Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

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" »

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" »

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" »

Investigators said they found a high school faculty member with a 15-year-old boy he met on Craigslist for sex. Officials found the orchestra instructor in his car with the boy around 11:52 p.m. after receiving reports to a suspicious vehicle parked in a field in the 4800 block of Clark Road.

The faculty member was arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor --the boy was later returned to his parents. The man was being held in jail on a $100,000 bond. After obtaining a search warrant for the house of the alleged sex offender, authorities seized a computer, an iPad and a cell phone that will all be examined for possible evidence.

Our Pasadena sex crime attorneys understand the severity behind such allegations and urge you to contact an attorney before making a statement with officials. Often, defendants are likely to make incriminating statements in the absence of an experienced lawyer. You are urged not to settle for a quick plea bargain -- which will never eliminate the cloud of suspicion and could have consequences like sex-offender registration. Being forced to register as a sex offender could follow you for life.

The instructor resigned the day after his arrest and Pasadena ISD officials say letters and phone calls have gone out to parents of students involved in the orchestra program at the school. The instructor may face additional penalties and charges depending on the examination result of the seized property.

If convicted, the school faculty member could face a fine of up to $10,000 and 2 to 20 years in prison.

Defending against child molestation requires knowledge of both child sexual abusers and of those who make false allegations. Careful investigation, planning and an aggressive approach is necessary for a successful defense.

Continue reading "High School Faculty Member Faces Charges of Child Molestation in Pasadena" »

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a registered sex offender is charged with attempting to kidnap a woman from a MTA station in South L.A.

The 46-year-old defendant faces a third strike under California's three strikes law, which could result in a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. He is charged with kidnapping, making criminal threats and false imprisonment.

Our Pasadena sex crimes defense attorneys know nothing more about this case than what we have read in the newspaper. But several observations can be made. First, the defendant, who remains innocent until proven guilty, is referred to as a "registered sex offender." In fact, he will be referred to as a sex offender in all future dealings with law enforcement. It is a stigma associated with sex crimes in Pasadena and the surrounding area that is not associated with other crimes.

Secondly, he is facing a third strike -- California's three strikes law means it is critical to contest any felony charge. Violating the three-strikes law can mean a sentence of life in prison for relatively minor offenses. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this defendant is facing very, very serious criminal charges. Whether those same charges would have been levied had police not been dealing with a "registered sex offender" is open for debate. We would certainly argue law enforcement may have been more lenient, not to mention more prone to listening to his side of the story.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office reports responding to a disturbance at the Avalon Boulevard station in Green Meadows on Thursday afternoon. Commuters had dragged a man to the ground amid reports that he had grabbed an unidentified woman from behind and attempted to drag her away.

Despite reports of being wrestled to the ground by as many as 10 commuters, the defendant freed himself and jumped aboard a train. He was arrested when the train stopped at the Imperial station. The woman fled the scene but contacted investigators after seeing the story on the late local news.

This case has all kinds of issues, not the least of which is the reliance upon eyewitness identification and the mob mentality. This guy wrestled himself free in a fight with 10 commuters. Really? Often in such cases no one story is correct. Indeed, the news even incorrectly reported that the alleged victim was a teenage girl.

In such cases, the defendant will be best served by consulting with an experienced and aggressive criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles who understands how to defend clients against sex charges. The only thing that matters is what can be proven in a court of law.

Continue reading "Sex Offender Blamed for Attempted Kidnapping at South L.A. MTA Station" »

A 30-year-old security guard nicknamed "Silky" is facing sex crimes in Pasadena after being accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student at Marshall Fundamental School, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

Pasadena sex offense defense attorneys are called to deal with an increasing number of cases involving school employees and students. It is important to remember that each defendant is innocent until proven guilty and is deserving of his day in court. Too often, there is a rush to judgment. Job loss is common, even before charges are proven or disproven in court. An aggressive defense attorney should always be called to handle such cases.

Typically, the mere allegation is enough to cause a defendant extreme embarrassment. Law enforcement will often use this to get a statement. We recommend a defendant make no statements until consulting with an experienced attorney. It is unlikely you will talk your way out of charges, but it is entirely possible you will say or do something that will conflict with future defense strategy. In many cases, these types of charges will come down to the testimony of the defendant and the alleged victim. You have the right to remain silent.

Exercise it.

The Star-News reports the 30-year-old guard faces one count of sexual penetration by a foreign object, one count of contact with a minor for sexual purposes and one count of contact with a minor for lewd conduct. Authorities say the guard sent text messages to a 16-year-old student on March 3 and arranged to meet her outside of school. He allegedly picked her up in a car and took her to a secluded area. He is in Los Angeles County's Twin Towers Jail on $100,000 bail and has been placed on administrative leave.

When confronted by school district officials, both the defendant and the victim denied that any sexual contact occurred.

The school dealt with 4 sex scandals in as many years from 1998-2002. It's unclear what evidence led to the criminal charges in this case but the embarrassment of past scandals certainly puts a defendant in danger of being punished before authorities have all the facts.

Continue reading "Pasadena School Employee facing Sex Charges involving Student" »

A former high school principal and volleyball coach was sentenced to eight years in prison on sex charges in Los Angeles, according to Wave Newspapers.

The 41-year-old former principal of Firebaugh High School was sentenced by a Compton Superior Court Judge. ABC7 News reported he pleaded no contest to 10 counts of lewd acts on children who were 14 or 15 years old. He was convicted of molesting the children between 1996 and 2007, according to a deputy district attorney.

This is one of those cases where alleged victims began surfacing with alarming regularity after the allegations were made public. One of the jobs of an Orange County criminal defense lawyer in such cases is to keep prosecutors from piling on charges and to keep a client from pleading guilty to something that cannot be proven. In this case, a number of allegations were dropped because the statutes of limitation had expired.

Court documents reveal the defendant was principal at Firebaugh from 2005 to 2009, where three of the victims were students. Several of the girls made statements in court. One victim said she made allegations against the defendant in 1995, while he worked at a Catholic school in Los Angeles.

The eight-year sentence was also the maximum the defendant could receive under a plea bargain worked out with prosecutors. Three of the four victims played on volleyball teams he coached. He resigned as principal of Firebaugh before leaving for the Philippines in May 2009. He was arrested at LAX upon returning that July.

Continue reading "Former Principal and volleyball coach sentenced to 8 years in L.A. sex case" »

A high school dean is facing child pornography charges in Los Angeles, according to ABC7 News.

Consulting an experienced and aggressive Los Angeles criminal defense lawyeris critical when facing allegations involving child pornography. The advent of the Internet has led to an explosion in the number of such charges that are filed each year. Meanwhile, there have been documented cases of file-sharing networks and computer viruses being responsible for illicit images. In other cases, a user other than the computer's owner may be responsible or the images may have been maliciously downloaded onto a victim's computer.

Never is defending yourself more serious than when you are a teacher or professional that works with children. In fact, defending yourself in court may not even be enough. More than other types of crimes, you may find the need to aggressively defend your rights at work and in the court of public opinion. Seeking the immediate advice of a well-qualified attorney often offers the best chance for protecting your rights, your reputation and your current and future financial well-being.

In this case the dean of discipline and athletic director of West Adams Preparatory High School in Los Angeles was arrested. Authorities allege child pornography was found on his home computer. The 53-year-old is accused of distribution of child pornography. Authorities reportedly received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The school also informed parents of his arrest. He was released on $20,000 bond and is due back in court Feb. 25.

Continue reading "School Administrator Faces Child Pornography Charges in Los Angeles" »