You never thought it would come to this. The accusation may be a misunderstanding, exaggerated, or false. In Van Nuys, CA, a sex crime allegation can put prison, PC 290 registration, and your reputation at risk before a case is even filed. What you do in the first 48 hours matters.
For Van Nuys, 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 handle everything from investigation to trial.
We give you someone you can count on. Call (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to set up a no-strings-attached review of your charges.
President David S. Chesley, Van Nuys, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.
Why Van Nuys, CA, Sex Crime Cases Are Different
A sex crime charge is not a typical misdemeanor or even a typical felony. A conviction can mean:
- Months or even years behind bars
- Mandatory or discretionary sex offender registration under Penal Code § 290
- Public labelling as a sex offender
- The potential loss of child custody
- 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. You need counsel who will protect the record and the rest of your life.
You've Been Charged With a Sex Crime in Van Nuys, CA: These Are Your Next Steps
- Don't talk to the person accusing you — even to apologize or "explain." That can be charged as witness intimidation or violating a protective order.
- Do not talk to police, detectives, or campus investigators. 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 checking with your Van Nuys, CA, sex crimes lawyer first.
- Gather any evidence you can find. Don't delete texts, photos, apps, location history, or social media — deletion is often argued as consciousness of guilt.
- Talk about your case with your sex crimes lawyer in Van Nuys, CA: It's important that your lawyer has a full view of the situation.
- Follow every release condition exactly — breaking these can hurt your case.
- Talk to a professional for help handling the stress — 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 Van Nuys, CA
Rape and Sexual Assault
Rape is charged under Penal Code § 261. In Van Nuys, CA, it is a felony with a triad of 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison in a typical case, plus fines and usually Tier 3 lifetime 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).
California used to have a separate law regarding spousal rape, but this was repealed in 2021.
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. 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.
Internet 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.
AI-Generated Sexual Content Involving Children
Child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material, is illegal at both the California state and federal levels — even if it was generated with AI. This means that it doesn't matter whether the depicted child is real or fictional — creating and distributing these types of images is against the law. If you're facing charges related to this, you need an experienced sex crimes lawyer who can defend you in both state and federal court.
Human Trafficking
Sex trafficking is charged under Penal Code § 236.1(b) and (c) and carries some of the most severe penalties available in Van Nuys, CA, court. Subdivision (b) covers depriving someone of their liberty to commit pimping, pandering, or child pornography offenses, punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. Subdivision (c) covers persuading or attempting to persuade a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and can carry 15 years to life when force, fear, fraud, or coercion is used. A conviction requires lifetime Tier 3 sex offender registration. These cases frequently overlap with pimping and pandering allegations and often turn on financial records, communications, and the alleged victim's own statements.
Related Charges
In Van Nuys, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), 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.
Get Legal Support From a Van Nuys, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer With All of the Below Charges
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 Van Nuys, CA, Sex Crimes Attorney
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. We obtain police reports, body-cam footage, SART/rape-kit notes, pretext-call recordings, phones, cloud accounts, and expert review of DNA, toxicology, and digital media. Many cases turn on delayed disclosure, inconsistent statements, suggestive interviewing of children, or missing intent.
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. 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.
Looking for a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Van Nuys, CA? Don't Overlook These Factors
- Experience with your case type
- Dedication to Connections with prosecutors and judges in Van Nuys
- A defense strategy that you can understand
- Availability and a single point of contact
- A person-centered approach
Legal Punishments for Sex Crime Convictions in Van Nuys, CA
| 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. . But a conviction won't just lead to incarceration; it can also put you on the sex offender registry.
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 — normally a 10-year period on the registry. 5 years in some juvenile cases. Examples: misdemeanor sex crimes are often Tier 1, notably sexual battery and some child pornography possession.
- Tier 2 — generally 20 years. Examples: lewd acts with a minor under 14 and some sodomy 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.
On top of the lengthy time periods of registration, failure to register is an offense in and of itself. While on the registry, you can be facing challenges finding a house or job, restrictions on where you are able to travel, and a devastating social stigma. Your sex crimes lawyer can help you petition for removal once you're eligible for relief.
Defense Strategies Against Van Nuys, CA, Sex Crimes Charges
- Consent is applicable in many cases where both parties were over the age of 18
- 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 — sometimes, it can be just as important to show why the person is making the accusation as it is to show your innocence. If an ulterior motive is revealed, this can be a powerful part of a defense startegy
- Misidentification — unfortunately, misidentification can result in false accusations, even if the alleged victim is not acting maliciously
- Insufficient proof of a required element — you have the presumption of innocence on your side
- Unlawful search of phones and cloud accounts
- Entrapment when the supposed offender did not have a predisposition towards the crime, and the government coerced them into it
- Statute of limitations or charging defects
When you have the right defense strategy and the right defense attorney on your side, you're maximizing your chances of a positive outcome.
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) — No Jail Time, No Sex Offender Registration, Dismissed Upon Completion of Probation. Our skillful team leveraged plea negotiations to help our client avoid a prison sentence and stay off of the ex offender registry.
- Rape (PC § 261) — Facing 25 Years to Life, 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. 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) — Successful Consent Based Defense Protect Our Client From Prison. By evaluating the evidence and presenting a narrative of consent, 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) — All Charges Dismissed, No Sex Offender Registration. Our client was being held without bail and could have been sent to prison for life, if convicted. 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 Accusations in Van Nuys, CA
If I didn't do it, should I still contact a sex crimes lawyer?
Yes — unfortunately, the police can make mistakes in their investigations and end up charging the wrong person. Your freedom and rights deserve professional protection.
Is there a risk of deportation if I'm convicted?
Convictions of sex crimes can be harmful to your immigration status, and potentially lead to deportation. Talk to a sex crimes defense lawyer who can also act as your immigration attorney and help you protect your status.
Do I have to stay on the sex offender registry for life in Van Nuys, CA?
If you were convicted of a tier 1 offense, you can generally apply for removal after 10 years. Tier 2 is similar, just after 20 years. Tier 3 results in a lifetime sex offender registration.
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.
Do sex offenders have to notify neighbors in California?
California does not require sex offenders to manually inform their neighbors after moving into a new residence.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley Is Ready to Defend Your Sex Crimes Case
There isn't an easy way out of this, but with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you'll get a team that is dedicated to protecting your rights and will fight for your freedom.
Our phone lines are open 24/7. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Van Nuys, CA, call now at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online. We're committed to our clients.
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