Chico Sex Crime Lawyer

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Chico Sex Crime Attorney

Being charged with a sex crime can be incredibly stressful. It can be tempting to hope the allegations will go away, but law enforcement in California is aggressive when it comes to investigating and prosecuting sex offenses. If you or someone you know has been accused of a sexual offense in California, hiring a Chico sex crime lawyer with proven experience in criminal law as soon as possible is critical for a successful outcome in your case.

At Eric Alan Berg & Associates, our attorneys have been providing top-quality criminal legal services in Northern California for over 36 years. The focus of our practice is protecting you and your family. Our firm can provide a personalized, comprehensive defense while working fiercely to defend your rights.

Chico Sex Crime Lawyer

Understanding Sex Crime Laws in California

In the state of California, sex crime offenses are among the most complicated to defend. There are many legal elements to consider, such as when the offenses allegedly occurred, the ages of the victim and the person charged with the crime, any relationship between them, the use of force, physical evidence, digital evidence, and consent. In addition, there are only a few defenses available for such offenses under the law.

Each case in Chico, California, is unique in these elements and whether there is enough evidence to support criminal charges. Additionally, sexual assault survivors often wait to report the incident, which can make these criminal offenses difficult to prove. Evidence in sexual assault cases must be handled with care to meet legal requirements, and if proper procedures aren’t followed, an experienced legal team may even be able to prevent charges from being filed.

Sex Offender Registry

California requires convicted sexual offenders to register in a sex offender registration system. As of 2021, there are three tiers of registration for sex offenders based on specific criteria, for years or even life. If the appropriate tier cannot be ascertained, the Department of Justice can place a person in a “tier to be determined” category for up to 24 months.

Tier 1 sex offenders must maintain their registration for 10 years and are considered to have the lowest risk of offending again. These offenders are mostly convicted of misdemeanors or other low-level offenses.

Tier 2 is for offenders who are considered to have a moderate risk. This tier includes more serious charges, so offenders must remain on the registry for 20 years.

Tier 3 offenders are at the highest risk for severe sex crimes and must stay on the sex offender registry for life.

For the time period required by their tier designation, convicted sex offenders have to submit their name, current address, physical description, criminal history, and other information to their local police or sheriff’s department within five business days of:

Being released from jail or prison
Being convicted, even if they are not incarcerated
Their birthday every year
Moving to a city or municipality
Switching addresses within the same city
Becoming transient, then every 30 days

Getting off the sex offender registry can be complicated as well. It is the responsibility of the convicted person to file a petition to be removed and prove that they have completed all the necessary steps based on their tier designation. If a person fails to comply with these rules, they can face additional charges and penalties.

Your Chico Sex Crime Lawyer

An experienced criminal defense attorney can review the evidence collected by investigators and help their client determine what needs to be proven in order for the prosecution to succeed in a conviction. From there, a lawyer can begin to establish their client’s possible defense, file any necessary motions, and take any other mitigating actions to put the accused in the most favorable position.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a Sex Crime Lawyer Cost in California?

A: The cost of a criminal lawyer in California varies depending on many factors, such as the specific charge, the complexity of the case, the experience and reputation of the lawyer, and more. There may also be additional fees for going to court or professional witnesses. Make sure you ask your attorney about the costs during the initial consultation.

Q: Is There a Statute of Limitations on Sex Crimes in California?

A: There is a statute of limitations on sex crimes in California. The exact length of time, however, depends on the age of the victim. Under California law, prosecutors use the following criteria to charge someone:

If the victim was under 18 when the alleged offense was committed, charges can be filed until the victim’s 40th birthday.
If the victim was an adult, charges must be filed within 10 years of the offense alleged to have been committed.

Q: What Is a Sex Crime Investigator?

A: A sex crime investigator is a law enforcement officer who is trained in sexual assault and child abuse allegations and works with the prosecutor’s office to prepare cases for legal action.

The Chico Police Department considers the investigation of sexual offenses a focus for their agency. If you are being investigated for a sex offense, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Q: What Restrictions Are Placed on Sex Offenders in California?

A: California takes sex crimes very seriously. Convicted sex offenders have special restrictions they must adhere to, including registering in the sex offender database. They may also be limited in the types of jobs they can have, where they can live, and who they can live with. A sex crime conviction may also affect an alleged offender’s ability to own a firearm or computer and even their ability to travel as part of their probation or parole sentencing.

How Eric Alan Berg & Associates Can Help You

At Eric Alan Berg & Associates, we understand how devastating it is to be accused of a sex crime. Your sex crime attorney can guide you through the complex legal process and advocate for your legal rights, no matter how serious the charge. Contact the legal team at our firm today to schedule an initial consultation and evaluation to review the details of your case and discuss your legal next steps.

On May 4, 2018, Attorneys of Eric Alan Berg and Associates successfully suppressed evidence in a DUI case resulting in a complete dismissal. The client had been pulled over on a Friday night leaving the Market Street Steakhouse. A Redding police officer claimed that his tail light was out and initiated a traffic stop. Unbeknownst to the officer, the car had just passed a safety inspection a few weeks before. The defense subpoenaed the inspection records and called the technician who serviced the car to testify to explain that the light was working properly, and called an eye witness who saw that the light was in working condition the morning after the arrest. The client can now return to work without fear of any license restrictions, probation, or punishment.

DUI Dismissal

A man in his 60’s was charged with molesting and sodomizing five boys in a 35 year period. The sheriffs detective knew at least one of the boys had recanted but he hid the tape recording wherein the boy said it never happened. The district attorney had to search the sheriff’s computer himself to find the tape showing the man’s innocence and showing that the boy said he was innocent.

False accusation of multiple molestation

We represented an old man who was accused of sexually molesting his girl friend’s daughter. The prosecutor claimed that he confessed on tape. The defense showed that it was no confession. Many of the jurors found the defendant not guilty. The defendant eventually avoided state prison and was freed.

False accusation of molestation of girl friends daughter

Our client was a probation officer and was charged with sexually molesting his neighbor and his adopted foster daughter. The defense showed that his daughter had a long history of falsely accusing people of serious crimes. The defense also presented the daughters long history of mental illness. The defense also showed that the police lost a crucial recorded statement of another complaining witness. Many jurors found the accused innocent of the charges and the court dismissed the charges after the first trial.

False accusation of adopted child molestation

Our client was charged with sexually molesting his adopted step-daughter. The district attorney claimed that he had a confession on tape. The defense showed that it was not a confession but a set up. Many jurors found the defendant not guilty and the court dismissed all of the charges. In that case, the accuser originally accused our client of molesting her for many months. The district attorney tried to change the story when we proved that he wasn’t even in town when these crimes supposedly occurred.

False accusation of molestation of step daughter

We defended two Hells Angels accused of rape. At the trial we proved that the accuser exchanged her phone number with one of the other old bikers at the clubhouse, a few minutes after the alleged rape. Through our investigation, we learned that the accuser, a young woman in her early twentys had borrowed her father’s car for the night. She returned it late, making him late for work in the morning. She needed a good excuse. The excuse she used was that she had been raped by two Hells Angels.

False accusation of rape

An old man in his 70’s was charged with threatening 2 sheriff deputies with his Chinese assault rifle . This man was a famous newspaper editor and publisher in the county. He was a regular critic of the Sheriff. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. On Christmas Eve, he and his wife had been burning rat’s nests on his property in Hayfork. As the fire got out of control and spread prisoners from the local fire camp were called to put it out. They were up all night making noise and causing his dog to bark which kept him and his wife and his dog awake on Christmas eve. He went down to the prisoners and told them to be quiet and then went back home.

False accusation of threatening of Sheriff Police.

Recently, a client of ours was facing multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, which is a prison eligible felony. Additionally, the DA in the case was looking to add more prison eligible felonies such as bringing a controlled substance into a jail. Eric Alan Berg & Associates was able to negotiate an agreement with the DA where our client plead to only two misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm and controlled substance.

Securing Misdemeanor Deal when Client charged with Strikes

Recently we had a client who was arrested for possession of drugs and child abuse. Attorney Eric Berg was able to convince the DA to file only the drug possession charge and not the child abuse charge. Further, if our client continues with their treatment plan the entire case will be dismissed in six months without ever requiring our client to plead guilty or no-contest. If you or someone you know is facing legal troubles give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Facilitating Substance Abuse Treatment and avoiding a Criminal Record

Recently a client retained us who was stopped for a traffic violation while they were transporting a couple of pounds of marijuana, which was discovered by law enforcement during the stop. Our offices were able to get all their charges and case dismissed in court. If you or someone you know has been arrested for similar crimes, give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Marijuana Transportation Case Dismissed

Before retaining us, our client had a number of pending cases, and some matters being investigated by law enforcement. They took a plea bargain in which they plead guilty to three of their pending cases, with the understanding that the rest of their pending cases would be dismissed and any un-filed cases would not be filed. Shortly after entering this agreement, the DA’s office filed charges related to an investigation that began before they entered the agreement. We successfully argued that the DA’s office breached the plea agreement, and had the plea agreement enforced – meaning the new case was dismissed. If you or someone you know is in need of an attorney, give us a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!