Los Angeles Sex Crimes Attorney

Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

California Penal Code Sections 290 - 290.023 are the CA sex offenders registration law which require a person convicted of certain sex offenses to register with the police department in the area where they either permanently or temporarily reside. After receiving a conviction for a sex crime, such as child molestation, rape or child pornography, the law requires that within 5 working days of being released from jail or prison an individual must register as a sex offender – usually a lifelong commitment. Following the initial registration, anytime a registered sex offender moves, changes jobs, has a birthday or changes his/her name, they must re-register within days of the event.      

Failure to register as a sex offender is a separate criminal offense from the underlying crime which caused an individual to be required to register to begin with. If you are under investigation or have been charged with failure to register as a sex offender, you need to consult with a Los Angeles sex crimes defense attorney as soon as possible. An experienced criminal defense attorney may help someone accused of this crime to avoid the serious penalties associated with a conviction. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Robert M. Bernstein has seen the affects a failure to register conviction can have on a person.

Failure to Register as a Sex Offender – Penalties in Los Angeles County

The crime of failure to register or re-register as a sex offender may be either a misdemeanor or a felony offense based on the nature of the original conviction. If the original crime one was convicted for was a felony offense, the failure to register or re-register as a sex offender may be a felony offense as well. If the original conviction was for a misdemeanor, the failure to register or re-register may be charged as a misdemeanor. A second charge of failure to register may be charged as a felony regardless of the classification of the original crime. A felony charge for a failure to register as a sex offender may carry enhanced penalties if the original conviction was a strike under California's three-strike law. If an individual already has two strikes on their record, the failure to register may be charged as a third strike, meaning the accused will face life in prison.

Your defense lawyer can help you avoid a felony charge for a failure to register or re-register as a sex offender by working with law enforcement agents and the prosecution. There may have been a valid reason for the failure, or you may have been falsely accused of failing to register. Whatever the particular situation, by consulting a Los Angeles sex crimes attorney, you can find out how you can fight these accusations or charges.

Los Angeles Sex Crime Defense Lawyer

The Law Offices of Robert M. Bernstein are located in Beverly Hills, California, and sex crime defense lawyer Robert M. Bernstein represents clients accused of the failure to register as a sex offender throughout Los Angeles and the state of California. We offer a free consultation to discuss your charges and see how we can help.

Contact Los Angeles sex crimes attorney Robert M. Bernstein today!