Orange County Sex Crimes Lawyer

Penal Code Sections 261.5, 288, 288a, 314 and 647

If you need an Orange County Sex Crimes Attorney then contact Mr. Bruzzo at (714) 547-4636.

Sex crimes are some of the most serious crimes one can face. In addition to carrying very high jail sentences often times a conviction for a sex offense can require life time registration as a sex offender. Also, even first time offenders can go to state prison because of how seriously the court, the law and the district attorney take these cases. That is why it is very important to hire an attorney early on to handle the police and the District Attorney. ALSO BEWARE OF CALLS FROM THE ALLEGED VICTIM TO THE CLIENT WHEN THE ALLEGATIONS FIRST ARISE. MANY TIMES THESE CALLS ARE BEING LISTENED TO AND RECORDED BY THE POLICE. Mr. Bruzzo has successfully handled many cases of individuals accused of sex crimes.

Sex cases become very serious when the victim is less than 14 years of age. In such cases even acts limited to touching in a sexual manner can send the Defendant to prison for between 3 and 8 years. (Penal Code Section 288(a)).

For sexual touching of a victim who is 14 or 15 years of age the prison time can be between 1 and 3 years when the Defendant is 10 years older then the victim or more. (Penal Code Section288(c)(1)).

Oral copulation of a person under the age of 18 years can subject a person to up to three years of state prison. (Penal Code Section 288a(b)(1)).

Meanwhile oral copulation of a person under the age of 14 when the Defendant is 10 years older or more can subject the Defendant to 3 to 8 years of prison. (Penal Code Section 288a(c)(1)).

Strangely, in some ways it is less serious a crime if the client’s sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18 is limited to intercourse. Under Penal Code Section 261.5 a client can be accused of having sex with someone under the age of 18 but still face only a misdemeanor as long as they are no more then three years older then the victim.

Even intercourse with a person under the age of 16 when the Defendant is 21 years old or older can be filed as a misdemeanor offense. (Penal Code 261.5(c)).

The most significant difference in the punishment between a Penal Code Section 261.5 offense and a Penal Code Section 288 or 288a offense is that SEXUAL REGISTRATION is not required for offenses under Penal Code Section 261.5.

Lewd conduct (Penal Code Section 647) is another sort of sex offense which can describe everything from showing genitalia in public to having sex in public or other lewd behavior open to public view. However, Registration as a sex offender is not required for this sort of offense. BUT BEWARE because Penal Code Section 314 addresses very similar conduct and DOES require sex registration for life. It is very important to hire an experienced attorney like Mr. Bruzzo when you are charged with these sorts of offenses.