Every sexual assault or sexual misconduct allegation must be taken seriously. A defendant accused of more than one sexual assault offense may face heightened criminal penalties. They could be classified as a habitual sexual offender under California Penal Code 667.71 (PC 667.71). This statute carries penalties of 25 years to life in state prison.
At Strongest Defense, our Ventura County sex crimes defense attorney is an aggressive, experienced advocate for clients. If you are facing sexual assault charges under California’s strict habitual offender law, you need a skilled advocate on your side. Call our Ventura law office today to set up a free, fully confidential consultation with a lawyer.
California Penal Code 667.71 is the state’s habitual sexual offender statute. Here is an overview of some of the most important things that defendants need to know about PC 667.61:
- Under California’s habitual sexual offender law, any person convicted of a certain sex crime and then later convicted of the same (or similar) sex crime could face enhanced criminal penalties.
- Sex offenses that qualify under the state include rape (PC 261) and lewd acts with a child (PC 288).
- Prosecutors retain some discretion in handled cases, They are not required to seek the habitual offender enhancement in every case.
- The maximum punishment for a conviction under PC 667.61 is 25 years to life in prison.
- A conviction under the statute require automatic lifetime registration as a sex offender in California.
Being charged as a habitual sexual offender under California PC 667.71 is one of the most serious criminal allegations that a person can ever face. A conviction could result in you spending the remainder of your life in state prison. You need the best legal representation. With more than 1,000 felony cases handled, Ventura County criminal defense lawyer David Lehr is available to help.
If you are facing potential charges under California habitual sexual offender statute, your case requires the highest level of attention. There are several different defenses and legal strategies available to defendants in this situation, including:
- Consent Defense: Unless your charges involve allegations against a minor, you can defend them on the grounds that lawful consent was obtained.
- False Charges: The simple reality is that false allegations happen. Prosecutors have the burden of proof. False and unsubstantiated sex crimes charges should be dismissed.
- Plea Agreement: In some cases, a plea agreement may be the most sensible approach. As noted above, the habitual sex offender enhancement is not mandatory. A prosecutor may take it (and life in prison) off the table in a plea agreement.
If you or a loved one is facing 25 years to life under California’s habitual sexual offender law, we are available to help. Give our Ventura office a call now or reach out to us online for a free initial consultation.
If you have been charged with
sexual assault under the habitual offender law, call 805-477-0070 now.
We can provide you with a free case review.
At Strongest Defense, our California criminal defense lawyer provides strong, trustworthy representation to individuals facing felony charges, including potential life in prison under the state’s habitual sexual offender law. We represent clients throughout all of Ventura County, including in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Camarillo, California. Please be aware that no specific outcome can be guaranteed and no attorney/client relationship has been established.
