Some court cases, like traffic tickets, generally don't have major long-term impacts. You can contest it or pay the fine, then move on. Not so with sex crime cases. For those, you could be facing years in prison, massive fines, and sex offender registration. You need a sex crimes lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA to help you handle these charges.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends people accused of sex crimes in Redondo Beach, CA — with offices across Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties) as well as Central and Northern California (Kern, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Fresno, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Sonoma, Alameda, San Joaquin, and San Francisco counties, and beyond). We handle everything from investigation to trial.
We're ready for you 24/7. Call (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to set up a no-strings-attached review of your charges.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Redondo Beach, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why You Need to Treat Sex Crime Charges Seriously in Redondo Beach, CA
Redondo Beach, CA treats sex crime accusations very seriously. Without an experienced sex crimes attorney, you could be facing:
- State prison or jail
- Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
- Public Megan's Law listing in many cases
- Employment, licensing, housing, custody, and immigration consequences
- Ongoing governmental supervision
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.
How to Handle Redondo Beach, CA, Sex Crime Accusations
- Avoid contact with the alleged victim — Any contact, for whatever reason, is not a good idea. You could face additional charges for witness intimidation.
- Don't speak without an attorney present. 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 without counsel.
- Save any evidence. Don't delete anything, as this can be twisted as hiding evidence.
- Write a private timeline for your lawyer only: dates, locations, witnesses, alcohol, prior relationship, and who else had a motive.
- If given bail conditions, take every effort to adhere to them — you can face serious penalties for breaking these.
- Get counselling/mental health support — a counselor or one trusted person who will not post about it.
Above all of the above, the main thing you need to do is get help from an expert Redondo Beach, CA, sex crimes defense lawyer right away. .
Charges a Redondo Beach, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help You Fight
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Redondo Beach, CA. Rape, in particular, is treated extremely harshly for allegedly using force to coerce someone into sexual intercourse. Rape is one form of sexual assault. Sexual assault is not defined on its own in California law, but instead is a term used to describe a category of violent offenses of a sexual nature.
In the past, California has separate laws for rape between spouses versus general rape. However, this was repealed and does not apply today.
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. Some child sex crimes don't even have to involve actually abusing a child — California's enticing a minor statute makes it a crime just to try and presuade a child into engaging in sexual conduct, whether or not they actually do.
Statutory Rape
In California court, statutory rape is often referred to as "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor." These allegations state that a person had sex with someone under the age of 18. This technically makes it illegal for two minors to have sex with each other, but most of the time, these allegations are used in cases where an adult supposedly had sex with a minor. Common defenses include demonstrating an honest belief that the adult believed the minor was over the age of 18 or that sexual intercourse did not occur (though the latter defense can still result in other child sex crime charges). Talk with your Redondo Beach, CA, child sex crimes lawyer before taking a plea or establishing a defense.
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.
AI-Generated and Deepfake Sexual Content
California law has moved quickly to address AI-generated sexual content. Effective January 1, 2025, AB 1831 and SB 1381 expanded Penal Code §§ 311, 311.2, 311.11, and 311.12 to criminalize the creation, distribution, and possession of AI-generated or digitally altered child sexual abuse material — treated the same as material involving a real child, regardless of whether an actual child was used to produce it. Separately, SB 926 extended California's revenge-porn law (PC § 647(j)(4)) to cover non-consensual, AI-generated sexually explicit images of adults that appear authentic. These are new, fast-evolving statutes, and the digital evidence in these cases — how an image was generated, by whom, and what platform it moved through — is often the center of the defense.
Prostitution
Prostitution has a long history in the United States, but is currently illegal in California. The state defines prostitution as exchanging a sexual act for something of value, which is often (but not always) money. The same law covers both acting as a prostitute and soliciting a prostitute, and the penalties include up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Additionally, sentence enhancements can add mandatory minimums of jail time and/or the suspension of your driver's license.
Related Charges
In Redondo 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.
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
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. Evidence can play a major role in sex crime cases. We'll not only look at everything that the state has discovered, but also conduct our own investigations to find anything that can help your defense.
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. Many criminal charges in Redondo Beach, CA, end in plea deals. With relationships in courts across California, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are ready to negotiate on your behalf.
Trial and sentencing. Some lawyers won't want to take cases to trial. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we're prepared to present your defense in front of a judge and jury.
Looking for a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Redondo Beach, CA? Don't Overlook These Factors
- Knowledge of how to handle the exact charges against you
- Readiness to help right away, no matter what stage your case is at
- Ideas for how to approach defense in your case
- Availability and a single point of contact
- A person-centered approach
Redondo 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 the majority of sex crime cases may follow these guidelines, sentencing enhancements can greatly alter the end punishment. 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 — generally 10 years (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 — generally 20 years. Examples: incest, some rape cases, and penetration with a foreign object.
- Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., forcible rape, kidnapping in conjunction with a sex crime, aggravated sexual assault of a child) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.
Rather than automatically being removed after a time period, it's on the individual to request removal after their time is up. Your sex crimes attorney can help you petition for removal from the sex offender registery.
Defense Strategies Against Redondo Beach, CA, Sex Crimes Charges
- Consent is applicable in many cases where both parties were over the age of 18
- 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 (custody, immigration, breakup, school discipline)
- Alibi — when you can show that you were not present when the alleged offense was committed, you can convince many people of your innocence
- Lack of evidence — ultimately, it's on the prosecution to prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If they fail to do so, we will highlight that
- Unlawful search of phones and cloud accounts
- 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.
Recent Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. This client was accused of soliciting a prostitute who was a police agent working undercover. We evaluated potential entrapment issues and enrolled our client in a diversionary, educational program. The court dismissed the charges, and no lingering public records are available..
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Protected Client From Jail, Sex Offender Registry, and Record. 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. The client was present at a gathering where two other individuals were separately accused of assaulting a woman; the client had no involvement in the alleged conduct. We demonstrated the client's lack of involvement, and the court dismissed all charges at the preliminary hearing. Our client's privacy is protected, as there is no public record of the case available.
- 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. Using a consent-based defense, our lawyers secured a deal that released our client, crediting them for time served, with no strike and no sex offender registration.
- Child Molestation (PC § 288) and Sodomy with a Child Under 10 (PC § 288.7) — Charges Dismissed at the Preliminary Hearing. A conviction of these charges would have sent our client to prison for life, along with permanent sex offender registration. 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. Our client's reputation is also protected, as there are no public records of this case.
While past cases can help inform you on a firm's abilities, they do not necessarily represent results for a future case. Every case in Redondo Beach, CA, is evaluated on its own facts, and results depend on the specific evidence and circumstances involved.
Common Questions for Sex Crimes in Redondo Beach, CA
Do I need a lawyer if I am innocent?
Yes. Innocence does not stop an investigation, an arrest, or a filing decision. Counsel is how your evidence gets into the file and how illegal searches and bad interviews get challenged.
Would a conviction of a sex crime affect my immigration status?
Many sex convictions are treated as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude. Discuss immigration consequences before any plea.
Do I have to stay on the sex offender registry for life in Redondo Beach, CA?
Whether or not you can get off California's sex offender registry depends on what tier you were applied to it on. Tier 3 offenses generally do not allow the possibility for removal, while lower tiers do.
Does statutory rape require registration now?
California updated its sex offender registration requirements for statutory rape effective January 1st, 2026. This mandates Tier 1 registration for most statutory rape convicts, unless the age gap was more than 10 years. Talk to your sex crimes lawyer before accepting any plea.
If I'm on the sex offender registry, what rules do I have to follow?
Every Redondo Beach, CA, resident on the sex offender registry is required to update their information regularly with local law enforcement. Some people may face additional restrictions, such as notifying law enforcement before travel, a ban on firearm possession, and restricted use of the internet.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley: Premier Sex Crimes Lawyers in Redondo Beach, CA
There isn't a guaranteed way to beat these charges, but with professional help, you'll get guidance on how to maximize your chances.
Protect your freedom today — call us at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online to talk with your Redondo Beach, CA, sex crimes lawyer.
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