Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

A former model on the popular daytime television game show The Price is Right has sued the show and its producers for alleged wrongful termination and sexual harassment, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Charges of sexual harassment in Los Angeles are serious because they imply that a person has been subjected to unwanted sexually based comments or behavior while at work. Sadly, this happens all the time. People in power tend to abuse that power and somehow think it is excusable. In other cases, they may attempt to pass it off as a joke and suggest the employee is being too "sensitive."

Fighting back with an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer is the best way to show the person and the company you mean business. You can protect your job and prevent other employees from suffering similar abuse.

In a recently filed lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the former worker alleges that upper management at the show used "power and control over women by bullying and harassing" the female workers. The lawsuit states that the model began working at the show in 2003 and had no problems until 2009, when one of the show's producers stopped talking to her and started to show favoritism to another model with whom he was in a relationship.

The lawsuit cites one alleged incident when a producer burst into a dressing room and berated the model -- while she was topless and wearing only a pair of underwear -- in front of other models for not wearing a microphone. The lawsuit states that many times models don't wear microphones because of the quick turnaround in changing outfits.

Another worker apologized for the incident, but it wasn't reported to management. When she was called into a meeting about sexual harassment against another model, she complained about her own treatment.

And months later, she asked for a day off for a family commitment and was told not to work the entire week. When she returned, she was told she was "holding the show hostage" because of her complaint.

In these tough economic times, the perpetrators of sexual harassment somehow believe that they have even more power because no one wants to rock the boat and potentially lose their job. With unemployment soaring -- it's around 12 percent in California -- this is another way to exploit power and try to treat employees in a manner that is against the law.

But standing up to these injustices is critical. Even if someone isn't facing the harassment, they can be a whistleblower and receive protection from the state and federal government in order to ensure they keep their job.

Sometimes lawsuits are the only way to teach a company and its managers the right way to do things. If a culture of harassment is so engrained that workers feel helpless and bosses have no rules and feel they can operate as they wish, a jury may be the only way to change the atmosphere.

Continue reading "Former 'Price is Right' Model Sues Show for Sexual Harassment in Los Angeles" »

A Vacaville police officer, who formerly worked as an Oakland Raiders cheerleader has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city.

Sexual harassment in Los Angeles, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Despite many laws on the books and wide coverage in the news media about lawsuits and big jury awards, bosses and companies still routinely treat people disrespectfully with sexual innuendos or advances in the workplace.

Even though the job market is tough right now, no one should have to work in an environment where they are subjected to being uncomfortable because they are being harassed. If you are in that situation, speak with an experienced Orange County Sexual Harassment Lawyer immediately.

In Vacaville, which is northeast of the Bay area, the 35-year-old officer said in a federal civil rights lawsuit that she endured jokes and comments about her looks by other officers. She joined the force in 2004 and has been on unpaid leave since 2009, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The comments stem from her former career as an Oakland Raiders cheerleader from 1997 to 2001, according to the lawsuit.

The woman says in the lawsuit that one sergeant once asked a room of colleagues to raise their hands if they wanted to see the plaintiff naked and another officer once told her, "nice rack." A supervisor once allegedly told her not to use the department's gym because of the attention she would draw to herself and someone once altered photos of her and other cheerleaders and post it for all to see.

She was placed on leave after she was charged with 10 felony counts of fraud for allegedly filing workers' compensation claims. Those charges were later dropped and stemmed from injuries sustained in a defensive tactics class. She returned to full duty and then alleges she was still injured. The city wouldn't provide her medical treatment or allow her to return to light-duty status, the lawsuit states.

Retaliation or refusal to pay legitimate medical claims stemming from work injury are unlawful and should not be tolerated.

Sexual harassment can be many different things, but often comes from unwelcome advances, requests for dates or sex, being sent inappropriate sex-based emails at work or being inappropriately touched or ogled.

None of these behaviors are right. Harassment in the workplace should be fought aggressively. A lawsuit is one way to do it, but an experienced Newport Beach Sexual Harassment Lawyer can work with the client and company to stop the behavior without dealing with the difficulty of litigation in some cases. Sometimes, though, that simply won't work and the case must be sent to trial.

Continue reading "Cheerleader-Turned-Cop Sues California City For Sexual Harassment" »

ABC News recently reported about 20 women, former dancers of the downtown Los Angeles Club 907 club, who have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against their former employer.

Sexual harassment in Los Angeles is, unfortunately, a fairly common thing, as women are subjected to uncomfortable work environments from male bosses and male workers and female bosses. If a worker is forced to endure this type of situation, a Beverly Hills Sexual Harassment Lawyer must be consulted immediately.

According to the news report, Club 907 closed last year. It was one of seven "hostess dancing clubs" where customers paid up to $30 an hour to spend time with a hostess. The women didn't take their clothes off, but spend time talking with and dancing for the paying customers.

A recent lawsuit a group of them filed alleges they were harassed by managers and had their pay illegally withheld. One former dancer alleges she worked a 30-hour week and was paid less than $100 per paycheck. Another hostess allegedly a manager asked her to have sex with him.

Club owners in a statement denied any wrongdoing, saying that documents will prove all dancers were lawfully paid their wages. They said the allegations of sexual harassment are false and were concocted by a former employee who had a falling out with her supervisor.

At this point, the lawsuit has just been filed, but it will be interesting to see what happens with this case. Sexual harassment can be an extremely uncomfortable situation for everyone involved.

Corporations and employers will sometimes strong-arm workers into taking harassment because of the poor economy. No one wants to be out of a job at this time, when well-paying employment is so tough to get. Actually, any employment is tough to get, so having a job is a big deal.

Despite that, no one should be subjected to and have to endure harassment at work. There must be a distinction made between sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, however. Sexual discrimination means that someone gets hired, promoted, demoted or fired based on their gender. Some examples of harassment:

• Getting an unwelcome request for a date or sex.


• Being threatened job loss if they don't perform sex acts.


• Stares, remarks or otherwise uncomfortable sexual-related situations.


• Receiving sex-themed emails or messages.


• Jokes that are offensive or sexually based.


• Touching or sexual assault.

Neither is acceptable, but harassment should be obvious to a victim or even to a co-worker. And reporting this conduct isn't grounds for discrimination, either. Consulting with an Orange County Employment Lawyer is critical if the work environment includes unlawful acts.

Continue reading "Former Dancers File Sexual Harassment Lawsuit in Los Angeles Against Club Owners" »

A Costa Mesa man sat on trial recently as jurors had to determine whether he raped two women in 2008 and 2009 or whether the sex was consensual. After deliberating two days, the jury found the man guilty and he now faces up to 140 years to life in prison, The Orange County Register reports.

The 42-year-old man was found guilty of two counts of forcible rape and, under California law, his sentence has been enhanced because of the allegation that he forcibly raped multiple victims.

The rape of a minor in California is a serious offense and, as revealed by this story, punishable by years or decades in a state prison. That's why hiring an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles Rape Defense Lawyer should be the first step in fighting the charges.

According to the news story, the man allegedly raped a 17-year-old illegal immigrant whom he supervised at a dry cleaning business in Fountain Valley in 2009. Less than a year earlier, the prosecution alleged, he broke into a friend's apartment and raped her.

The man's defense team argued to jurors that the sex with both women was consensual and that a false accusation is like a "scarlet letter" that irreparably harms a person's reputation. Neither woman reported the alleged incidents immediately and the defense argued that they filled in the blanks by lying on the witness stand on trial.

The man was previously convicted of vehicular manslaughter in 1992 and this conviction could count as a second strike of the state's three strikes rule. The judge has the discretion not to sentence him for that strike, but the minimum term he faces is 50 years to life, the newspaper reports.

Sex crimes in Los Angeles and throughout California are among the most complex cases in the criminal justice system. Many consider them to be the most serious aside from murder.

But the public should also keep in mind that not everyone who is arrested is guilty. The police get it wrong. The victims have vendettas they take out on people with false accusations and witnesses make incorrect identifications of people they deem suspects. This isn't a 30-minute TV drama.

In real life, DNA isn't a fool-proof science. How police collected and handled samples, how state or private laboratories examined them should be reviewed. And the results don't come out of a computer with 100 percent certainty after a few quick tests. There is human error and the results are complicated.

Especially in cases where a minor is the alleged victim, they can sometimes be mistaken about who committed the alleged crime or sometimes they have the tendency to make things up. Scared teens who know they shouldn't be sexually active may lie to police and their parents in order to save face. This can lead to arrests and false convictions.

But the good news for these defendants is that there's an experienced Los Angeles Rape Defense Attorney who will stand by their side. Everyone, regardless of the crime, has a right to a fair trial and an aggressive defense. This means attacking all aspects of the state's evidence. It may mean getting evidence thrown out if police obtained it improperly.

Continue reading "Costa Mesa Man Convicted of Raping Two Women" »

A San Bernardino County judge recently increased the bail of a former sheriff's deputy accused of having sex with a teenage Explorer volunteer after he allegedly wrote about "revenge" and "payback" on a Facebook page, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Sex crimes in Los Angeles and throughout California can have serious consequences, such as long prison sentences as well as registry in the state and national sex offender databases, which are viewable to all and can last forever. Hiring an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles Sex Crimes Defense Attorney should the first step for someone being investigated for, or charged with, these serious crimes.

According to the news article, the deputy, who was being held on $150,000 bail, had the bail increased by a judge to $350,000 after prosecutors provided a printout of the deputy's Facebook page with the comment.

The Facebook posting, according to prosecutors, appeared on a page in support of the deputy and was discovered by the alleged victim's father. According to the article, the deputy faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and illegal sexual intercourse with a minor. The deputy has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Authorities allege the deputy had sex with the 15-year-old girl, who was a volunteer with the agency's Explorer program -- which is designed to teach teenagers the responsibilities of law enforcement officers. The program teaches young adults about the mission and objectives of law enforcement, leadership opportunities and community service activities, among other things.

This deputy, like anyone charged with a sex crime in Los Angeles and throughout California, faces serious consequences. Along with possible prison time, the deputy faces the possibility of having to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Unlike other charges, where a person can serve time in prison and get out having done their time, a person convicted of a sex offense is punished for life.

Having to register under Megan's Law means having your mug shot, address, tattoos and other information displayed on a web site forever, having to tell law enforcement whenever you're moving and the possible notification of neighbors is another consequence.

It can be humiliating and it is something a person must live with forever. Even murders aren't treated this way. Yet, people convicted of sex crimes are. There are more than 63,000 registered sex offenders in California and failure to register, even if someone legitimately forgets, can result in a new charge.

Under California Penal Code 261.5, a person convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor faces up to four years in prison. Under California Penal Code 288, a lewd and lascivious act is punishable by up to eight years in prison. Prosecutors may also seek enhanced sentences, depending on the facts of the case.

These charges are very serious and require an aggressive defense that includes scrutinizing all evidence, whether it's DNA reports, police investigations or the alleged victim's words. These cases can be beaten when police jump to conclusions and our firm is committed to exploring all aspects of our clients' cases.

Continue reading "Former Deputy's Bail Increased After Facebook Posting in Los Angeles Sex Case" »

The son of a of former Bermuda leader Ewart Brown recently went on trial. He is in court facing dozens of sexual assault charges in Los Angeles stemming from his medical practice. The prosecutors are making claims that the practitioner sexually assaulted 11 of his patients and an undercover vice officer using the guise of performing breast and pelvic checkups on these patients, according to the Associated Press.

Brown entered a not guilty plea to the more than 30 felony sex count charges. He is on $4 million bail and is currently facing a sentence of life in prison if convicted on all of the charges.

Our Orange County defense attorneys understand that these types of allegations can be devastating to a doctor as they are oftentimes falsified. In this particular case, victims alleged that Brown performed a number of breast or vaginal exams on the patients after they complained about pains pertaining to ankle injuries or the flu. One female patient is even claiming that Brown raped her.

Brown was initially charged back in 2008. Brown's attorneys report that none of his patients reported the claims to any office personnel when they occurred.

Sexual assault can be considered as attacks such as rape or attempted rape or any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Typically a sexual assault happens when someone touches a part of another person's body in a sexual way. This touch can occur through clothes, but must happen without that person's consent. Other types of sex acts that fall under the sexual assault category include forced sexual intercourse (rape), sodomy (oral or anal sexual acts), child molestation, incest, fondling and attempted rape, according to The National Center for Victims of Crimes.

Essentially, prosecutors have great discretion in how they charge a sex crime -- much more so than with many other criminal offenses. And many times, the accusations are falsified. A number of recent studies have concluded that roughly 50 percent of rape accusations are falsified.

After being falsely accused of a sexual crime, many have spent years in prison because their case lacked a significant defense. Aside from jail, these types of allegations can be detrimental and can turn lives upside down. Oftentimes people's careers are ruined and close friends and family are lost forever.

Remember, if you are facing sex crime allegations, you do not have to speak with the police. If you are arrested, you don't have to say anything. Explaining yourself and providing an immediate defense will most likely not improve the situation. In many cases it can make your situation much worse. At this point you are urged to contact a lawyer as you are granted the right to competent legal representation under the U.S. constitution.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Sex Charges: Son of Bermuda's Former Leader Facing 33 Felonies" »

It seems increasingly common that teachers are arrested for either having inappropriate sexual relationships with students or exchanging lewd photos with students. And while experts debate why this has become a trend, police continue arresting teachers charged with these crimes.

In the news recently, a Fresno teacher was sentenced to seven years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a former student and sending sexual text messages. Last month in Los Angeles, a teacher's assistant was arrested and charged with having sex with a 13-year-old boy, Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyer Blog reported.

Throughout California, there have been still more charges. CBS News reported in June that an Escondido high school teacher was arrested and charged with having sexual relations with a 17-year-old student, while in March, a swim teacher in Santa Ana was charged with having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student, NBC News reported.

These are disturbing allegations, but they are only that, allegations, until they are proven in a court of law to be true. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and are considered innocent until proven guilty; ourLos Angeles Rape Defense Lawyers believe in and uphold that standard every day. Charges involving children can be tricky because their minds are not fully developed. Therefore, they often don't realize the consequences of their actions, or lies, and can sometimes not be reliable.

There can be a fine line between being an aggressive defense lawyer and badgering a child who is an alleged victim of a sex crime. But it is critical that the facts come out and not just allegations. Children, especially teenagers, sometimes can take out their frustrations and disappointment in the form of lies and those lies can sometimes get people in trouble with the law.

Sadly, there have been times when a student made up a story about a teacher only to see that teacher get arrested and then freed once it was revealed that the student was lying. Unfortunately, by that point it can be too late. Public opinion may have already convicted the teacher, leading to job loss, ridicule in the community and other sanctions despite being innocent. It is the responsibility of police to ensure an arrest is made in good faith.

But it is the duty of an experienced Los Angeles Rape Defense Attorney to aggressively attack the evidence, witnesses, police reports and other facts in order to get to the bottom of the matter. Sex crimes in California are punishable by years or decades in prison and many may require registration as a sex offender for life. it can mean a life sentence even if you are out of custody.

So, trust a law firm that has handled many of these cases and fights to uphold the constitutional rights of all clients, regardless of the charge. The criminal justice system can be daunting, so let our firm help.

Continue reading "Teacher-Student Sex Crimes Arrests Increasing in Orange County, throughout California" »

An 81-year-old man was arrested last week after being accused of trying to lure a 12-year-old into his car in the Antelope Valley community of Littlerock, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The suspect, a Pearblossom resident, was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies on felony charges of attempted kidnapping of a child under 14 years old. He was booked and held on $1 million bail for the alleged Los Angeles sex crime.

Our Los Angeles sex crime attorneys understand that the 81-year-old had a history of sex offenses. He was already a registered sex offender in the area. The problem with this is the public perception of these people. Once you've been convicted of such a crime, whether the conviction was justified or not, there will always be a dark cloud looming over you.

Once these types of allegations are made, the public draws conclusions without significant evidence. These types of allegations have the ability to ruin a person's life. For this reason, it is critical for you to contact an experienced sex crime attorney in the wake of these serious allegations.

According to police, the girl was reportedly walking down the road, with her parents a short distance away, when the suspect pulled up next to her and asked if she wanted a ride. Deputy Daryl Bonsall of the Palmdale sheriff's office says that the girl declined and the suspect continued to drive slowly beside her. He sped away when the girl's mother approached to confront the suspect.

The mother reported the man's description to Palmdale sheriff's deputies. Deputies discovered a man who may have fit the description just a short distance away in Pearblossom.

Los Angeles officials took eight more convicted child molesters and registered sex into custody after a Wilmington motel raid. They were apprehended for alleged parole violations, including possession of child pornography or narcotics, reports the Los Angeles Times.

As previously reported on the Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyer Blog, most of those who were arrested in the motel bust were middle-aged men whose previous offenses included lewd and lascivious conduct with children or other sex crimes, said Det. Patricia Batts of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The bust went down at Harbor Inn in the 700 block of Flint Avenue. This motel has a reputation for housing offenders because of its history as a state-funded waystation for newly released prisoners, according to Batts said.

Authorities had received reports of children coming in and out the area. No evidence turned up proving those reports.

Officers from the Inglewood, Long Beach, Montebello and Los Angeles police departments, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, the L.A. County Probation Department and the Department of Children and Family Services took part in the raid.

Continue reading "Officials Nab 9 Already Convicted of Sex Crimes in Los Angeles" »

Eight people were taken into custody recently by Los Angeles Police after a raid on a Wilmington motel that was home to dozens of convicted child molesters and registered sex offenders, The Los Angeles Times reports.

Once a person has been convicted of a sex crime -- whether it's an 18-year-old who has sex with a 16-year-old or a person who commits a violent rape -- they can be labeled a sex offender and be required to provide information to local law enforcement authorities; typically they will also be subjected to registration in state national databases of other sex offenders.

Pasadena Sex Offender Defense Lawyers believe that while sex crimes are dangerous, making every person who is convicted of a sex crime be branded with a scarlet letter is inherently unfair. And failing to notify law enforcement can result in jail time. That's why aggressively defending sex crimes in Pasadena is so crucial.

According to The Times, police raided The Harbor Inn recently and found stuffed animals, teen magazines, pornography and children's underwear among other items. Police reported that most of the men arrested had previously been convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with children. They surmised that the items were to be used to lure young children.

According to the Sex Offender Registration Act, which is governed by California Penal Code 290, requires people who have been convicted of a list of crimes to register as sex offenders. According to the California Sex Offenders Registry, there are more than 63,000 people registered in California.

This registry guarantees that a sex offender will be paying for a conviction for the rest of his or her life. While other types of crimes allow people to serve their time and move on with life, sex offenses do not.

The law governs where they can live, where they can travel, what types of jobs they can have and other things for the rest of their lives. Not being able to visit relatives who have children can be another consequence.

Because they must notify law enforcement when they move into a town or when they are planning to leave a city, every neighbor knows they have been convicted of this type of crime. They get long stares and sometimes are discriminated against. And often, they were convicted decades ago and have been a law-abiding citizen since.

This is why hiring the right Pasadena Sex Crimes Lawyers up front is such an important decision. We have years of experience in the criminal justice system and focus much of our time dedicated to the criminal defense of sex crimes. We will attack the evidence police and prosecutors intend to rely on to secure a conviction.

That ranges from DNA evidence to eyewitness accounts to the credibility of the alleged victim. Taking this crime lightly could result in years in prison followed by a life on constant monitoring and ridicule. Protect your rights and call our law firm today.

Continue reading "Sex Offender Raid in Wilmington Leads to Parole Violation Arrests" »

A 29-year-old from Los Angeles has been arrested a second time in less than a month on suspicion of sexually assaulting women while impersonating a law enforcement officer, The Los Angeles Times reports.

Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyers believe that everyone deserves a fair trial where the state is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person is guilty of a crime. Luckily, the U.S. Constitution agrees. Law enforcement officers make arrests for crimes every day where there isn't enough evidence to collect. Sometimes, they have a good reason and sometimes they do not.

But it's our firm's goal to aggressively defense all Pasadena sex crime defendants from these serious charges.

According to The Times, the 29-year-old is charged with rape in connection with an incident in Rosemead. He was arrested a month earlier for an alleged sexual assault in West Los Angeles.

In the West Los Angeles case, the alleged victim told police the man responded to an Internet ad for an escort and when they met he identified himself as a police detective, handcuffed her and sexually assaulted her. It's unclear what the details of the Rosemead incident were or how police linked him to either crime.

In cases where a person is allegedly impersonating a police officer, law enforcement tend to want to make an arrest quickly. It's understandable that a criminal acting as a police officer can confuse citizens and leave them open to victimization.

But also in cases like this, police often rush to make an arrest. In an area the size of Southern California -- about 17.8 million people in 2009 -- there could easily be several people who could be committing these crimes.

There's also the credibility of the witnesses. If both alleged victims were escorts doing business over the Internet, an aggressive criminal defense lawyer would use all available information in defending a client.

Our firm is able to scrutinize any forensic evidence law enforcement intends to rely on in sexual-related cases. DNA and other evidence is crucial to these types of cases and having a lawyer with the scientific training and education can be a big advantage.

When police arrest someone and charge them with a sex crime, their whole life changes. Sex crimes not only carry steep penalties (see California Penal Code 261), but a conviction can require the defendant to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. That means whenever they move, wherever they go, neighbors and law enforcement can see they have a criminal record.

Sex offenders also may be restricted in where they shop, where they socialize, whether they can be around children and other sanctions. While other crimes allow people to serve their time and move on with life, sex offenses linger forever.

So, fight these charges diligently and preserve your rights. Allow Los Angeles Sex Crimes Lawyers to do everything we can to help you if you are in this position. Fight the charges aggressively.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Man Arrested Second Time on Sex Assault Charge" »

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.

Continue reading "Palmdale Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life After "DNA Hit" Solves Rape Cold Case" »

Text messages from a teacher's assistant at Shadow Hills Intermediate School were located on a cellular phone that belonged to a 13-year-old boy. He was a student at that school. The student's parents supposedly discovered some inappropriate text messages and contacted the local police about the alleged Los Angeles sex crime.

Detectives arrested the teaching assistant under the suspicion of having sex with the students in an empty classroom at the school, according to the LA Now.

The boy was interviewed by investigators and officials say that the boy claimed he and the teaching assistant had sexual intercourse a number of times over the last two weeks at the school.

Our Los Angeles sex crime attorneys understand how devastating these kinds of allegations can be -- for both parents and for a hardworking, loyal school district employee. It is not uncommon for a child to falsify these types of reports. Kids and students have been found to make up these types of stories for attention, for revenge or for acceptance. It is important for you to contact an experienced attorney if you find yourself facing any such charges as a lawyer can help to save your reputation, to protect your rights and to protect your financial well-being.

The teacher's assistant that was accused of these acts was booked by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and is facing four felony counts of lewd acts with a child. She was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The Sheriff's Office reported that the teacher's assistant had been tutoring the boy before and after school over the last few weeks. According to the neighbors of the teaching assistant, she lives nearby with her husband and four children.

'We entrust our children to teachers and school instructors and in this case that trust was violated,' said Sergeant Brian Hudson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

If you are facing such allegations, you are urged to contact an attorney experienced in sex crimes cases as early as possible in the process. Talking to investigators without a lawyer present is not a good idea as you may make certain statements that help incriminate you or that conflict with future defense strategy. It's understood that you would want to explain your innocence in these scenarios, but it's best to just remain quiet and let an attorney help to take the best course of action.

An attorney can help you to avoid undeserving ramifications of a sex-offender conviction.

Defending yourself and your reputation may be most important when you're a teacher and you're held in the public eye. In all such cases, you need someone who understands the court system, can recognize weak cases and knows how to disprove them.

Continue reading "Teacher's Assistant Charges with Sex Crime in Los Angeles" »

A man who posed as a 17-year-old boy online was recently sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in Los Angeles after he convinced several young girls to perform sex acts during online video chats.

The high school dean convicted of the Los Angeles sex crime was ordered to pay almost $3,000 in restitution to one of the victims, according to Mercury News.

The defendant pleaded guilty in December to the federal charges of using the Internet to induce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and producing child pornography.

Our Pasadena sex crime attorneys understand that the top priority of anyone facing these allegations is to acquire a strong defense team to save your reputation and to fight for your rights. Defending yourself in court is oftentimes not strong enough. Defending your reputation and fighting for your rights when it comes to terms of probation and the requirements of sex offender registration can be equally critical. If you are facing arrest or investigation, you are urged to seek the immediate advice of a qualified lawyer.

According to court records, the man created a false MySpace profile and used it to disguise himself as a 17-year-old boy named "Jamie." He then enticed girls to engage in sexual acts during webcam chats and uploaded the videos online.

The increasing popularity and efficiency of the Internet has led to a rise in such charges. These charges are all too often misfiled. There have been a number of documented cases of file-sharing networks and computer viruses that are found responsible for the presence of such illicit images and videos. In many cases, when child porn or any other type of pornography is found on a computer, it may be someone other than the computer's owner responsible for the images or videos. Shared networks run a high risk of unknown file transfer as well.

In all cases it is critical to contact an attorney experienced in sex crimes as early as possible in the process. Speaking to investigators without an attorney present is not in your best interest. Too often, defendants will attempt to talk themselves out of trouble. The embarrassment of facing sex crime charges may also give police leverage in encouraging defendants to talk when it would be in their best interest to remain silent until first speaking to a qualified criminal defense attorney. Even in cases where a defendant is offered probation, or other desirable sentencing option, the devil is often in the details. The terms of probation and the long-term ramifications of sex-offender registration must also be considered.

Continue reading "Man Sentenced for Posing as 17-year-old Boy in Los Angeles Sex Crime" »

At least 17 employees of the Los Angeles Police Department have won million-dollar-plus awards from various suits against the city in which they accused the department of acts of retaliation, racial discrimination, sexual harassment in Los Angeles and workplace injustices, according to The Los Angeles Times. About a dozen more suits have awarded officers with five- and six-figure payouts.

A Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney understands that sexual harassment happens all too often in the workplace. Various forms of sexual harassment can include requests for sexual favors, inappropriate touching, unwanted advances or sexual innuendos and jokes. The number of cases continue to rise. Sometimes these acts of sexual harassment can be so severe that workplace performance can diminish or the behavior can negatively affect one's chances for getting a promotion.

Los Angeles city records report numerous officers have sued the department over workplace issues more than 250 times between the years of 2005 and 2010. The city has dished out a grand total of more than $18 million in settlements in about 45 of the cases. They've lost several other judgments that cost them several more millions. As it's not always a losing game for the city, they've prevailed in about 50 cases. Many cases, representing millions of dollars in potential liability remain unsettled.

"These cases irk the heck out of me," city councilman Greig Smith told the Times, adding the city's job-protection rules make it too difficult to fire officers who cause workplace problems. "Somebody running a private company would never let this ... stand. Why do we let it happen here? And we see the same things happening over and over again."

After large police departments were surveyed across the country, results showed that LAPD officers file lawsuits more than any other large police department. Their lawsuit filing record was roughly three times more than other large departments.

"I've got a news flash for the 'leaders' who are tasked with ensuring the Department treats its people fairly. Look in the mirror to find out where the problems are," Sgt. John Mumma, the union's secretary, wrote recently in letter published in the union's magazine. "How many more officers are going to become millionaires over the botched handling of their cases?"

A list of officers who received $1-million-plus sexual harassment settlements at the LAPD can be found on the LA Times website.

Continue reading "LAPD Officers Collect $18 Million in Various Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Suits" »

After the report of a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, a male-teacher at Montclair College Prep in Van Nuys was placed under arrest earlier this month, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The teacher is currently facing charges of a sex crime in Los Angeles including unlawful sex with a minor.

The teacher is accused of periodically going to the young girl's home when the student was alone. The LAPD suspects that the teacher-student relationship had been going on for two months. The LAPD reports that the teacher has a prior crime report that was filed against him for child annoyance back in 2007, according to ABC 7. There was no criminal filing for that case that allegedly occurred in South Los Angeles.

Our Los Angeles sex crime attorneys understand that false accusations can be made against teachers. It is important to speak with a trusted attorney if you're currently facing any sex crime allegations.

The male teacher reportedly had his certification suspended by the state of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing back in November of 2010. The suspension was the result of reported moral or nonprofessional misconduct and lasted for 14 days.

Montclair College Prep has nearly 400 students and teaches grades 6-12. The 29-year-old teacher was appointed back in 2010 and taught social studies at the school.

School officials have yet to comment on the incident.

It is important to remember that a teacher or other employee who is accused of sexual misconduct in school deserves the benefit of the doubt -- the same as anyone accused of wrongdoing.

A rush to judgment often leaves a teacher or school employee with a ruined reputation and without a job regardless of the outcome of the investigation or final determination by the court system.

Remember that, if you're facing sex crime allegations, it is very important to watch what you say. It may be used against you as sex crime claims often come down to a question of proof and credibility. Only speak with your attorneys. Do not speak with government or school officials.

Continue reading "Teacher Faces Allegations of Two Month Sexual Relationship with Student in Los Angeles" »