Sex Crimes Lawyer Calabasas, CA

You never thought it would come to this. The accusation may be a misunderstanding, exaggerated, or false. In Calabasas, CA, a sex crime allegation can put prison, PC 290 registration, and your reputation at risk before a case is even filed. What you do in the first 48 hours matters.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends people accused of sex crimes in Calabasas, CA — with offices across Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties) as well as Central and Northern California (Kern, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Fresno, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Sonoma, Alameda, San Joaquin, and San Francisco counties, and beyond). When you call us, you're getting a team that's ready to help, whatever you need.

We give you someone you can count on. Call (800) 755-5174 or use our online contact form to get help from your Calabasas, CA, sex crimes lawyer.

President David S. Chesley, Calabasas, CA, criminal defense since June 2005, SBN 236611.

The Realities of a Calabasas, CA, Sex Crime Charge

A sex crime charge is not a typical misdemeanor or even a typical felony. A conviction can mean:

• Months or even years behind bars
• Years (or even a lifetime) on the sex offender registry
• Public Megan's Law listing in many cases
• Employment, licensing, housing, custody, and immigration consequences
• A federal firearms ban and, in some cases, passport restrictions

Don't wait while the prosecution builds a case against you. Call your Calabasas, CA, sex crimes lawyer and start building your defense now.

Arrested for a Sex Crime in Calabasas, CA? Take These Steps Now

• Don't reach out to the alleged victim — No matter what your intentions are, it's a bad idea. Doing so often just looks like intimidating the alleged victim.
• When interviewed, don't answer questions. Be respectful, but don't answer any questions. Instead, request to speak with your attorney.
• Decline any search requests if investigators don't have a warrant and without checking with your Calabasas, CA, sex crimes lawyer first.
• Gather any evidence you can find. Deletion can be a crime in and of itself, and make you look guilty.
• Write a private timeline for your lawyer only: Without a full picture, they won't be able to build a complete defense.
• Obey all conditions of release — if you don't, it can make you look guilty.
• Get counselling/mental health support — handling criminal charges is stressful, and it's normal to need some professional help.

Together with your Calabasas, CA, sex charge defense attorney, you can set your case up for a positive outcome.

Charges a Calabasas, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help You Fight

Rape and Sexual Assault

Rape and sexual assault are probably the worst types of sex crimes to be charged with in Calabasas, CA. Rape, in particular, is treated extremely harshly for allegedly using force to coerce someone into sexual intercourse. Sexual assault, meanwhile, is a catch-all term for several violent sex crimes (often including rape and sexual battery).

In the past, California has separate laws for rape between spouses versus general rape. However, this was repealed and does not apply today.

Child Sex Crimes

In California, child molestation is not covered by a single law, but is a category for acts such as lewd acts with a child and the sexual abuse of a child. California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law, so it's illegal for an adult to have sex with a minor even if they are close in age.

Statutory Rape

Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor is a misdemeanor or a wobbler depending on ages. Important 2026 change: for offenses on or after January 1, 2026, SB 680 added certain PC § 261.5(c) and (d) convictions to PC § 290. Those cases can require Tier 1 (10-year) registration, unless the defendant was not more than 10 years older than the minor and that is the only registerable conviction. Courts can still order registration under PC § 290.006. Offenses before January 1, 2026 are not brought onto the registry by SB 680. This should be analyzed before any plea.

Online and Digital Sex Crimes

Online and digital sex crimes can be particularly complicated in California. Sending harmful material to a person believed to be a minor can violate PC § 288.2, even if the recipient is an adult posing as a minor. Prosecutors must prove the required knowledge and intent, including intent to arouse sexual desire and to engage in specified sexual conduct with that person. A belief about age alone does not make every message described as sexting this offense. Sexting can also overlap with stalking charges.

Deepfake Sexual Content

Deepfake sexual content can result in both criminal and civil liabilities. On the criminal side, California Penal Code section 647(j)(4)(A)(ii) can apply when an adult intentionally creates and distributes, or causes distribution of, a realistic intimate depiction of an identifiable person. The image must appear authentic to a reasonable person; the distributor must know or reasonably should know that distribution will cause serious emotional distress, and the depicted person must suffer that distress. Statutory exceptions also apply. A violation generally carries up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine; under section 647(k), a repeat subdivision (j) offense or a minor victim can increase the maximum to one year and $2,000.

Human Trafficking

Sex trafficking is charged under Penal Code § 236.1(b) and (c) and carries some of the most severe penalties available in Calabasas, CA, court. Subdivision (b) covers depriving someone of their liberty to commit pimping, pandering, or child pornography offenses, punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. Subdivision (c) covers persuading or attempting to persuade a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and can carry 15 years to life when force, fear, fraud, or coercion is used. A conviction requires lifetime Tier 3 sex offender registration. These cases frequently overlap with pimping and pandering allegations and often turn on financial records, communications, and the alleged victim's own statements.

Related Charges

In Calabasas, CA, we also defend indecent exposure (PC § 314), lewd conduct in public (PC § 647(a)), failure to register (PC § 290.018), prostitution and solicitation (PC § 647(b)), pimping/pandering (PC §§ 266h, 266i), incest (PC § 285), aggravated sexual assault of a child (PC § 269), and assault with intent to commit a sex offense (PC § 220). Former § 653.22 loitering-with-intent cases are historical because that provision was repealed effective January 1, 2023; former convictions have a separate relief path under § 653.29. Those pages are linked from the list below.

Accused of a Below Sex Crime? Call Us Today

Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child · AI-Generated / Deepfake Sexual Content · Annoying or Molesting a Child · Arranging a Meeting With a Minor · Assault with Intent to Commit a Sex Offense · Child Molestation (PC 288) · Child Pornography · Enticing a Minor · Failure to Register · Human Trafficking (Sex Trafficking) · Incest · Indecent Exposure · Lewd Acts · Lewd Conduct in Public · Loitering to Commit Prostitution · Oral Copulation by Force · Oral Copulation or Sodomy With a Minor · Penetration by Force · Pimping and Pandering · Prostitution / Solicitation · Rape · Revenge Porn · Sex With a Minor / Statutory Rape · Sexting Involving Minors · Sexual Abuse · Sexual Assault · Sexual Battery · Sodomy by Force

How a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Calabasas, CA

Pre-filing and investigation. The best way to beat a criminal charge is to avoid having it filed in the first place. You don't have to wait until you're under arrest to get an attorney — our sex crime defense attorneys can help you the moment police contact you. We will guide you through interviews, negotiate with authorities, and set the ground for a strong legal defense, should it become necessary.

Discovery and forensics. Evidence can play a major role in sex crime cases. We'll not only look at everything that the state has discovered, but also conduct our own investigations to find anything that can help your defense.

Motions. Suppression. The right motions can set your case up for success. In addition to motions we commonly file (like suppression and dismissal), in sex crime cases we often file a motion to suppress identification. Unfortunately, misidentification can occur more often than it should in criminal cases, and sex crimes are no exception.

Negotiation. Many criminal charges in Calabasas, CA, end in plea deals. With relationships in courts across California, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are ready to negotiate on your behalf.

Trial and sentencing. If the case should be tried, we try it. If there is a conviction, we litigate strikes, enhancements, and PC 290 placement.

What to Look for in Your Calabasas, CA Sex Crimes Lawyer

• Experience with your case type
• Willingness to do pre-charge work, not only arraignment-to-plea
• A defense strategy that you can understand
• Easy to contact and get updates on your case
• A record of results in Calabasas, CA, courts — not just a list of charges

Penalties (General Statutory Ranges)

Enhancements (great bodily injury, weapon use, multiple victims, age of the complaining witness, prior strikes) change these numbers. . A rape conviction can also carry a separate PC § 264 restitution fine directed to victim assistance programs.

What You Need to Know About the Sex Offender Registry in California

If convicted, many sex crimes require you to register at one of the three below tiers:

• Tier 1 — normally a 10-year period on the registry. 5 years in some juvenile cases. Examples: most misdemeanor sex offenses fall into this tier, and some non-violent felony offenses.
• Tier 2 — 20 years for adults, but 10 years for some juveniles. Examples: incest, some rape cases, and penetration with a foreign object.
• Tier 3 — lifetime for the most serious offenses (e.g., sex trafficking of a child, sodomy by force, forcible rape) and certain repeat or high-risk designations.

After the minimum period, Tier 1 and Tier 2 registrants may petition for termination under PC § 290.5 if they meet the statutory criteria. Tier 3 is different — relief, if any, is narrower. Failure to register is its own crime. Your Calabasas, CA, sex crimes lawyer should treat registry exposure as a charging and plea issue from day one, not an afterthought at sentencing.

Defenses Our Calabasas, CA, Sex Crimes Lawyers Use

• Consent can be a powerful defense and/or mitigating factor — so long as the alleged victim had the capacity to give it
• In some cases, mistakes about the age of the other person can be used as a defense. This is most applicable in statutory or other minor-related cases, and isn't applicable in some others
• False or motivated accusation False accusations — unfortunately, some people will make up criminal accusations in order to get something they want
• Identity / alibi
• Failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against you — when the prosecution fails to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, your attorney can use that to sway the jury
• Unlawful search of phones and cloud accounts
• Child interviews that were coached or led to a certain end
• Entrapment, when law enforcement goes too far in convincing the alleged offender
• Technical issues with the way the case was filed

This isn't just about defense strategies; this is about telling your side of the story in a convincing way, whether it's too a district attorney, a judge, or a jury.

Recent Sex Offense Case Results

• Soliciting a Prostitute (PC § 647(b)) and Loitering with Intent to Commit Prostitution (PC § 653.22) — All Charges Dismissed. Our client was accused of soliciting a prostitute who was actually a police officer. We negotiated a diversionary program and the dismissal of all charges.
• Statutory Rape (PC § 261.5) — Avoided Jail and Sex Offender Registration; Charges to be Dismissed. Our client was accused of statutory rape, a wobbler offense that could have resulted in incarceration, followed by a lifetime on the sex offender registry. Through skillful negotiation, we secured a deal that avoided prison, avoided the sex offender registry, and presented the possibility of all changes of being dismissed, after a probation period..
• Rape (PC § 261) — Facing 25 Years to Life, All Charges Dismissed Before Trial. Our client was potentially up against 25 years in prison and a lifetime on the sex offender registry. They were present at an event where a woman was assaulted, but they took no part in it. The state charged them with rape, but we were able to argue in the preliminary hearing that the charges were not applicable due to our client's lack of participation. All charges were dismissed.
• Kidnapping (PC § 207) and Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor (PC § 261.5) — Our Defense Protected Our Client From 6 Years in Prison and Sex Offender Registration. By evaluating the evidence and presenting a narrative of consent, our lawyers secured a deal that released our client, crediting them for time served, with no strike and no sex offender registration.
• Child Molestation (PC § 288) and Sodomy with a Child Under 10 (PC § 288.7) — Defense Secured Dismissal of Charges, Avoiding Prison and Sex Offender Registration. A conviction of these charges would have sent our client to prison for life, along with permanent sex offender registration. We demonstrated that the allegations had been fabricated, and the court dismissed all charges at the preliminary hearing. Our client's reputation is also protected, as there are no public records of this case.

While past cases can help inform you on a firm's abilities, they do not necessarily represent results for a future case. Every case in Calabasas, CA, is evaluated on its own facts, and results depend on the specific evidence and circumstances involved.

Frequently Asked Questions for Sex Accusations in Calabasas, CA

If I didn't do it, should I still contact a sex crimes lawyer?
Yes. A denial alone may not put relevant messages, witnesses or timeline evidence before investigators. Counsel can preserve records, review interview or search requests and identify the elements the state would have to prove. An innocent person may still be investigated or charged; representation cannot guarantee that prosecutors decline a filing. Do not ask an accuser or witness to change a statement, especially if a contact order applies.

How will a sex crime conviction in Calabasas, CA, affect immigration status?
It could, but the result depends on the precise conviction and the person's immigration history. Some convictions create serious immigration problems; neither deportation nor citizenship denial follows automatically from the broad label “sex crime.” Criminal and immigration counsel should review the proposed statutory disposition before a plea, including whether a different lawful outcome changes the analysis.

Is it possible for sex crime charges to be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes, after examination of the actual count, evidence, motions and lawful negotiation. A missing public report, disputed accusation or prior firm result cannot promise dismissal. A proposed reduction should be assessed for custody, registration and immigration consequences as well as its title. The court process and decision depend on the specific case.

Are people convicted of stautory rape put on the sex offender registry?
For specified Penal Code § 261.5 convictions based on conduct committed on or after January 1, 2026, § 290 now requires a case-specific review. The statute includes an exception when the person was not more than ten years older than the minor and the conviction is that person's only registrable offense; § 290.006 also allows separate court-ordered registration. The offense date, subdivision, age evidence and entire record must be checked before a plea. Do not assume every § 261.5 allegation has the same registry result.

If I'm on the sex offender registry, what rules do I have to follow?
Initial registration, changes of residence or other information, periodic updates and other circumstances can have different instructions. A tier label alone does not state every duty, and probation or parole terms may add separate conditions. Keep proof of compliance, check a move or travel plan against the current instructions and obtain advice before assuming a dismissal or minimum-period expiration ends registration.

Do You Need a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Calabasas, CA? Call David Chesley

These charges can change your life. If you don't have the right attorney at your side, you could face consequences that last for decades. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley will help you evaluate your options and make the best choice to move forward.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley is ready to take your case. If you need a sex crimes lawyer in Calabasas, CA, call us right away at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to start building your defense.