A convicted sex offender was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in state prison for taking photographs of the legs and backsides of girls as young as 6 years old.
According to the Deputy District Attorney, the 71-year-old Valencia man, who is a former attorney, pleaded no contest to one count of annoying a child under the age of 18 on July 31. His plea came after he was caught allegedly following young girls and taking pictures of their backsides and legs last June.
The defendant had 19 previous strikes on his record, all from a case back in 1987 that involved 7 counts of committing a forcible lewd act on a child under 14 and 5 counts of forcible oral copulation. According to the District Attorney's Office, the defendant posed as a doctor checking water for bacteria to get into victims' homes, where he committed the crimes. He served 15 years of a 30-year sentence after his conviction.
As a convicted sex offender with multiple strikes, this defendant's harsh sentence comes as no surprise to our attorneys. A sex crime, particularly one against a child, is one of the most serious offenses a person could be accused of committing. A defendant may face years in prison and fines. A conviction may also result in mandatory, lifetime sex offender registration under California Penal Code § 290. A sex offender must register within five days of his or her release from custody, completion of prison/jail sentence, or discharge from a hospital or mental institution. Re-registration is required at least once a year, and the person may also have to comply with other terms, depending on the nature and severity of their offense. Status as a "sex offender" may negatively influence educational and employment opportunities.
Prior convictions of any kind may influence current criminal cases and the penalties that may be enforced. Prior "strikes," which are certain serious or violent felony offenses, will result in greatly increased penalties for any current convictions. A second strike may result in double the penalties; a third strike may result in 25 years to life in prison.
Defense Against Sex Crimes in Los Angeles
If you are looking for legal guidance in the face of sex crime allegations, formal or informal, you need to act quickly. Your entire future and freedom may be on the line, and the steps you take at this point in time may have a direct impact on whether you are formally charged and eventually convicted. At Lessem & Newstat, we provide an aggressive defense for clients who have been accused of sex crimes.
Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers have successfully secured hundreds of dismissals for our clients and have handled more than 200 jury trials. With 50 years of legal experience and an unwavering commitment to the preservation of our clients' constitutional rights, we seek the best possible result in every case we handle. Call today.
