You need a sex crimes lawyer in Newport Beach, 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 Newport Beach, 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're here to help, not to judge. Call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online for a confidential, free case review.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Newport Beach, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
The Realities of a Newport Beach, CA, Sex Crime Charge
Newport Beach, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- A potentially lengthy prison sentence
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- A social stigma that will follow you after release
- Employment, licensing, housing, custody, and immigration consequences
- Extensive fines and restitution requirements
Trying to "clear it up" with police, the accuser, or a school or Title IX office almost always makes the file worse. Get help from someone who will protect your rights.
You've Been Charged With a Sex Crime in Newport Beach, CA: These Are Your Next Steps
- Don't talk to the person accusing you — even to apologize or "explain." Doing so often just looks like intimidating the alleged victim.
- When interviewed, don't answer questions. Respectfully request to speak with your attorney.
- Don't give permission to search your property if there isn't a warrant for it and if you haven't had a chance to check with your Newport Beach, CA sex charges attorney.
- Gather any evidence you can find. Trying to delete or hide evidence can end up making you look more guilty.
- Share everything you know with your defense attorney: Without a full picture, they won't be able to build a complete defense.
- Follow every release condition exactly — failing to do so can send you to jail.
- Get help handling the pressure — a counselor or one trusted person who will not post about it.
Early counsel can sometimes intervene before filing, especially in online sting, statutory, and "he said / she said" investigations.
Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Newport Beach, CA
Rape and Sexual Assault
It's hard to think of a crime that is publicly regarded as worse than rape in Newport Beach, CA. A conviction means up to 8 years in prison, as well as sex offender registration. Sexual assault, meanwhile, is a catch-all term for several violent sex crimes (often including rape and sexual battery).
Spousal rape under former PC § 262 was repealed in 2021. As of January 1, 2026, SB 258 also removed the remaining spouse-capacity carve-out in PC § 261. Rape inside a marriage is charged like rape between any other two people.
Child Sex Crimes
There are a wide range of potential child sex crime accusations in California, including lewd acts with a child, sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography. California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law, so it's illegal for an adult to have sex with a minor even if they are close in age.
Statutory Rape
Not every statutory rape charge is the same, but all of them are serious. If the alleged victim was within 3 years of the alleged offender's age, it is a misdemeanor. Anything beyond that, and the prosecution has discretion to charge the crime as a felony. Additionally, there can be enhanced penalties if the alleged offender is over the age of 21 and the alleged victim is under the age of 16.
Online and Digital Sex Crimes
Online and digital sex crimes can be particularly complicated in California. For example, sexting with a minor is illegal, even if the supposed minor turned out to be an adult who was pretending. This is because the relevant statute (PC § 288.2) applies if the alleged offender believed they were talking to a minor, even if that wasn't true. Sexting can also overlap with stalking charges.
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.
Prostitution and Related Offenses
Prostitution is illegal in much of the United States ostensibly for moral reasons. In California, prostitution-related crimes include the act of prostitution itself, soliciting a prostitute, and pimping/pandering (AKA helping someone else break a prostitution law for a profit). What this ultimately means is that involvement with prostitution can lead to criminal charges from any angle, even if it was a sting operation. Don't take these charges lightly — your Newport Beach, CA, sex crimes lawyer can help you find a positive outcome.
Related Charges
In Newport Beach, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), lewd conduct in public (PC § 647(a)), failure to register (PC § 290.018), human trafficking (PC § 236.1), 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.
Sex Crime Charges Our Lawyers Defend
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 Your Newport Beach, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help
Pre-filing and investigation. Your defense doesn't begin when charges are filed — you should call a sex crimes lawyer in Newport Beach, 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. 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 under Penal Code § 1538.5, challenges to statements (Miranda / voluntariness), evidentiary fights under Evidence Code §§ 782, 1108, and 1101 (prior sexual conduct of the complaining witness, propensity evidence in sex offense cases, and character evidence generally), and motions to dismiss weak or overcharged counts.
Negotiation. The registration tier often matters more than a few months of custody. Reducing a Tier 3 offense to a non-registerable or Tier 1/2 charge can be the entire case.
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.
Your Newport Beach, CA, Sex Crime Lawyer Needs to Have These Qualities
- Experience with your case type
- Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
- Ideas for how to approach defense in your case
- 24/7 availability
- A feeling that you're being treated like a person, not a paycheck
Newport Beach, CA, Sex Crime Penalties
| 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. Your case needs to be evaluated for its unique qualities. 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
If convicted, many sex crimes require you to register at one of the three below tiers:
- Tier 1 — normally 10 years, but some minors will only be put on the registry for 5 years. Examples: most misdemeanor sex offenses fall into this tier, and some non-violent felony offenses.
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: many serious/violent registerable felonies that are not automatic lifetime.
- 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 Your Newport Beach, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer May Use
- Consent is applicable in many cases where both parties were over the age of 18
- In some cases, mistakes about the age of the other person can be used as a defense. This is most applicable in statutory or other minor-related cases, and isn't applicable in some others
- False or motivated accusation (custody, immigration, breakup, school discipline)
- Alibi — one of the strongest defenses against a sex crime accusation is to prove you were elsewhere at the time
- Lack of evidence (intent, force, "lewd purpose," knowledge of age, possession vs. unsolicited file)
- Evidence obtained in a way that violated your rights
- Unreliable child forensic interviews
- Entrapment in cases like prostitution
- Statute of limitations or charging defects
Your Newport Beach, 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. 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) — Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Charges to be Dismissed. 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 at Preliminary Hearing. When our client was wrongly accused of participating in an assault, we presented a defense showing their lack of participation. This also protected our client's reputation, as no records of the case are public.
- Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — Our Defense Protected Our Client From 6 Years in Prison and Sex Offender Registration. By evaluating the evidence and presenting a narrative of consent, we protected our client from an extended jail sentence and secured a favorable outcome, 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) — Protected Client Against Lifetime Imprisonment 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. No public record of the case remains.
While past cases can help inform you on a firm's abilities, they do not necessarily represent results for a future case. Your Newport Beach, 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 Newport Beach, 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.
Will a sex crime in Newport Beach, CA, affect immigration status?
It depends on the specific crime, but several sex crime convictions can be used as the basis for deportation.
Does California have a law against sexting?
Whether or not sexting breaks California law depends on who was involved and whether consent was obtained. It's illegal when the recipient does not consent, when an image includes a person who did not consent, or if a minor is involved at all.
Are people convicted of stautory rape put on the sex offender registry?
For many PC § 261.5(c) and (d) offenses committed on or after January 1, 2026, yes — Tier 1 — unless the 10-year age-gap exception applies. The court may still order PC § 290.006 registration. Get the dates and ages reviewed before you plead.
Do sex offenders have to notify neighbors in California?
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.
Do You Need a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Newport Beach, CA? Call David Chesley
Don't try to handle this yourself and end up digging a hole you can't get out of. With the right defense and the right lawyer presenting it, you'll maximize your chances of a positive outcome.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Newport Beach, CA, call us right away at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.
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