Orange County Statutory Rape Lawyer

Statutory rape is a sex crime that involves having sexual intercourse with a minor (a person under 18 years old). Although the victim may have given his or her consent to sexual activity or may have even initiated the conduct, the adult in the situation may still be at risk of facing serious criminal charges. Why? Because a person under the age of 18 is considered unable to give legal consent in the eyes of the law. The worse part about these charges is that a defendant may still be charged with statutory rape even when the victim lied about his or her age and the defendant had good reason to believe the victim was 18 or older.

Have you been accused of statutory rape? Make sure you discuss your legal options and your rights with an experienced attorney. Although intercourse may have been entirely consensual in your eyes, the law still views it as rape. You will need an aggressive Orange County sex crime attorney to defend your Constitutional rights and help you avoid a conviction.

Penalties for Statutory Rape in California

In California, statutory rape may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the age of the defendant and the age of the victim.

• If the defendant is over 18 but is no more than 3 years older than the victim, this is a misdemeanor offense.
• If the defendant is over 18 and the victim is more than three years younger than the defendant, this may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, with a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 years if charged as felony statutory rape.
• If the defendant is over 21 and the victim is under 16, this may be charged as a felony with a maximum term of imprisonment of 4 years.

At the Law Offices of Fred Thiagarajah, we believe that you deserve the best opportunity at a positive case outcome and a future free from a criminal conviction. Contact an Orange County statutory rape lawyer at our firm today for a free consultation.