Child Molestation

At The Justice Firm, we realize that charges of child molestation are some of the most serious when it comes to putting your reputation and career at stake. Unfortunately, in addition to destroying your future, the criminal penalties for a conviction are extremely harsh, leaving your freedom in jeopardy as well. If you have been accused of this criminal offense or have been arrested or charged, it is imperative you consult with a capable and aggressive Los Angeles child molestation lawyer immediately.

Essentially, the crime of child molestation involves the abuse of a child for the gratification of an adult. Regardless of whether you are guilty, anyone who is around children can be accused of this crime, particularly those who have children of their own (or step children), who works with children in some capacity such as teachers, or who regularly has contact with children. Unfortunately, many accusations of this crime are completely unfounded, and often based upon feelings of revenge or anger, lies, or in situations involving a custody dispute in an effort to gain custody of a child. Considering this crime has grown to almost epic proportions today, many prosecutors are more interested in proving the child's accusations rather than determining what the truth of the matter really is. We urge those who have been accused of child molestation to contact the criminal defense attorneys at The Justice Firm immediately.

Under California Penal Code 647.6 PC, child molestation may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending upon whether the individual accused has a past felony conviction for a sex crime involving a minor.

If charged as a misdemeanor and convicted, the penalties you face include a fine of up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

If you are convicted of felony child molestation, the punishment becomes harsher and includes prison time of two, four, or six years. Other penalties may apply as well if you are convicted of entering an inhabited building, trailer coach, or dwelling without permission for the purpose of molesting a child.

Ultimately, child molestation encompasses a broad range of actions committed against a child, including fondling, touching, exposure of genitals to a child, direct sexual contact, and even exposing a minor child to pictures or videos of materials which are sexually explicit. This means that the penalties you may face if convicted vary depending on the nature of the offense.

It is also important to note that any individual convicted of this criminal offense may be required to register as a sex offender under California Penal Code section 290. As a registered sex offender, you will be required to update your registration on a yearly basis as long as you reside, work, or attend school in the state of California. Your information will also be available to the public on the Department of Justice sex offender website. Registered sex offenders often face devastating consequences, as most are shunned by society and face career barriers, including difficulty finding employment.

As you can see, allegations of child molestation should be taken very seriously. At The Justice Firm, we realize that many innocent people are falsely accused of committing crimes of a sexual nature against children. We also know that without a qualified Los Angeles child molestation attorney in your corner, you may find yourself facing devastating and life-changing consequences, including not only prison or jail time, but ruin of your career, reputation, even your family life.

We urge you to contact our office today for outstanding legal guidance and representation. Call us now at 866-695-6714; we are ready to begin work on your case!