A sex crimes lawyer in sex crimes lawyer in Moreno Valley, CA is a person you're probably not excited to call, but if you're facing accusations, you need one immediately. Whatever your situation is, this isn't the time to sit around and wait. The sooner you reach out to an expert, the better your chances are of a positive outcome. You need to get help now.
You need The Law Offices of David S. Chesley. Our criminal defense attorneys have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience and know how to defend against sex crimes in Moreno Valley, CA. We investigate, challenge the evidence, negotiate when that protects you, and try the case when it does not.
We will fight for you. Call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to set up a no-strings-attached review of your charges.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Moreno Valley, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Consequences of a Sex Crime Conviction in Moreno Valley, CA
Moreno Valley, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- A potentially lengthy prison sentence
- Mandatory or discretionary sex offender registration under Penal Code § 290
- Public Megan's Law listing in many cases
- Employment, licensing, housing, custody, and immigration consequences
- A federal firearms ban and, in some cases, passport restrictions
It's never a good idea to try and talk your way out of these accusations. Without help, you might be digging a hole you can't get out of. A sex crimes lawyer can change that.
You've Been Charged With a Sex Crime in Moreno Valley, CA: These Are Your Next Steps
- Don't talk to the person accusing you — Any contact, for whatever reason, is not a good idea. This can hurt your case in the long run.
- Don't speak without an attorney present. Plead the Fifth Amendment and politely ask to speak with your lawyer.
- Don't give permission to search your property without a warrant and without counsel.
- Gather any evidence you can find. Trying to delete or hide evidence can end up making you look more guilty.
- Tell your Moreno Valley, CA, sex crimes defense attorney everything: dates, locations, witnesses, alcohol, prior relationship, and who else had a motive.
- Obey all conditions of release — failing to do so can send you to jail.
- Talk to a professional for help handling the stress — look for local mental health resources to help cope with the stress of your case.
.
Above all of the above, the most important thing you need to do is get help from an expert Moreno Valley, CA, sex crimes defense lawyer right away. .
Get Help With the Following Moreno Valley, CA, Sex Crime Charges
Rape and Sexual Assault
It's hard to think of a crime that is publicly regarded as worse than rape in Moreno Valley, CA. A conviction means up to 8 years in prison, as well as sex offender registration. "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).
In the past, a rape accusation between spouses had different consequences that were considered more lenient. Today, though, this no longer applies, and alleged rapes between spouses are treated the same as any other.
Child Sex Crimes
Common charges include lewd acts with a child (PC § 288), continuous sexual abuse (PC § 288.5), annoying or molesting a child (PC § 647.6), oral copulation or penetration involving a minor, and enticing a minor (PC § 288.3) or arranging a meeting with a minor (PC § 288.4). 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
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor is a misdemeanor or a wobbler depending on ages. Important 2026 change: for offenses on or after January 1, 2026, SB 680 added certain PC § 261.5(c) and (d) convictions to PC § 290. Those cases can require Tier 1 (10-year) registration, unless the defendant was not more than 10 years older than the minor and that is the only registerable conviction. Courts can still order registration under PC § 290.006. Offenses before January 1, 2026 are not brought onto the registry by SB 680. This should be analyzed before any plea.
Online and Digital Sex Crimes
These include child sexual abuse material (PC §§ 311–311.11), sending harmful matter to a minor (PC § 288.2), sexting involving a minor, and sting cases built on chats with an officer posing as a minor. Adult "revenge porn" is a separate offense under PC § 647(j)(4) and related statutes. Digital forensics — who had the device, hash values, unallocated space, account takeover, and intent — often decide the case.
Deepfake Sexual Content
Deepfake sexual content can result in both criminal and civil liabilities. On the criminal side, 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.
Indecent Exposure
Indecent exposure might not sound like as big of a deal as sex crimes like rape, but you can still face major consequences. This charge alleges that someone intentionally exposed their privates to another person in an offensive way. Most first offenses are only a misdemeanor, but aggravated or repeat convictions can be elevated to a felony. Additionally, even for a misdemeanor conviction, sex offender registration is required. To minimize your chance of long-term consequences, call your Moreno Valley, CA, sex crimes lawyer right away.
Related Charges
In Moreno Valley, CA, we also defend human trafficking (PC § 236.1), lewd conduct in public (PC § 647(a)), 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.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley Defends Each of the Following
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
Moreno Valley, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Guidance at Every Stage of Your Case
Pre-filing and investigation. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Moreno Valley, CA, if you even think you are under investigation. We can help you set up your future case for a positive outcome, or avoid court entirely.
Discovery and forensics. We don't just let the district attorney build a case against you — we reexamine any evidence and look for inconsistencies or other weaknesses. We can also reach out to expert witnesses and forensic labs to review everything and look for alternatives to the state's narrative.
Motions. Suppression. If we find that any of the state's evidence was wrongfully obtained, we will file a motion to suppress it, removing it from the case against you. And if their case is sufficiently weakened, we'll follow up with a motion to dismiss the charges against you.
Negotiation. Since prosecutors have large caseloads, they often prefer to settle through a plea deal rather than go to trial. The right sex charges defense attorney can leverage this to their advantage and find a good deal that protects your record.
Trial and sentencing. Not every plea deal offered is acceptable. If we can't find an option that works for you, we're prepared to fight in court for your freedom. Even if the outcome at trial isn't what you were hoping for, we'll advocate for lenient sentencing.
Top 5 Moreno Valley, 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
- A defense strategy that you can understand
- 24/7 availability
- A person-centered approach
Penalties (General Statutory Ranges)
| 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 the majority of sex crime cases may follow these guidelines, sentencing enhancements can greatly alter the end punishment. Talk to a sex crimes lawyer about what your exposure actually is. If convicted of rape, you may also be required to pay a fine.
What You Need to Know About the Sex Offender Registry in California
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 — generally 10 years (5 years in some juvenile cases). Examples: indecent exposure (misdemeanor) and sexual battery (misdemeanor).
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: incest, some rape cases, and penetration with a foreign object.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., sex trafficking of a child, sodomy by force, forcible rape) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
After the minimum period, Tier 1 and Tier 2 registrants may petition for termination under PC § 290.5 if they meet the statutory criteria. Tier 3 is different — relief, if any, is narrower. Failure to register is its own crime. Your Moreno Valley, CA, sex crimes lawyer should treat registry exposure as a charging and plea issue from day one, not an afterthought at sentencing.
Defense Strategies Against Moreno Valley, CA, Sex Crimes Charges
- Consent applies in several sex crime charges, since many are only illegal if a party did not consent
- Honest misunderstandings regarding the age of the alleged victim. If they lied about their age, that may be enough to prove a lack of intent
- False or motivated accusation False accusations — unfortunately, some people will make up criminal accusations in order to get something they want
- Alibi — when you can show that you were not present when the alleged offense was committed, you can convince many people of your innocence
- Insufficient proof of a required element (intent, force, "lewd purpose," knowledge of age, possession vs. unsolicited file)
- Unlawful search of phones and cloud accounts
- Child interviews that were coached or led to a certain end
- Entrapment, when law enforcement goes too far in convincing the alleged offender
- Charges were filed outside of the statute of limitations
Your Moreno Valley, CA, sex crimes attorney can help you pick out the right defense strategy for your case. And if it goes to trial, they are prepared to argue it in front of a jury.
Recent Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. We protected our client's record after being accused of solicitation. Through skillful negotiation, we were able to have all charges dismissed after the completion of an educational program.
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — No Jail Time, No Sex Offender Registration, Dismissed Upon Completion of Probation. Our client was accused of statutory rape, a wobbler offense that could have resulted in incarceration, followed by a lifetime on the sex offender registry. Through skillful negotiation, we secured a deal that avoided prison, avoided the sex offender registry, and presented the possibility of all changes of being dismissed, after a probation period..
- Rape (PC § 261) — Felony Accusation, All Charges Dismissed Before Trial. Our client was potentially up against 25 years in prison and a lifetime on the sex offender registry. They were present at an event where a woman was assaulted, but they took no part in it. The state charged them with rape, but we were able to argue in the preliminary hearing that the charges were not applicable due to our client's lack of participation. All charges were dismissed. The case records not viewable by the public.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — Successful Consent Based Defense Protect Our Client From Prison. Using a consent-based defense, we protected our client from an extended jail sentence and secured a favorable outcome, avoiding a felony strike and sex offender registration.
- Child Molestation (PC § 288) and Sodomy with a Child Under 10 (PC § 288.7) — All Charges Dismissed, No Sex Offender Registration. The client faced three potential life terms with no bail. We examined the prosecution's evidence and were able to demonstrate to the court that the accusation was false, securing a dismissal. No public record of the case remains.
The above cases are selected as a representation of the Law Offices of David S. Chesley's results — they do not guarantee a specific outcome in a given case. If you have questions about realistic outcomes for your case, talk to one of our Moreno Valley, CA, sex crime lawyers today.
Common Questions for Sex Allegations in Moreno Valley, CA
Can a sex crimes lawyer still help if the accusations aren't true?
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.
Is there a risk of deportation if I'm convicted?
To protect your immigration status, you need to take these charges seriously. A conviction can be considered an aggravated felony or crime of moral turpitude, depending on the statute.
Is sexting legal in California?
The main way that sexting can get you in legal trouble in California is if it involves a minor — that is always illegal. It can also be illegal between two adults, if either the recipient does not consent, or if it involves images of a person who did not consent.
Does California's sex offender registry include statutory rape?
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.
If I'm on the California sex offender registry, do I have to tell my neighbors?
While sex offenders are not required to personally inform new neighbors after moving into a location, their registration is public knowledge and can be looked up online.
Accused of a Sex Crime? Call Now
Working with the right attorney can protect your freedom and defend you against the related social stigma. And you need to get started right away.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Moreno Valley, CA, call us right away at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
Payment Plans
