Sex crimes are serious and you need serious legal representation. At Nicholas C. Rowley, we have represented the accused in hundreds of sex cases, including various degrees of date rape, statutory rape, forcible rape, child molestation, sexual assault or battery. We also represent clients in non-violent sex cases involving peeping, pandering, pornography, indecent exposure, prostitution and solicitation. Lifetime sex registration may be required for conviction on just one of these crimes, with serious implications for your future. If you have been arrested or believe you are facing criminal sex charges, call Nicholas C. Rowley immediately at (310) 651-1712 or contact us online so that we can explain your rights and what we can and will do to defend your case.

How Serious Is the Sex Crime Charge?

For the most part, sexual assault cases involving forcible contact are charged as felonies. The misdemeanor classification may be reserved for non-violent offenses. It is solely within the prosecutor's discretion as to whether to bring a misdemeanor or felony count, and many sex crimes charges are in fact "wobblers" (crimes that can be charged either as a misdemeanors or felonies depending on the seriousness of the criminal act, the injuries sustained by the victim, etc.) One of the benefits of contacting us as early as possible is that we may be able to prevent you from having to face felony charges by liaising with the district attorneys office when the filing/charging decision is still being made. Alternatively, we may be able to have your felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor early on in the case, which would save you significant time, money and exposure.

Sex Crimes Defense

Because most sexual assault cases do not involve witnesses, they often are pursued by the government regardless of the strength of the evidence or the accuser's credibility. Alleged sex crimes also typically involve a significant emotional component on the victim's part, which may cause you to have to fight baseless charges motivated by jealously, retaliation, or the victim's covering up of her consensual sex (for example, to protect her marriage). Whatever the circumstance, information is critical and it you need a criminal defense lawyer to begin a sex offense investigation immediately, before witnesses' stories are changed or forgotten. Also, because of the stigma attached to sex crime allegations, you want an experienced lawyer to deal with the prosecutor early on in trying to minimize the charges filed and to ensure that they reasonably comport with the alleged victim's situation (and are not trumped up). Otherwise, the long-term effects on your life may be significant, with sentences including prison time or jail terms, the loss child custodial or visitation rights (not to mention the loss of your family), sex registration (and thus damage to your reputation and community outcasting), and thousands of dollars in fines.

Remember, prosecutors often will ignore evidence in your favor. Nicholas C. Rowley can begin making sure that does not happen from moment you retain us. We also would get to work on demonstrating the lack of evidence to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, consent, mitigating facts that may show your alleged acts to have been less morally culpable than they appear at first glance, victim's ulterior motives or credibility problems, and medical/psychological counter-evidence.