Digital Sex Crimes
Internet sex crimes are unique in that they don't always involve a direct action being taken against the victim. For example, possession of child pornography is a crime whether or not you were the one to produce it. Possession can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, while distribution or production is always a felony.
Deepfake Sexual Content
Deepfake sexual content is not the loophole that some people think it is. California law has made it illegal to share photorealistic, intimate images of an identifiable person, even if they are artificial or AI-generated. A first conviction is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, while repeat convictions can be punished with up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Lewd Conduct in Public
It may be easy to confuse lewd conduct in public with indecent exposure, but these are separate offenses in Culver City, CA. Where indecent exposure refers to a person showing off their own genitalia in an offensive manner, one difference with lewd conduct can involve another person. Lewd conduct involves the alleged sexual touching of one's own or someone else's privates in a public place, offending other people in the area. Intentions don't matter — just whether or not someone was present who was upset by the actions.
Related Charges
In Culver City, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), human trafficking (PC § 236.1), failure to register (PC § 290.018), prostitution and solicitation (PC § 647(b)), loitering with intent to commit prostitution (PC § 653.22), pimping/pandering (PC §§ 266h, 266i), incest (PC § 285), aggravated sexual assault of a child (PC § 269), and assault with intent to commit a sex offense (PC § 220). Those pages are linked from the list below.
Accused of a Below Sex Crime? Call Us Today
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child · AI-Generated / Deepfake Sexual Content · Annoying or Molesting a Child · Arranging a Meeting With a Minor · Assault with Intent to Commit a Sex Offense · Child Molestation (PC 288) · Child Pornography · Enticing a Minor · Failure to Register · Human Trafficking (Sex Trafficking) · Incest · Indecent Exposure · Lewd Acts · Lewd Conduct in Public · Loitering to Commit Prostitution · Oral Copulation by Force · Oral Copulation or Sodomy With a Minor · Penetration by Force · Pimping and Pandering · Prostitution / Solicitation · Rape · Revenge Porn · Sex With a Minor / Statutory Rape · Sexting Involving Minors · Sexual Abuse · Sexual Assault · Sexual Battery · Sodomy by Force
How We Defend the Case
Pre-filing and investigation. The fight for your freedom doesn't begin when charges are filed — it begins as soon as the authorities start to look at you. These early days are crucial for setting your case up for success — having an expert sex crimes lawyer can help you preserve exculpatory evidence and maybe even negate charges from being filed in the first place.
Discovery and forensics. Anything that the police and prosecution find, they have to turn over to us in discovery. Our team will then comb through the evidence, looking for holes in the prosecution's case and opportunities to create reasonable doubt.
Motions. Suppression. Motions can do many things for your case. One of the first motions we often file is a motion for bail reduction. This can help you secure pretrial release. After that, we'll frequently follow with a motion to suppress evidence and/or a motion to dismiss charges.
Negotiation. A sex crime charge defense isn't just about avoiding incarceration; it's about staying off of the sex offender registry. A plea deal can be a compromise that protects your reputation.
Trial and sentencing. If the case should be tried, we try it. If there is a conviction, we litigate strikes, enhancements, and PC 290 placement.
Top 5 Culver City, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Qualitities
- Knowledge of how to handle the exact charges against you
- Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
- Honest assessment of registration risk, not just "jail vs. no jail"
- A positive reputation with former clients
- Confidence and honesty when planning your defense
Culver City, CA, Sex Crime Penalties: What You're Facing
| Charge | Statute | Level | Typical Custody Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rape | PC § 261 | Felony | 3, 6, or 8 years state prison; fine up to $10,000 |
| Statutory Rape | PC § 261.5 | Misd. or wobbler | Up to 1 year jail, or 16 months–4 years (facts-dependent) |
| Sexual Battery | PC § 243.4 | Misd. or felony | Up to 6 months jail, or 2, 3, or 4 years prison |
| Lewd Act With a Child Under 14 | PC § 288(a) | Felony | 3, 6, or 8 years (higher if force or younger child) |
| Arranging a Meeting With a Minor | PC § 288.4 | Wobbler | Up to 1 year jail, or 2, 3, or 4 years prison |
| Indecent Exposure | PC § 314 | Misd. or felony | Up to 1 year, or 16 months–3 years |
| Child Pornography Possession | PC § 311.11 | Wobbler / felony | Jail, or 16 months–3+ years; registration often Tier 3 if felony |
| Prostitution / Solicitation | PC § 647(b) | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months jail; fine up to $1,000 |
While these numbers represent typical, general ranges, they can be altered by enhancing factors. Every case is individual. But a conviction won't just lead to incarceration; it can also put you on the sex offender registry.
California's Three-Tier Sex Offender Registry System
Not every sex crime in California requires a person to register as a sex offender (prostitution, for example, normally does not). When it is required, though, it typically falls into one of the below three categories:
- Tier 1 — normally a 10-year period on the registry. 5 years in some juvenile cases. Examples: many misdemeanor sexual battery and indecent exposure convictions; some PC § 261.5 convictions for offenses on or after January 1, 2026, under SB 680.
- Tier 2 — 20 years for adults, but 10 years for some juveniles. Examples: repeated annoying of a child, some sodomy cases, and some rape cases.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., forcible rape, many child-victim force cases, many felony child pornography convictions) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
Life on the sex offender registry is difficult — the public is able to look up your information, and it can impact employment opportunities, and leave lasting impacts long after a prison sentence. Talk to a sex crimes attorney to get help once you're eligible for removal.
Defense Strategies Against Culver City, CA, Sex Crimes Charges
- Consent can be a powerful defense and/or mitigating factor — so long as the alleged victim had the capacity to give it
- Reasonable, good-faith mistake as to the accuser's age (the "Hernandez defense," CALCRIM No. 1071) — available for statutory rape under PC § 261.5, but not available for lewd acts with a child under 14 (PC § 288) or for human trafficking (PC § 236.1), where a defendant's belief about age is not a defense as a matter of law
- False or motivated accusation False accusations — unfortunately, some people will make up criminal accusations in order to get something they want
- Identity / alibi
- Insufficient proof of a required element (intent, force, "lewd purpose," knowledge of age, possession vs. unsolicited file)
- Evidence obtained in a way that violated your rights
- Weak evidence that can be dismantled through examination
- Entrapment or lack of intent in sting cases
This isn't just about defense strategies; this is about telling your side of the story in a convincing way, whether it's too a district attorney, a judge, or a jury.
Prior Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. Our client was accused of soliciting a prostitute who was actually a police officer. We negotiated a diversionary program and the dismissal of all charges.
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Client Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Dismissal Available After Probation. When our client was accused of statutory rape, we leveraged our defense to negotiate a probation sentence which, if completed, will allow for the dismissal of all charges, no prison time, and keep our client off of the California sex offender registry.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Felony Accusation, All Charges Dismissed at Preliminary Hearing. Our client came to us after being accused of rape. They were present at an event where two other individuals (charged separately) had assaulted a woman, but our client took no part in it. We presented our defense in the preliminary hearing and the case was dismissed. No public record of the case remains.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — We Protected Our Client Against Prison and Sex Offender Classification. Using a consent-based defense, we negotiated a resolution giving the client credit for time served, and our resolution also kept our client off of the California sex offender registry.
- Child Molestation (PC § 288) and Sodomy with a Child Under 10 (PC § 288.7) — Defense Secured Dismissal of Charges, Avoiding Prison and Sex Offender Registration. The client faced three potential life terms with no bail. We looked into the evidence, and found that the claims were false. At the preliminary hearing, the judge believed our story and dismissed the charges. As an added bonus, our client's privacy is protected as any remaining records are not available to the public.
These results are representative of past performance, but do not guarantee future results. Your Culver City, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you figure out the best approach to your case, and help you understand realistic outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions for Sex Crime Charges in Culver City, CA
If I didn't do it, should I still contact a sex crimes lawyer?
It's critical to work with an attorney, whether or not the accusation has any merit. It's easy for mistakes to be misconstrued, and your lawyer can help you present your side of the story.
How will a sex crime conviction in Culver City, CA, affect immigration status?
Many sex convictions are treated as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude. Discuss immigration consequences before any plea.
Is it possible for sex crime charges to be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes — through pretrial motions, incomplete proof, or a negotiated reduction that also fixes registration. It depends on the evidence and the statute.
Are people convicted of stautory rape put on the sex offender registry?
Generally speaking, alleged statutory rape offenses that occured on or after January 1, 2026, require Tier 1 registration is required (with some nuance regarding age gap). If the alleged offense occurred prior to this, there is more discretion left up to the court.
What are the rules for sex offenders in California?
The main rule is to register with law enforcement and provide regular updates. In certain cases, additional restrictions (such as regarding career and housing) can also apply.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley: Premier Sex Crimes Lawyers in Culver City, CA
These charges can change your life. If you don't have the right attorney at your side, you could face consequences that last for decades. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley will help you evaluate your options and make the best choice to move forward.
If you need an experienced Culver City, CA, sex crimes lawyer, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is here for you. Call now at (800) 755-5174 or use our contact form to get started today.
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