You need a sex crimes lawyer in Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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. We investigate, challenge the evidence, negotiate when that protects you, and try the case when it does not.
Don't give up before speaking to one of our attorneys. Call (800) 755-5174 or use our online contact form to talk to a sex crimes lawyer in Riverside, CA.
Attorney David S. Chesley, Riverside, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why You Need to Treat Sex Crime Charges Seriously in Riverside, CA
You need an expert Riverside, CA, sex crimes lawyer to help you fight your case and avoid:
- Months or even years behind bars
- Mandatory or discretionary sex offender registration under Penal Code § 290
- Public Megan's Law listing in many cases
- Many collateral consequences
- A federal firearms ban and, in some cases, passport restrictions
Trying to "clear it up" with police, the accuser, or a school or Title IX office almost always makes the file worse. Call our attorneys now — we'll fight for your freedom from day 1.
What to Do if You Have Been Accused of a Sex Crime in Riverside, CA
- Don't reach out to the alleged victim — even to apologize or "explain." This can hurt your case in the long run.
- Do not talk to police, detectives, or campus investigators. Plead the Fifth Amendment and politely ask to speak with your lawyer.
- Don't give permission to search your property if investigators don't have a warrant and without checking with your Riverside, CA, sex crimes lawyer first.
- Preserve everything. Don't delete texts, photos, apps, location history, or social media — deletion is often argued as consciousness of guilt.
- Tell your Riverside, CA, sex crimes defense attorney everything: dates, locations, witnesses, alcohol, prior relationship, and who else had a motive.
- Obey court orders — failing to do so can send you to jail.
- Get help handling the pressure — handling criminal charges is stressful, and it's normal to need some professional help.
On your own, it can be a lot to handle. But with a leading Riverside, CA, sex crimes lawyer, you have an advantage inside and outside of court.
Get Help With the Following Riverside, CA, Sex Crime Charges
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape is arguably the most serious sex crime charge you can face in Riverside, CA. A conviction can send you to prison for years, and permanently put you on the sex offender registry.
Sexual assault (or sexual abuse) charges are often used as a catch-all that can include rape and other sexual crimes, most notably sexual battery. Sexual battery is defined in its own statute as the touching of another person's intimate parts without their consent, while the alleged victim was restrained. This touching must have been done for sexual purposes.
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. 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
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
Internet sex crimes vary widely in nature. Some overlap with child sex crimes (the possession, production, or distribution of child pornography, for example), while others are crimes even if the conduct only involved adults (posting of revenge porn, for example). Defenses often hinge on whether or not the alleged offender was the one to break the law, or if another person was using their computer/profile.
AI and Deepfake Pornography
As AI continues to advance at a fast rate, California lawmakers are creating regulations on its use. This is related to sex crimes, specifically for generative pornographic content. Recent laws have established that AI-generated child pornography can be prosecuted as if it were an image of an actual child. Additional laws have also made it illegal to create and share deepfake pornography that appears to be actual images of the subject. As these laws continue to develop, it's important to work with a sex crimes lawyer in Riverside, CA, who is familiar with the most recent laws and updated regulations.
Lewd Conduct in Public
It may be easy to confuse lewd conduct in public with indecent exposure, but these are separate offenses in Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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.
Charges We Handle
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
Step-by-Step Guidance From an Experienced Riverside, CA, Sex Crimes Attorney
Pre-filing and investigation. The best way to beat a criminal charge is to avoid having it filed in the first place. You don't have to wait until you're under arrest to get an attorney — our sex crime defense attorneys can help you the moment police contact you. We will guide you through interviews, negotiate with authorities, and set the ground for a strong legal defense, should it become necessary.
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. The right motions can set your case up for success. In addition to motions we commonly file (like suppression and dismissal), in sex crime cases we often file a motion to suppress identification. Unfortunately, misidentification can occur more often than it should in criminal cases, and sex crimes are no exception.
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. 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.
Your Riverside, CA, Sex Crime Lawyer Needs to Have These Qualities
- Direct experience with your statute (PC 261 is not the same case as PC 288.4)
- Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
- Ideas for how to approach defense in your case
- Availability and a single point of contact
- A record of results in Riverside, CA, courts — not just a list of charges
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 |
Enhancements (great bodily injury, weapon use, multiple victims, age of the complaining witness, prior strikes) change these numbers. 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.
The Sex Offender Registry (PC 290)
California maintains a public sex offender registry. The length of time a person is required to be on the registry depends on the specific offense:
- 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 — 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.
Effective Defenses Versus Sex Crime Charges in Riverside, CA
- Consent applies in several sex crime charges, since many are only illegal if a party did not consent
- 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 — some people use false sexual assault or rape allegations as a way to hurt another person or gain leverage in a custody battle
- Misidentification — unfortunately, misidentification can result in false accusations, even if the alleged victim is not acting maliciously
- Failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against you — you have the presumption of innocence on your side. When the prosecution fails to overcome this, your defense needs to explain it to the jury
- Violation of your rights
- Child interviews that were coached or led to a certain end
- 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.
Former Sex Offense Case Results
- Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. The client was accused of offering money for sex to an undercover officer in a "fake prostitute" sting — a common tactic that can raise entrapment issues. We enrolled the client in an educational diversion program, and upon proof of successful completion, the court dismissed all charges. No public record of the case remains.
- Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Charges to be Dismissed. The client faced years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration. We negotiated a reduced-charge resolution that carried no custody time and no registration requirement, with dismissal available after successful completion of probation.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Felony Accusation, All Charges Dismissed Before Trial. 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. No public record of the case remains.
- 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 negotiated a resolution giving the client credit 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) — Protected Client Against Lifetime Imprisonment and Sex Offender Registration. The client faced three potential life terms with no bail. We demonstrated that the allegations had been fabricated, and the court dismissed all charges at the preliminary hearing. 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. Our sex crime defense attorneys will evaluate your case based on its own merits and help you in finding the best outcome for your unique situation.
Common Questions for Sex Allegations in Riverside, CA
Is it still important to hire an attorney if you're innocent?
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.
Would a conviction of a sex crime affect my immigration status?
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.
Will I be put on the sex offender registry if I'm convicted of statutory rape?
The specifics of statutory rape and the sex offender registry depends on the ages of those involved, when the alleged offense occurred, and the court's discretion. Contact an attorney prior to accepting any deal that includes sex offender registration.
If I'm on the California sex offender registry, do I have to tell my neighbors?
No — sex offenders themselves are not required to inform their neighbors, just register with local law enforcement. Law enforcement may decide to make a public announcement, though.
Accused of a Sex Crime? Call Now
This isn't a time to settle for second best. You need a strong, experienced criminal defense attorney to build your defense. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
If you need an experienced Riverside, CA, sex crimes lawyer, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to talk. Call now at (800) 755-5174 or use our contact form to get started today.
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