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Annoying Or Molesting A Child: Penal Code § 647.6 PC
Contents
- 1 You’ve Been Accused of Annoying or Molesting a Child – Now What?
- 2 The Harsh Reality of PC 647.6 Charges
- 3 So, What Do You Do If You Get Hit With One of These Things?
- 4 Understand Your Rights and Options
- 5 Understand the Potential Consequences
- 6 Building a Winning Defense Strategy
- 7 What If I’m Falsely Accused?
- 8 Why Hire Spodek Law Group?
You’ve Been Accused of Annoying or Molesting a Child – Now What?
So, you’ve been accused of annoying or molesting a child under California Penal Code 647.6 PC. Take a deep breath. This is serious, but you have options.First, let‘s look at what this law actually covers. PC 647.6 makes it illegal to annoy or molest any child under 18, motivated by an abnormal sexual interest in children. It doesn’t require physical contact – even words or conduct that would disturb a reasonable person can qualify.
The Harsh Reality of PC 647.6 Charges
Make no mistake, these are heavy accusations. If convicted, you could face:
- Up to 1 year in county jail (misdemeanor)
- Up to 3 years in prison (felony)
- Fines up to $5,000
- Mandatory sex offender registration
A conviction can derail your life – no more working with kids, trouble finding housing and jobs, and a permanent stigma. But, it‘s not a life sentence if you act decisively.
So, What Do You Do If You Get Hit With One of These Things?
It’s simple. Every single client deserves honesty and white glove service. At Spodek Law Group, we leave no stone unturned. We do everything possible to win. Everything we do is focused on getting you results.Most law firms implement a cookie cutter strategy in order to fight your case, and save their own time. They don‘t look carefully at your situation – they simply want to move on to the next case. At Spodek Law Group, we understand the difficulties and challenges of going through a case. If you‘re accused of a crime, schedule a consultation with our criminal attorneys today.
Understand Your Rights and Options
The first step is understanding your rights. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Use them. Anything you say can be used against you, so don’t try explaining yourself to the police.Once you’ve lawyered up, we can start building a strategic defense. Some potential routes:Lack of Criminal Intent
For a PC 647.6 conviction, the prosecution must prove you were motivated by an abnormal sexual interest in children. If your actions were misinterpreted or you had no such intent, we can argue to get the charges reduced or dismissed.Mistaken Identity/Faulty Evidence
If the evidence against you is shaky – like a witness misidentifying you or conflicting statements – we can cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.Illegal Search/Seizure
If the police violated your 4th Amendment rights by conducting an illegal search or seizure, any improperly obtained evidence could get thrown out.You Reasonably Believed the Child Was an Adult
A reasonable belief that the “child” was actually 18 or older is a valid legal defense against PC 647.6 charges.The bottom line? Don’t assume you’re going to be convicted. With the right defense strategy, you may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
Understand the Potential Consequences
Of course, it‘s also crucial to understand what you’re up against if convicted. Beyond jail/prison time and fines, a PC 647.6 conviction means:Mandatory Sex Offender Registration
You’ll have to register as a sex offender, which can make finding housing and employment extremely difficult. Your name, picture, and residence will be publicly available.Probation Terms
Typical probation conditions include counseling, staying away from the victim, and avoiding areas where children congregate.Immigration Consequences
For non-citizens, even a misdemeanor PC 647.6 conviction can lead to deportation, inability to re-enter the U.S., or denial of naturalization.Professional Consequences
You may be prohibited from working in fields involving children or other vulnerable populations. It can severely limit your career options.Personal Consequences
The stigma of a child molestation conviction can destroy personal relationships and make it difficult to find housing, get loans, etc.The consequences are severe, which is why you need to take these charges extremely seriously from the start. Don‘t try handling it alone – get an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side immediately.
Building a Winning Defense Strategy
At Spodek Law Group, our first priority is understanding every detail of your situation. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we carefully analyze:
- The specific allegations against you
- Any potential mitigating factors
- Weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
- All possible defenses that apply to your circumstances
Sometimes prosecutors will only be fair if you respond with force to them. Without an attorney advising you, you might accidentally plead guilty when you could’ve won the case. The only way to truly know is to hire a private criminal defense attorney.At Spodek Law Group – we pride ourselves on taking a hands-on approach. It means researching the exact situation surrounding your case, and putting in the leg work to be familiar with every single intimate detail. Our firm has excellent work ethics, and we constantly hold firm meetings in order to discuss and address all of our cases. In the event of an emergency – we have a full team of lawyers available to help you.From there, we’ll devise a comprehensive defense strategy tailored to your unique circumstances and goals. Our aim? To have the charges reduced or dismissed entirely. When that’s not possible, we fight aggressively for the most favorable plea deal and minimal sentencing.
What If I’m Falsely Accused?
Unfortunately, false accusations of annoying or molesting a child do happen. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding, conflicting witness statements, or even an intentional lie told by the accuser.Regardless of how tough your situation is – we are here to help you. Our criminal defense lawyers work hard to have a solution for you, irrespective of the situation you find yourself in. Many clients are often embarrassed by their situation, and don’t speak openly about their alleged issue. We encourage open dialogue, and recommend full transparency – so we can give you the best possible legal advice.If you‘ve been falsely accused, we‘ll conduct a thorough investigation to find the holes in the prosecution‘s case and expose the truth. This could involve:
- Interviewing and cross-examining accusers/witnesses
- Obtaining expert testimony to counter prosecution theories
- Reviewing all evidence and police procedures for errors
- Using polygraph tests to demonstrate your truthfulness
- And more
No matter how convincing the allegations may seem, we have the resources and expertise to reveal a false accusation for what it is. Don‘t assume you‘re automatically guilty – let us fight for your innocence.
Why Hire Spodek Law Group?
The consequences of a PC 647.6 conviction are far too severe to trust an inexperienced lawyer. You need a firm with a proven track record in these types of cases.At Spodek Law Group, our criminal defense attorneys have successfully defended countless clients against charges like:
- Penal Code 288 PC – Lewd acts with a child
- Penal Code 288.2 PC – Sending harmful matter to seduce a minor
- Penal Code 288.3 PC – Contacting a minor to commit a felony
- Penal Code 311 PC – Child pornography
- And more
We understand how to strategically counter prosecution theories, identify weaknesses in their evidence, and leverage every possible defense for our clients‘ benefit.The Spodek Law Group handles cases nationwide. We have offices in NYC and Los Angeles. No matter where you’re located, we can provide the aggressive defense representation you need.