Accused of a Sex Crime in Los Angeles? Your Defense Starts Now

Confidential Defense Against Sex Crime Charges, Registration Consequences, and False Accusations Across Los Angeles County. 20 Years of Results.

Los Angeles
Sex Crime Attorney

If you have been accused of a sex crime in Los Angeles, your freedom, your reputation, and your future are at risk the moment an accusation is made. Sex crime charges carry some of the most severe penalties in the California Penal Code, and a conviction triggers mandatory sex offender registration that follows you for the rest of your life. You do not have to be convicted for an accusation to destroy your career, your relationships, and your standing in the community. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years defending clients against sex crime charges in Los Angeles County. Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation with a sex crime attorney who will protect your rights, challenge the evidence, and fight for your future from day one.

Accused of a Sex Crime in Los Angeles? Do Not Wait to Get an Attorney

Sex crime investigations in Los Angeles move fast. Law enforcement begins building a case from the moment an accusation is made, often before any charges are formally filed. Detectives conduct recorded interviews, collect digital evidence, and secure witness statements while the events are fresh. Every day you wait to retain an experienced sex crime attorney is a day the prosecution has the advantage.

Here is what every person accused of a sex crime in Los Angeles needs to understand immediately:

Do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present. Detectives are trained to obtain incriminating statements. Even an innocent explanation can be mischaracterized and used against you. Exercise your right to remain silent and contact our firm immediately.
An accusation is not a conviction. Sex crime accusations are sometimes false, exaggerated, or the product of misunderstanding, a contentious relationship, or an ulterior motive. Our firm investigates the full background of every accusation thoroughly.
Early intervention matters. In many cases, our firm contacts investigators and prosecutors before charges are formally filed, presents exculpatory evidence, and challenges the basis for the investigation. This early work frequently prevents charges from being filed or results in significantly reduced charges at the outset.
Digital evidence is collected immediately. Text messages, emails, social media activity, and location data are preserved and analyzed by law enforcement early in the investigation. Our firm works to obtain and challenge this evidence before it can be used to build a case against you.

Contact The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi the moment you become aware of an investigation or accusation. The earlier we are involved, the more options you have.

Sex Crime Charges We Defend Aganst in California

Rape (Penal Code § 261)

Rape is defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse accomplished by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate bodily injury. It is a felony carrying 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison, with substantial enhancements for aggravating circumstances. Rape convictions require lifetime sex offender registration under California’s tiered registration system.

Sexual Battery (Penal Code § 243.4)

Sexual battery involves touching an intimate part of another person without consent for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. It can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances. Felony sexual battery carries 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison and mandatory sex offender registration. Our firm challenges the elements of intent and consent in every sexual battery case.

Lewd Acts with a Minor (Penal Code § 288)

Lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age are among the most seriously prosecuted sex offenses in California. A conviction carries 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison with significant enhancements for force or duress. Lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old when the defendant is more than 10 years older carries 1, 2, or 3 years. All convictions require mandatory sex offender registration.

Child Pornography (Penal Code § 311)

Possession, distribution, production, or importation of child pornography is a felony in California, and federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2252 carry mandatory minimum sentences of 5 to 20 years in federal prison. Our firm defends child pornography charges at both the state and federal level, scrutinizing how digital evidence was obtained, whether search warrants were properly authorized, and the chain of custody for all electronic devices.

Statutory Rape (Penal Code § 261.5)

Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor is a wobbler offense in California, meaning it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the age difference between the parties. A felony conviction carries up to 4 years in state prison. Statutory rape does not require proof that the defendant knew the alleged victim was a minor. Our firm challenges the factual basis of these charges and pursues every available reduction or diversion option.

Indecent Exposure (Penal Code § 314)

Willfully exposing your genitals in a public place with the intent to direct public attention to them is a misdemeanor for a first offense but becomes a felony upon a second conviction or if the exposure occurred in the presence of a child. Even a misdemeanor conviction triggers mandatory sex offender registration. Our firm challenges the element of willful intent and the circumstances of the alleged exposure in every case.

Prostitution and Solicitation (Penal Code § 647(b))

Engaging in or soliciting an act of prostitution is a misdemeanor under California law, but repeated convictions, involvement in human trafficking, or promotion of prostitution can result in felony charges. Our firm examines the conduct of law enforcement in sting operations, challenges entrapment defenses, and pursues dismissal or diversion wherever eligibility exists.

Sexual Assault (Penal Code § 243.4 / § 262)

Sexual assault charges encompass a range of non-consensual sexual conduct beyond rape, including spousal rape and unwanted sexual touching. These charges are prosecuted seriously in Los Angeles and carry significant prison exposure and mandatory registration consequences. Our firm builds a comprehensive defense addressing consent, the credibility of the allegations, and the physical and digital evidence in every case.

Internet Sex Crimes and Online Solicitation (Penal Code § 288.2 / § 288.4)

Sending harmful matter to a minor with the intent to seduce, or arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, are felony offenses that Los Angeles law enforcement pursues aggressively through undercover operations. Our firm challenges the constitutionality of sting operations, the element of intent, and the admissibility of digital communications in every internet sex crime case.

The Sex Offender Registry in California: What a Conviction Means for Your Life

One of the most devastating consequences of a sex crime conviction in California is mandatory registration as a sex offender under Penal Code § 290. California’s sex offender registry is tiered, with registration requirements ranging from 10 years to lifetime depending on the offense and the defendant’s risk assessment.

Tier One Registration (10 Years Minimum): Tier one applies to lower-level offenses including misdemeanor sexual battery and misdemeanor indecent exposure. Registrants must register annually with local law enforcement and may petition for removal after 10 years if they have not reoffended.

Tier Two Registration (20 Years Minimum): Tier two applies to mid-level offenses including lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old and certain non-forcible sex offenses. Registrants must register annually and may petition for removal after 20 years.

Tier Three Registration (Lifetime): Tier three applies to the most serious sex offenses including rape, forcible lewd acts with a child under 14, child pornography production, and any offense where the defendant is assessed as a high risk. Lifetime registrants appear on the public Megan’s Law database, face residential restrictions, and must register with law enforcement every 90 days.

Sex offender registration affects where you can live, where you can work, your ability to travel internationally, your professional licenses, and your relationships. It is one of the most far-reaching consequences of any criminal conviction in California, and our firm fights to avoid it at every stage of the defense.

Removing Your Name from the Sex Offender Registry

California’s tiered sex offender registration system allows certain registrants to petition for removal from the registry after completing their minimum registration period without reoffending. Tier one registrants may petition after 10 years; tier two registrants after 20 years. The process requires a formal petition to the superior court, notice to law enforcement, and a judicial determination that removal is appropriate.

Tier three lifetime registrants are generally not eligible for removal, though certain exceptions apply in limited circumstances where the offense involved a registrant who was a juvenile at the time of the offense. Our firm evaluates every eligible client’s removal petition and handles the full petition process from filing through hearing.

Sex Crime Penalties in California

Sex crime penalties in California depend on the specific charge, the age of the alleged victim, the use of force, and the defendant’s prior criminal history. The following represents the range of consequences defendants commonly face:

Rape (PC § 261): 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison; lifetime tier three sex offender registration
Lewd acts with a child under 14 (PC § 288): 3, 6, or 8 years; mandatory registration
Sexual battery felony (PC § 243.4): 2, 3, or 4 years; mandatory registration
Child pornography possession (PC § 311.11): 16 months, 2, or 3 years state prison; federal charges carry 5 to 20 year mandatory minimums
Statutory rape felony (PC § 261.5): up to 4 years in state prison
Internet solicitation of a minor (PC § 288.4): 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison
Continuous sexual abuse of a child (PC § 288.5): 6, 12, or 16 years in state prison

Sentence Enhancements in Sex Crime Cases:

Great bodily injury: additional 3 to 5 years
Victim under 14 years old: significant enhancements on most offenses
Multiple victims or multiple counts: consecutive sentencing
Prior sex crime convictions: doubled base sentences on many offenses
One Strike Law (PC § 667.61): mandatory 15 or 25 years to life for certain aggravated sex offenses

Beyond incarceration and registration, a sex crime conviction affects your employment, professional licenses, immigration status, housing, and personal relationships for the rest of your life. Our firm fights every consequence from the moment you contact us.

Legal Defense Against Sex Crime Charges in Los Angeles

Consent

Consent is a complete defense to rape, sexual battery, and many other sex crime charges. When the alleged conduct was consensual, our firm presents evidence of the nature of the relationship between the parties, prior communications, the circumstances surrounding the encounter, and any statements or conduct by the alleged victim that are inconsistent with the prosecution’s account. We challenge the prosecution’s characterization of the events and present the full factual picture to the jury.

False Allegations

Sex crime accusations are sometimes made falsely, driven by a contentious divorce or custody dispute, a desire for financial gain, retaliation for a ended relationship, or mental health issues affecting the accuser’s perception. Our firm investigates the background and motivations of every accuser thoroughly, examines prior statements for inconsistencies, and presents evidence of motive to fabricate where it exists.

Mistaken Identity

Misidentification occurs in sex crime cases, particularly those involving strangers, nighttime incidents, or trauma that impairs a victim’s ability to accurately perceive and remember the perpetrator. Our firm challenges identification procedures, presents alibi evidence, and where appropriate brings in expert testimony on the reliability of eyewitness memory and the effect of trauma on identification accuracy.

Insufficient Evidence

Sex crime prosecutions often depend heavily on the testimony of a single witness. When the physical evidence does not corroborate the accusation, when the alleged victim’s account contains internal inconsistencies, or when forensic evidence is absent or inconclusive, our firm challenges the sufficiency of the evidence at every stage, from preliminary hearing through closing argument.

Unlawful Search and Seizure

In internet sex crime, child pornography, and digital evidence cases, the Fourth Amendment is often the most powerful defense available. If law enforcement obtained digital evidence through an improperly authorized warrant, exceeded the scope of an authorized search, or violated your constitutional rights in the collection of electronic evidence, our firm files targeted suppression motions to exclude that evidence from trial.

Entrapment

Law enforcement conducts aggressive undercover sting operations targeting online solicitation, prostitution, and lewd conduct offenses in Los Angeles. If government agents induced you to commit an offense you would not have otherwise committed, an entrapment defense may be available. Our firm scrutinizes the conduct of undercover officers and the circumstances of every sting operation for entrapment.

Why Clients Charged with Sex Crimes in Los Angeles Trust The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi

Sex crime accusations carry devastating consequences the moment they are made, before any charges are filed and before any court appearance. You need a criminal defense attorney who moves immediately, investigates every angle of the accusation, and has the experience to fight these cases at every level of the process.

Over 20 Years of Sex Crime Defense in Los Angeles Courts: Our criminal defense attorney has defended clients against sex crime charges in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, from preliminary hearings and suppression motions through jury trials and appeals. We bring the courtroom depth that serious sex crime defense demands.
Complete Confidentiality from the First Call: We understand that a sex crime accusation is one of the most sensitive situations a person can face. Every aspect of our representation is handled with absolute discretion. Your privacy is protected at every stage of the process, from the initial consultation through the final resolution of your case.
One Attorney. Your Case. Personal Representation Throughout. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, Attorney Hashemi handles your case personally from the first call through the final resolution. You will never be handed to a junior associate or left without direct access to the attorney working your defense.
We Move Before Charges Are Formally Filed: In sex crime cases, the pre-filing stage is often the most critical window in the entire defense. Our firm contacts investigators and prosecutors early, presents exculpatory evidence, challenges the basis for the investigation, and works to prevent charges from being filed wherever possible. This approach has produced pre-filing dismissals and significant charge reductions for our clients.

Contact a Los Angeles Sex Crime Attorney Today

If you have been accused of a sex crime in Los Angeles, do not wait and do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present. A sex crime conviction carries consequences that last a lifetime, and the decisions made in the earliest stages of your defense will shape everything that follows.

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we have spent over 20 years defending clients against sex crime charges across Los Angeles County. Call our firm immediately or schedule a confidential consultation with Attorney Hashemi using our secure online system. We will review the facts of your case, explain your options, and build a defense strategy focused on protecting your record and your future.

Schedule a Free Consultation:

Phone: (310) 448-1529
Email: Info@hashemilaw.com
Address: 11845 W Olympic Blvd #520, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, with flexible scheduling options available, including weekend appointments.

We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers, serving clients accused of sex crimes across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Pasadena, and all surrounding communities. Contact our sex crime attorney today. Your defense starts the moment you call.