Child molestation charges in Redwood City, California, can impact your life in many ways. A conviction for a sex crime involving a child could result in a prison sentence, fines, and collateral consequences. It could also severely injure your professional and personal life. The first step in protecting your rights is to hire an experienced Redwood City criminal defense lawyer.
Our criminal lawyers at Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys, have over 30 years of combined experience. Since ou founding, our law firm has stood for the rights of the accused in Redwood City and throughout Northern California. Our attorneys have won over 3,000 cases and successfully argued in over 50 trials.
Call (650) 299-0500 or contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Redwood City child molestation lawyers. We provide compassionate, trusted, and effective legal representation during this challenging time in your life.
How Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Can Help You With a Child Molestation Charge in Redwood City, California
Our legal team includes a California State Bar Certified Specialist in criminal law. We approach each case with a fierce dedication to protecting our clients’ rights. Our lawyers and legal staff believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we show that in everything we do to help you fight criminal charges.
When you hire our top-rated Redwood City sex crimes attorneys, you can trust that we will:
- Complete a thorough examination of the evidence in your case
- Investigate the circumstances that led to the child molestation charges
- Work with expert witnesses, including forensic specialists, child psychologists, and medical experts, as necessary, to strengthen your case
- Determine if law enforcement or the prosecution violated your civil rights
- Aggressively advocate for your rights in court
- Negotiate fair terms for a plea deal if that is in your best interest
- Take your case to trial and argue before a jury if litigation is the best defense strategy for you
Facing a child molestation charge can be frightening and overwhelming. Call Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys for a free case evaluation from an experienced child molestation lawyer in Redwood City, CA.
Child Molestation Laws in California
Child molestation is a serious crime in California that can result in lengthy prison sentences, registration as a sex offender, and other criminal penalties. Molestation occurs when someone engages in sexual acts with minors. Several California criminal laws apply to child molestation charges, including, but not limited to:
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child
California Penal Code §288.5 defines continuous sexual abuse of a child. It is illegal for a person to engage in three or more lewd or lascivious acts that involve substantial sexual conduct with a child under 14 years old within a period of three months or longer.
Annoying or Molesting a Child
Molesting or annoying a child is illegal under California Penal Code §647.6. The law prohibits a person from engaging in sexual behavior that is likely to disturb, upset, or be seen by a minor. Physical contact is not required. All that is required is that the speech is motivated by a sexual interest in a child or children.
Lewd and Lascivious Acts With a Child
California Penal Code §288 makes it illegal to engage in any lewd conduct with a child under 14 years old for sexual gratification. Lewd conduct includes directly touching a child’s body or allowing a child to touch someone else’s body. Kissing a child in a sexual manner would be illegal under this statute.
The contact does not need to be made on the skin. Touching through clothing can result in this charge.
Oral Copulation With a Child
Oral copulation with a child is illegal under California Penal Code §287. It is the act of using the mouth to come into contact with another person’s sexual organs or anus for sexual purposes.
What Are the Penalties for Child Molestation in Redwood City, CA?
Many of the child molestation laws are wobblers, so they may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Many aggravating factors determine the sentence for a sex crime involving a child, including the child’s age, the nature of the acts involved, the offender’s criminal history, the use of dangerous weapons, and the use of threats or violence.
A conviction for child molestation can include decades in state prison, thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and registration as a sex offender. You could lose your professional license and your job. Child molestation charges may also result in losing child custody and visitation.
Defenses to Child Molestation in Redwood City, CA
Our legal team analyzes the evidence and circumstances in your case to determine a defense strategy. Potential defenses to child molestation may include:
- Alibi for the time of the alleged offenses
- Lack of evidence proving the legal requirements for the crime
- A witness or other party identified the wrong party (i.e., mistaken identity)
- Entrapment by law enforcement officers
- The allegations are false, such as a spouse using child molestation allegations to gain an advantage in a custody case
We treat each case individually. Your defense will depend on the specific facts of your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Redwood City Child Molestation Attorney
You do not have to face this problem alone. Our legal team at Ahmed & Sukaram, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys, will help you protect your legal rights. Call us today to schedule a free case review with our Redwood City child molestation attorneys.