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Los Angeles Lewd Conduct Defense Attorneys

Lewd Conduct

California law enforcement officers are especially aggressive about finding people who allegedly engage in lewd conduct in public. In fact, some law enforcement agencies invest a considerable amount of time in planning and executing undercover sting operations designed to catch people in the act. Since lewd conduct qualifies as a sex crime and carries serious consequences, it is important that you contact a committed Los Angeles lewd conduct defense lawyer if you are charged with this type of offense.

What is Lewd Conduct?

California Penal Code section 647(a) defines lewd conduct as any time a person solicits someone to engage in lewd or dissolute conduct in a place exposed to public view, public place or any place open to the public. The prosecutor must prove several elements in order to secure a lewd conduct conviction. The first element is that the accused willfully touched his or her own or another person’s breasts, buttocks or genitals. The second element a prosecutor must prove is that the accused did so in order to offend or annoy another person, achieve his or her own sexual gratification, or help another person achieve sexual gratification. Prosecutors must also prove that the conduct occurred in a public place or in public view, that a third party who might have been offended by the conduct was present, and that the defendant was aware or should have been aware that the third party was present.

Timeline for Building a Defense

In some cases, you will not be arrested and booked for lewd conduct. Instead, the police officer will issue you a citation to appear in court. Some police officers will arrest, fingerprint, and book you in jail. In either case, there is usually a delay before the district attorney is able to review the case and decide whether to press charges. If you hire an attorney immediately after your citation or arrest, the attorney may be able to persuade the district attorney to reject the case.

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If the district attorney decides to prosecute you for lewd conduct, having a sex crimes defense lawyer on your side from the very beginning can only benefit you. Your attorney can review police reports and witness statements to determine the best way to defend you against the charges. In some cases, your attorney may be able to get the case dismissed or have the charges reduced. Because the possible penalties for lewd conduct are so harsh, it is important to work with an attorney who has experience handling lewd crime defense in California.

Possible Penalties

The penalties imposed on someone convicted of lewd conduct depend on the circumstances of the case. A judge may decide to impose the following penalties:

• Jail time;
• Probation;
• Mandatory counseling; and
• Fines.

Once this type of conviction is on your criminal record, you may have difficulty finding suitable employment. Your reputation may be ruined if someone finds out you were convicted of lewd conduct in public. This is why it is so important to work with an attorney to build a strong defense against the charges.

The skilled attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP have experience defending individuals against California lewd conduct charges. We work hard to build the best possible defenses for our clients so they can keep their reputations and freedom intact. If you’ve been charged with lewd conduct, call (866) 790-5252 to schedule a free consultation with one of our California sex crime defense lawyers.

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