On April 20, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed California Assembly Bill 1844, named “Chelsea’s Law,” designed to strengthen criminal penalties for sexual offenders. If you have been charged with statutory rape—also called stat rape or underage sex—please contact a Riverside criminal defense lawyer at the Blumenthal Law Offices as soon as possible. We offer a free consultation, call us at 951.682.5110 or visit http://www.blumenthallawoffices.com/
On April 20, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed California Assembly Bill 1844, named “Chelsea’s Law,” designed to strengthen criminal penalties for sexual offenders. The bill was introduced shortly after it was disclosed that John Albert Gardner III, who pled guilty in April 2010 to the brutal rape and murder of two San Diego teenagers, had been convicted in 2000 of molesting a 13-year-old girl. Gardner spent five years in prison for that offense, but considerable outrage was expressed over the fact that he was no longer on parole at the time of the murders, despite numerous parole violations.
The bill includes three main provisions.
1. A one-strike provision for the most serious crimes against children younger than 18 — putting even first-time offenders behind bars for life without the possibility of parole
2. The required lifetime parole with GPS monitoring of certain offenders — those committing sexual crimes against victims younger than 14 years old — after their release from prison
3. A convicted sex offender would be charged with a misdemeanor and a parole violation if found near a park where children frequent, resulting in a return to prison
The proposed measure met opposition from the California Public Defenders Association, and a challenge to the bill is expected in the California Senate.
Laws that substantially increase criminal penalties are often the result of reactions to horrific crimes. Criminals rarely consider the consequences of their actions or stop to reflect before committing even the most egregious offenses. With the prison population expanding, many argue that resources should be utilized to prevent such crimes from occurring at all. For example, results of California’s three-strikes law have shown a negligible effect on overall recidivist rates.
Supporters of enhanced sex offender or sexual predator legislation often point to the reputedly high recidivist rates for sex offenders, arguing that treatment and rehabilitation are useless or largely ineffective. Many offender programs lack funds, however, and without well-funded studies that might result in effective treatment programs for sex offenders, there may be little else to address the causes of the most horrific crimes.
For more information on Chelsea's Law and how it may affect a case you may be involved in, contact an attorney.
Electronic “Snooping” - Not Just Unethical
Do you know when you’re crossing the line on the internet? Trying to enter someone’s private e-mail account or breaking into password-protected areas on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter can actually be criminal acts. In some states, these actions can be considered violations of privacy rights or fall under the purview of anti-stalking laws. Under federal law, these acts may be considered computer fraud or cyberterrorism, which can even result in felony charges.
Sex Offenders May Have to Notify Authorities Before Leaving the Country
A new bill has been introduced in California that would require sex offenders to notify law enforcement 21 days before leaving the United States. This is in hopes to prevent child sex tourism and to foster better relationships with other countries. If you have been charged with any sex crime, from indecent exposure to soliciting a prostitute to rape, it is extremely important to speak to an experienced sex crime defense attorney.
Sextortion of Teens: The Online Sexual Extortion Threat to Teens
Sextortion is a new term coined for the act of using explicit pictures or videos to extort additional and more explicit images. We understand that being charged with an Internet sex crime can be personally devastating—even if the case is dismissed or if you are eventually acquitted of the charges. Call a Riverside Internet Sex Crime Defense Attorney today at 951.682.5110.
