San Diego CHILD MOLESTATION LAWYER:
DEFENSE AGAINST SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
I am child molestation attorney Peter M. Liss and I can help you If you have been arrested or believe you might be under investigation for any sex crime against children in San Diego, including child molestation, lewd or lascivious acts with a minor, statutory rape, attempting to meet a child for sex, sexually harassing a minor or soliciting a minor for sex. I can also help you if you are facing a potential “third strike” under the three-strikes law or if you have failed to register as a sex offender.
I have tried over 100 criminal jury trials and personally defended many people in your situation who have been arrested and charged with these serious sex crimes. If you need a skilled, experienced criminal defense attorney with a track record of success, please call me at (760) 643-4050 for a free consultation. I guarantee you will receive top quality representation for a reasonable fee.
Facts About Child Molestation Charges in San Diego
What most people call “child molestation” is most commonly charged as lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 under Penal Code 288 (PC) of California law. You can also be charged if the child is 15 or under and you are more than ten years older than him or her. While these lewd acts need not be explicitly sexual, they must be for the purpose of sexually gratifying at least one of the people involved with the activity. Related offenses may include possession, production or distribution of child pornography, sexually harassing a minor, soliciting a minor for sex, indecent exposure, child abuse and statutory rape.
What Are the Penalties for Child Molestation in California?
Penalties for even a first offense of lewd acts with a minor can be severe. The specific charges will vary based on the specific acts involved, whether the child was under the influence of fear, force or drugs, and the age of the child. In most cases though, these charges are felonies and sentencing can include up to 8 years in state prison, $10,000 in fines, mandatory registration as a sex offender. Additionally, you may also lose the right to see your children or be in the presence of children. Some convicted child molesters are even required to go through chemical or surgical castration as part of their probation.
You’ll Need to Register as a Sex Offender
As a registered sex offender, your name, address and the crimes you were convicted for will be available in a public database for anyone to see. You will also have to check in with the local government every time you move or get a new job. You may also be barred from living in certain areas and working in certain jobs. Failure to register on a yearly basis can result in new criminal charges. In some cases, your San Diego child molestation lawyer may be able to have the charges against you reduced, but even then, you will still usually be required to register as a sex offender.
Call a San Diego Child Molestation Attorney Immediately
These consequences are very serious and these charges should not be taken lightly. If you have been accused of child molestation or any similar sexual act against a minor, you need to contact a skilled lawyer experienced in defending sex crimes as soon as possible -even if charges have not actually been filed yet. Your lawyer can help protect you against false accusations that may ruin your reputation as well as improper and illegal search and seizure methods. Additionally, if formal charges are filed, your sex crimes attorney can help minimize the publicity around the case so your privacy and reputation can be protected from the damaging title of “child molester.” Regardless of the specifics, your lawyer can help you obtain the best case results under all applicable facts and laws.
Facing Charges of Lewd Acts With a Minor?
Sex offenses against children are serious offenses with complicated defenses. Under US law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, but if you have been accused of any sexual activity involving a child, you’ll have an uphill battle as you attempt to protect your reputation while fighting the charges. Having a top lewd acts with a minor attorney help you with the process is critical when you have been accused of such an emotionally charged crime.
Protect Your Reputation and Personal Relationships
Because sex crimes against children are so highly publicized and vilified, those accused of these act are often judged long before they enter the courtroom. This means your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors may all develop a drastically different opinion of you if they learn you have been accused of the crime, which is why a good child molestation defense lawyer will help you work to keep the charges as private as possible.
While juries are supposed to remain impartial, members of the jury may start to subconsciously judge you as soon as the charges against you are read. Because an unbiased jury is critical to a fair trial, it is up to your San Diego child molestation attorney to remind the jury that they must be unprejudiced.
Defenses Against Child Molestation Accusations
There are many defenses for these crimes. If anyone involved with the accusations could benefit from your conviction, such as an ex-spouse hoping to gain custody, your criminal defense lawyer should bring that connection to light. Another common defense is the “tainting” of a child’s memory through suggestive and/or leading interviews by a teacher, parent, therapist or law enforcement officer. Similarly, sometimes the defendant is the victim of mistaken identity because they resemble someone else who harmed the child.
What You Say Can Hurt Your Case
Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that child molestation does not need to involve touching in a sexual area or on bare skin. In fact, there need not be any touching between the participants at all. If you are accused of getting a child to touch their own body -even through clothing, you can still be charged with molesting a child. Also, sexual arousal or pleasure need not have actually occurred as long as the person accused of child molesting intended the act to cause sexual arousal or gratification. Lastly, it does not matter if you believed the child to be over the age of 18 or if he or she consented.
Do Not Talk to Anyone About the Case Without Your Lawyer
Remember, what you say can be used against you and even things you say to defend yourself may still be turned around on you and harm your defense later on. In fact, police often arrange recorded phone calls between the alleged victim and the person accused of harming him or her, hoping the defendant will say something that can be used as a confession -even something as simple as an “I’m sorry.” This is why you should never speak to the police, the alleged victim, the victim’s parents or the District Attorney without your child molestation defense attorney present to provide you knowledgeable and relevant legal advice throughout your entire ordeal.
As Your Child Molestation Lawyer, I Can Help By
- 1 Counseling you and keeping you notified about your case status at all times
- 2 Helping you avoid the embarrassment of being arrested at work or home
- 3 Fighting for reduced bail or no bail after you have been arrested
- 4 Questioning the witnesses and police investigators
- 5 Collecting evidence on your behalf, which may include psychological evaluations showing you do not have the profile of a sex offender; proof that the victim or his or her parents may have motivation to be dishonest or a history of lying; evidence that the victim has a tendency to fantasize, form false memories or a mental impairment that makes him or her prone to provide false or inaccurate testimony; medical evidence and/or testimony that contradicts the prosecution’s evidence; and more
- 6 Making motions to the court on your behalf
- 7 Determining the right legal defense for your specific case, which could involve false accusations, mistaken identity, insufficient evidence and more
- 8 Working to have the charges reduced, or, if you have not been charged yet, convincing the prosecutor you should face lesser charges or not be charged at all
- 9 Seeking a plea bargain or representing you at trial
- 10 Using the best possible legal defenses to achieve the best possible outcome for your case
- 11 Attempting to secure the lowest possible sentence or alternative sentencing. These alternative sentences may include probation, fines, house arrest, counseling, hormone therapy that suppresses your sex drive or residential treatment in a treatment facility. In some cases, you may even be excused from registration as a sex offender.
Choose a Top Child Molestation Lawyer in San Diego
As graduate from the University of California, Berkeley Law School, I have over 35 years experience handling many cases involving sex crimes against children and I have a proven track record of success. I am available all day, every day thanks to my 24-hour, live, in-person answering service and will call you back as soon as possible because I understand just how intimidating it can be to face criminal charges.
Convenience, Affordability and Quality
When you work with me, I am the only attorney in my firm and I guarantee that I will personally handle your entire case and provide you with top quality service for reasonable rates. I accept all major credit cards and offer free consultations at my law firm office located across the street from the Vista courthouse and jail.
I Can Help You Fight These Terrible Charges
I have personally defended many people just like you who have been arrested in San Diego County for sex offenses against children, including child molestation, meeting a minor for sex and child pornography. Additionally, I have defended many clients whose offense was a potential “third strike” under the three-strikes law or who have failed to register as a sex offender.
If you or someone in your family has been arrested for lewd acts with a minor, please call to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
How to Contact Attorney Peter Liss
For skilled IMMEDIATE help with a San Diego sex crime against children defense, call
Child Molestation Attorney
Peter M. Liss:
(760) 643-4050
or
(858) 486-3024
Call 24/7 – any time, any day. I can help you.
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