Ventura Sexual Crime Defense Lawyers
If you or a family member has been arrested, and is now facing criminal charges for a sex offense in Ventura County or Santa Barbara County, your future and your reputation are at stake. Not only can such charges carry heavy penalties in California, they can also hold significant implications for your personal and professional life. The social stigma against sex offenders is rightfully severe, but unfortunately, it is all too common that individuals are wrongfully accused and forced to endure a life of shame that they do not deserve.
At The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, our Ventura defense attorneys are dedicated to advocating on behalf of accused individuals to ensure their rights are protected. Our criminal lawyers have numerous accolades and professional accomplishments that set us apart from other firms. Over the 22-year career of our primary attorney, Mr. Ron S. Bamieh, he has built a reputation for handling tough, complex cases. He was named to the list of Super Lawyers ® and has been rated 10.0 Superb by Avvo, Inc. These are testaments to the personalized and skillful criminal defense that he provides, and our law firm’s overall mission to fight for our clients’ rights. Call us today at (805) 643-5555 for a free consultation about your case.
Types of Sex Crimes Our Ventura Defense Lawyers Handle
“Sex crime” is a broad term that includes multiple criminal offenses. Many sex crimes are felonies in California, while several are misdemeanors or “wobblers,” meaning crimes that can be prosecuted as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances. The criminal attorneys of our California defense law firm are equipped with the skill, knowledge, dedication, and experience to aggressively defend clients accused of committing a wide array of offenses. Types of sex crime charges we handle include, but are not limited to:
- Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
- Distribution of Child Pornography
- Indecent Exposure
- Lewd Acts with a Child (Child Molestation)
- Lewdness
- Pandering
- Pimping
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Prostitution
- Rape
- Sexual Battery
- Solicitation
- Statutory Rape
- Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
We defend clients throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, including Camarillo, Carpinteria, Fillmore, Goleta, Isla Vista, Lompoc, Moorpark, Orcutt, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Maria, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and other communities in the local area.
Sex Offender Registration and Prison Sentencing in CA
Like other types of criminal charges, sex crime charges vary in severity depending on multiple factors, such as the age of the victim and the details surrounding the alleged crime. For instance, sex crimes that were allegedly committed against children under the age of 14 often come with harsher penalties than other offenses prosecuted in California.
Lewdness is one example of a common charge, though not a common term. The state regards lewd acts with a child to be touching a child anywhere on his or her body for sexual purposes. Penalties for lewd acts with a child include up to eight years in a California State Prison, a strike under the California “Three Strikes” Law, and additional penalties for related offenses. As each crime has a unique maximum sentence, this is just one example of the myriad consequences that can result from a single conviction involving a sexual offense.
While all of the penalties can be severe, the worst consequence is arguably the mandatory requirement for sex offender registration. You will likely be required to register as a sex offender for even the smallest of charges, which is permanent and requires that you notify authorities every time you move. Your name will be listed in a registry that is accessible by all members of the public – including friends, relatives, landlords, and employers – which can be frustrating, embarrassing, and damaging to your relationships and professional life. Moreover, the failure to register as a sex offender can cause you to be criminally prosecuted.
Ventura Sex Crime Attorneys for Felonies and Misdemeanors
The unfortunate reality of the nature of these charges is that alleged sex crimes often involve false accusations, and rarely involve witnesses. Behavior may be misinterpreted, or an angry individual may pose as a victim to get revenge against another party or gain the upper hand in a child custody case. These cases are extremely hard to defend as they involve substantial he-said-she-said accusations. For this reason, it is absolutely essential to have a highly skilled defense attorney on your side before and during any trial for a sex crime in California’s courts.
Our Ventura law firm can work with you to understand the circumstances surrounding your case without judgment. We will keep you informed throughout the process, and will compile all evidence to see that your rights and your freedoms are protected. If you retain our services, you can feel confident knowing that we will do everything in our power to fight for you while acting with compassion, professionalism, and efficiency.
Don’t let your life be tarnished by wrongful accusations of sex offenses in California. Put our highly trusted legal professionals in your corner. For a free legal consultation with a sex crimes lawyer in Ventura or Santa Barbara County, contact The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC at (805) 643-5555 today.
