A 23-year-old man recently pleaded guilty to kidnapping a woman at gunpoint and raping her in a 2008 case that had gone cold until last year, The Los Angeles Times reports.
Our Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyer is the only Nationally Board Certified Criminal Trial lawyer in California who is also educated as a Forensic Scientist. We not only have experience in criminal law, like other Los Angeles defense attorneys, but we have knowledge of science and how DNA and other areas of science work so we can best defend you from these serious crimes. Los Angeles sex crimes are serious and can send someone to prison for years and sometimes decades. So, trust a law firm that has knowledge the other lawyers don't.
According to The Times, the 23-year-old kidnapped the woman as she walked through the Compton Courthouse grounds and raped her in an area not visible to passersby, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said. Detectives said they developed a "DNA hit" last year that led them to the suspect.
DNA has become a valuable tool for law enforcement as the science of it has become more and more prevalent. Detectives are trained in how it can help them solve cases, especially sex-related cases, and some agencies have entire units dedicated to studying and testing items for DNA.
With penalties for sex crimes so tough in California, these charges must be well-defended. According to California Penal Code 261, rape is defined as sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, under a list of circumstances, most of which include by force, when the person was unconscious or otherwise unaware or unwilling.
According to the law, the crime is punishable by a minimum of three, six or eight years, but prosecutors often push for tougher penalties if other crimes are committed during the rape. Enhancements for kidnapping, use of a weapon or other factors may be applied.
While this case was solved by law enforcement getting a "DNA hit," likely through a database of criminals, not all DNA evidence is iron-clad. DNA almost never is an exact match to a person. For instance, when experts testify in court, they test samples of evidence and examine it with a sample of the suspect's DNA for comparison. How and why the sample was obtained, its age and the chain of custody are all valid defense considerations.
Our firm is committed to using our own experience and that of hired experts to challenge evidence in the course of defending a case a preserving our clients' rights.
If you are facing child pornography charges in Orange County, contact the California Legal Team at (310) 497-0321 to discuss your rights.
Additional Resources:
Palmdale man pleads guilty in 2008 rape, kidnapping case that had gone cold, by Robert J. Lopez, The Los Angeles Times
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