Child Molestation Defense Attorney

“Child molestation” covers a variety of criminal statues involving children. These are serious felonies and may lead to state prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender. A skilled child molestation defense attorney from the Law Office of Richard Dudek is your key to success in challenging these life-changing charges.

Even if it is clearly a mistake or lie, you need a criminal defense attorney because of the complexity of the facts and the law, and the horrendous consequences of a conviction. An allegation by an ex-wife or a stepdaughter can turn your entire family against you. Our dedicated and resourceful criminal defense team devotes itself to finding the flaws in the evidence behind these charges. Our talented criminal litigator, Richard Dudek , crafts a strong defense for you based on law and fact.

The most common criminal charges alleging sex with minors are:

• Lewd or lascivious acts on a child
• Continuous sexual abuse of a child
• Annoying or molesting a child
• Sexual battery
• Statutory rape

Lewd or lascivious acts on a child covers a number of scenarios, each of which is sentenced differently. If the prosecution claims you touched a child under age 14 or persuaded a child to touch you with the intention to cause sexual arousal, this felony charge carries up to eight years in prison for each act. If force was used, the court might impose a longer sentence.

The prosecutor may charge continuous sexual abuse of a child if you live with a young child victim. If the state proves you committed three or more lewd acts on a child under 14 over a three-month period or longer, you face up to 16 years in prison. Lewd acts and continuous sexual abuse are both treated as strikes under California’s three-strikes law. In either case you must register as a sex offender for as long as you live in California.

Annoying or molesting a minor under the age of 18 refers to conduct directed at a minor that any normal person would find disturbing or offensive. The prosecutor must prove your conduct was motivated by an abnormal sexual interest in the minor. Even if you never actually touched the minor you could be charged. If convicted, you face substantial prison time and must register as a sex offender.

Sexual battery is sometimes charged in cases involving minors. The prosecutor must prove you touched the victim against his/her will for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification or sexual abuse. Whether it gets charged as a felony or misdemeanor depends on the specific circumstances of the touching, but either way it requires registration as a sex offender. A felony conviction carries a maximum of four years in state prison.

Statutory rape is sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 18 according to California rape laws. Consent is not a defense, even if the minor solicited the sex act.

Contact SACRAMENTO Child Molestation Defense Attorney

If you are being investigated for child molestation, contact the discreet and reliable child molestation defense firm, the Law Office of Richard Dudek . You speak personally and at length with our experienced criminal defense advocate. Find out how we can help you counter these serious accusations. Contact us online or by telephone at (916) 444-7595 today to arrange a consultation.