Sex Crimes - San Francisco & Oakland Sex Crimes Attorney | Bay Area Prostitution Lawyer

"Sex crimes" is a general area of crime that includes molestation or lewd conduct with a minor, rape, child pornography, internet or cyber crimes, prostitution, sexual battery, indecent exposure and others. Charges of molestation can be initiated by a SINGLE complaint by a single person and are some of the most serious charges a criminal defendant can face. Sex crimes can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony but are usually charged as a felony. Sex crimes usually carry a maximum sentence of three, six or eight years in state prison for each individual act and these full sentences can be added together for each act committed if force is proven. Many laws relating to molestation and other sex offenses now can result in criminal defendants being sentenced to life imprisonment or to sentences ranging from a few years in prison to hundreds of years in prison. Also, many sex crimes do not allow probation and require mandatory state prison. A conviction for Molestation almost always results in life-time registration as a sex-offender. A prosecutor can charge these offenses under many sections of the Penal Code including the following sections: 243, 243.4, 261, 261.5, 288, 288.5, 289, 647.

Thus, whether you are suspected of having committed a felony or misdemeanor sex crime or have already been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor sex crime, it is essential that you secure the highest quality criminal defense attorney for yourself, family member or friend. Seth P. Chazin is a San Francisco and Oakland Criminal Defense Lawyer who specializes in sex crimes cases and who has an excellent record of success in defending clients accused of various sex of crimes. Mr. Chazin has won acquittals (NOT GUILTY verdicts) in sex crimes cases where the client was accused of rape, child molestation and similar charges. He has successfully represented clients in felony and misdemeanor sex crimes cases in both Federal and state court.

We use an aggressive, concerted plan of attack to defend you and your rights! Here are just some of the methods SETH P. CHAZIN regularly uses in successfully defending clients accused of sex crimes such as cyber crimes, possession of pornography, molestation, rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure and other related charges:

initiate a private investigation immediately including background investigation of key witnesses
photographs, videos, tape recordings
conduct witness interviews including interviews of eyewitnesses, victims, police, informants, etc
polygraph examinations
use doctors or other experts to analyze physical evidence and conduct forensic examinations
Use psychiatrists or psychologists to prepare psychological evaluations

Molestation/Lewd Act with a Minor refers to any lewd or lascivious act upon, or with the body of, a person under the age of 14, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust or sexual desires of that person or the child.

Rape charges are used where sexual intercourse/contact occurred without the consent of the alleged victim and the act involved violence or force, duress, menace or fear of harm.

Statutory rape or Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor means sexual intercourse with a female below the legal age of consent (18) but above the age of a child (14). Even if the person under the age of 14 has knowingly, willingly, and with mutual consent, participated in sexual intercourse with an adult, and refuses to cooperate with the state, charges can still be filed against the adult involved. There are additional laws and penalties imposed when a person of authority such as a teacher, priest, or member of the community held in high esteem engages in sexual relations with any person under the age of 18.

Date Rape is forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquaintance of a woman, during a voluntary social engagement in which the woman did not intend to submit to the sexual advances and resisted. The fact that the socializing was voluntary and the parties were acquainted is not a defense to this type of charge.

Possession or Distribution of Child Pornography is charged where pornographic materials portray any person(s) under the age of 18. Child pornography laws are being utilized to prosecute the use of computers to obtain and distribute pornographic images involving minors.

Prostitution, solicitation, pandering or pimping may be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors in California. Prostitution is an allegation of giving or receiving money for sexual intercourse or any other sexual acts. Pimping is charged for soliciting acts of prostitution or pandering on behalf of another.

Lewd acts, lascivious conduct and indecent exposure are usually charged as misdemeanors in California. These crimes involve public sexual acts or the exposing of the genitals in a public place.

Victories/Successful Defenses

ALL CHARGES DISMISSED IN MAJOR GANG RAPE CASE: client, charged with two other defendants in Oakland, Alameda County, California, allegedly drugged and gang-raped a 19 year-old woman. Extensive defense fact and forensic investigation and disclosure of impeachment evidence cause all charges to be dropped against client who was facing more than forty years in prison. Additional charges of possession of marijuana for sale, forgery and receiving stolen property also dismissed.

CASE DISMISSED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE - Client was charged with possession of many images of child pornography in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California. Client actually confessed to possession of the child pornography and destroyed some computer components which the police later found. However, forensic analysis and legal research, along with tough negotiations and aggressive stance with the district attorney resulted in all charges being dismissed after we proved that there was no way to prove that the client knowingly possessed child pornography.

A pre-file allegation of rape by a teenager who had been befriended by the family was never prosecuted after client passed a polygraph and his verifiable explanations were communicated to the District Attorney - NO CHARGES FILED.

Prostitution charges dismissed, followed by a factual finding of innocence, so that the defendant has NO criminal record.

NOT GUILTY verdicts or mistrials/dismissals: People vs. Michael Gardner, People vs. Michael Lee, People vs. Wahid Khugiani, People vs. Kevin Larry and others.

2004 - Alleged child Molest - NO CHARGES FILED
2003 - Alleged child Molest - NO CHARGES FILED
2002 - Alleged child Molest - NO CHARGES FILED

Major federal wiretap case with 20+ Co-defendants, client accused of Importation of Prostitutes. Client was refugee, raised in U.S. facing 20 years in prison and deportation – CLIENT NOT DEPORTED, ADMITTED LESSER OFFENSE, SERVED MINIMUM TIME.

Sex Offender Registration-Meagan's List- We convinced the Department of Justice in TWO separate cases to remove each client from the Meagan's List database.

Client committed child molest against his daughter every week for more than one year. Daughter had previously been a victim of rape by a stranger during a home invasion robbery. CLIENT GRANTED PROBATION - DID NOT HAVE TO SERVE A SINGLE DAY IN JAIL.

DID YOU KNOW? There IS a way to eliminate the obligation to register as a sex-offender for certain sex offenses? First, you must obtain an expungement pursuant to Penal Code section 1203.4.from the court in which you were convicted. Then you must obtain a Certificate of Rehabilitation from your county of residence. Call.....for immediate assistance to determine whether your obligation to register as a sex-offender can be deleted.

DID YOU KNOW? If you have been notified of an investigation BUT NOT YET CHARGED - it is extremely important to start your defense IMMEDIATELY. Mr. Chazin has had a very high rate of success in seeing that charges are never filed when he is retained to defend his client BEFORE CHARGES ARE FILED.