Los Angeles Murder Defense Lawyers

Rape and Sexual Assault

Sex-related crimes are prominently featured in the three strikes law. However, not every rape or sexual assault crime is a strike for the purposes of the law. Sexual assault strike crimes include:

• Forcible rape of a female, forcible sodomy, forcible sexual penetration, forcible oral copulation or any lewd or lascivious act with a minor under 14 years old.
• Rape, sodomy, sexual penetration or oral copulation by threats of force or retaliation
• Rape, sodomy or sexual penetration in concert ("gang rape")
• Rape, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration or lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14
• Continuous sexual abuse of a child
• Aggravated sexual assault of a child

These laws apply even when the victim is married to the accused. Penalties for sex-related crimes are very severe, especially for crimes involving children. Those convicted can expect long prison sentences and multiple post-conviction penalties, including life long sex offender registration requirements.

Wallin & Klarich is one of the most experienced law firms in Southern California when it comes to sexual assault and abuse crimes. We are proud to say that we have represented the California Teachers Association for more than 20 years and are frequently called on to defend educators accused of sex offenses. This specialized experience has allowed us to build a substantial expertise on sex crimes defense.

Fortunately, there are many defenses against a sex-related criminal charge. Since many sex crimes are "he said, she said" crimes without other witnesses, we work to build credibility for our clients through the undisputed facts, private investigation, psychological profiles and more. In cases involving children, we look for evidence that false charges come from coercion or a misplaced desire to please adults. If possible, we will also work our hardest to get a sex-related strike charge reduced or changed to a charge not involving force or duress that is not a strike.

The California rape defense lawyers of Wallin & Klarich have more than 30 years of legal experience and have successfully defended thousands of Californians accused of serious criminal charges. We know the law on rape and other sex crimes, and we know how to use it to prove our clients' innocence. Because we know how stressful a criminal charge is for our clients and their families, we also strive to defend each case as if we were defending a member of our own families. We promise to be available to our clients at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. And with more than 20 offices stretching from San Diego to Ventura County, we can be there for you, wherever you are.

If you or someone you care about is charged with a sex-related crime, you should contact Wallin & Klarich as soon as possible for a free consultation. You can call us at 1-888-287-3485 or fill out our confidential Web contact form.

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach every case with the belief that the person we're defending could easily be one of our own family members. We've seen firsthand how stressful legal matters can be for our clients and their loved ones. We are committed to being available to our clients at all times -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Southern California, you should call Wallin & Klarich today for a free evaluation of your case. Call 1-888-287-3485 or fill out our online consultation form to get in contact with a legal professional today. We will be there when you call.