A sex crime accusation destroys everything.
Your reputation is gone before you’re convicted. Before you even have your day in court. Family members don’t know what to believe. Neighbors avoid eye contact. Employers won’t return your calls. And if you’re actually convicted, you’re looking at prison time plus lifetime sex offender registration that follows you everywhere.
We’ve been defending people against sex crime allegations in Redwood City since 1991. Over three decades handling some of the most sensitive, serious criminal cases in San Mateo County courts. Sex crime defense isn’t something you can half-ass—it requires skill, absolute discretion, and aggressive investigation from day one.
Why Choose Morales Law Firm
Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist
Christopher Morales holds certification from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law. Less than 1% of California lawyers have it. Getting it requires passing a brutal exam, extensive peer review from other attorneys, and proving you actually know what you’re doing at the highest level.
Three Decades Defending Sex Crime Cases
We opened in 1991. Since then, we’ve defended clients against every type of sex crime allegation you can imagine in Redwood City and throughout San Mateo County. We understand how prosecutors build these cases. We understand which judges are sympathetic and which ones aren’t. We understand what defense strategies actually work when emotions run high and evidence runs thin.
Discretion Matters
Sex crime cases require absolute discretion. Period. We understand how sensitive these allegations are and how important it is to protect your privacy while we fight your case. Our consultations are confidential, and we handle everything with professionalism.
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“Christopher Morales’ most valuable trait is his straightforward honesty. He doesn’t just tell you what you want to hear. Instead, he provides with a realistic legal perspective grounded in deep knowledge, ensuring you are well informed. I was also impressed how his firm leverages modern technology which makes the entire legal process more efficient, thus more affordable. For anyone needing a highly competent, modern, and direct attorney, I strongly recommend Christopher Morales.”
False Accusations Happen
More often than most people realize. Custody disputes. Bitter divorces. Revenge after a breakup. Mental health issues. Attention-seeking. These are real motivations for false allegations, and we’ve seen them all. We investigate thoroughly, interview witnesses, and gather evidence to expose lies.
Understanding Sex Crime Charges in Redwood City, CA
California prosecutes sex crimes aggressively. According to the San Mateo County Superior Court, sex offenses get priority attention from specialized prosecutors and investigators. These cases carry severe penalties and mandatory sex offender registration under California Penal Code § 290.
A sex crime conviction in Redwood City means prison. Lifetime registration as a sex offender. Permanent social stigma that never goes away. You’ll provide your address to law enforcement regularly. There are restrictions on where you can live and work. Your information gets posted on the Megan’s Law website for anyone to see. According to California DOJ statistics, registration typically lasts a lifetime, though some offenses now allow removal after 10 or 20 years under recent legislative changes.
San Mateo County juries take sex crime allegations seriously. But they also recognize that false accusations happen. An experienced sex crimes lawyer in Redwood City, CA knows how to challenge weak evidence, expose inconsistencies in accuser testimony, and present defenses that create reasonable doubt.
The consequences go beyond criminal penalties. You lose your job. Your professional licenses. Your housing. Your family relationships. That’s why immediate, aggressive defense matters from the moment you’re accused.
Types of Sex Crime Cases We Handle
Sex crime charges come in many forms. Each has specific legal elements and potential defenses. Here’s what we defend:
- Rape and Sexual Assault charges under California Penal Code § 261 mean non-consensual sexual intercourse through force, fear, or incapacity. You’re looking at 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison, with enhancements making it worse. These cases often boil down to consent issues, false accusations, and whose story the jury believes. We challenge their evidence through investigation, expert testimony, and aggressive cross-examination of witnesses.
- Child Molestation under Penal Code § 288 involves lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. Base sentence is 3, 6, or 8 years. If the child is under 10 or force was used, penalties increase significantly. Child molestation cases frequently involve false accusations from custody disputes, coaching by angry parents, or innocent conduct that gets misinterpreted.
- Sexual Battery under Penal Code § 243.4 means touching intimate parts of another person for sexual gratification against their will. Can be misdemeanor or felony depending on what happened. These cases often hinge on consent and how you interpret physical contact that might’ve been innocent or consensual.
- Indecent Exposure under Penal Code § 314 is exposing genitals in public for sexual gratification or to offend others. First offense is typically a misdemeanor. Subsequent offenses become felonies requiring sex offender registration. Sometimes these cases involve misunderstandings, mental health issues, or exposure that was accidental rather than intentional.
- Possession of Child Pornography under Penal Code § 311.11 means possessing, distributing, or producing images of minors engaged in sexual conduct. These typically become federal charges with mandatory minimum sentences. Defense strategies include challenging computer forensics, chain of custody problems, and whether you actually knew the materials were there.
- Internet Sex Crimes include soliciting minors online, sending harmful material to minors, and arranging meetings with minors for sexual purposes. Many of these cases are law enforcement sting operations where cops pose as minors online. Entrapment defenses and challenging whether you believed you were talking to an adult are common strategies.
- Statutory Rape under Penal Code § 261.5 is consensual sexual intercourse with a minor under 18. Consent doesn’t matter—it’s still illegal. Penalties vary based on age difference between the parties. These cases often involve situations where you didn’t know the alleged victim’s age or the relationship seemed consensual.
- Sexual Abuse Cases involve allegations of ongoing sexual abuse, often in domestic or institutional settings. These cases frequently rely on delayed reporting, recovered memories, and testimony without any physical evidence. We challenge the reliability of delayed disclosures and examine why someone might make false accusations.
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove
Prosecutors must prove specific elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Understanding these elements helps us build your defense.
Lack of Consent
In most sex crime cases, they must prove the alleged victim didn’t consent. Consent means voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Lack of consent can come from force, fear, fraud, intoxication, unconsciousness, or inability to consent because of age or mental capacity.
Sexual Intent
They must prove you acted with sexual intent. Innocent touching doesn’t count. Medical examinations don’t count. Accidents don’t count. The touching or conduct must be sexual in nature and done for sexual gratification.
Knowledge
Sometimes they must prove you knew certain facts. For statutory rape, you might have a defense if you reasonably believed the minor was over 18. For child pornography, they must prove you knowingly possessed the materials.
Identity
They must prove you’re the person who committed the alleged offense. Identity becomes an issue in cases involving strangers, poor lighting, intoxication, or significant time between the incident and the report.
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“I had a great experience with Morales Law Firm. They offer free consultations, which was a huge plus. With a promising track record and clear expertise, they answered all of my questions in a professional and timely manner. Attorney Chris Morales is definitely a lawyer I can trust, and I highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal help.”
Common Defenses to Sex Crime Allegations
We’ve defended hundreds of sex crime cases in Redwood City. Here’s what actually works:
False Accusations
They happen more than you’d think. Custody battles where one parent weaponizes the kids. Divorce proceedings that turn nasty. Revenge after a bad breakup. Mental health issues. Attention-seeking behavior. Pressure from parents or authorities. We investigate thoroughly to uncover evidence of false accusations—text messages, social media posts, witness statements showing motive, prior false accusations by the same person.
Consent
If the sexual activity was consensual, you’re not guilty. Simple as that. But these cases often become “he said, she said” situations where the alleged victim claims lack of consent while you maintain everything was consensual. We examine text messages before and after the incident, communications showing the nature of your relationship, witness testimony, and inconsistencies in the accuser’s story.
Mistaken Identity
If you’re not the perpetrator, you’re not guilty. Identity defenses come up in stranger cases, poor visibility situations, when the alleged victim was intoxicated, or when there’s a significant delay between the incident and identification. We challenge eyewitness identifications through expert testimony on how memory actually works and by highlighting inconsistencies in physical descriptions.
Insufficient Evidence
Prosecutors must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. Many sex crime cases have zero physical evidence and rely entirely on the alleged victim saying it happened. We challenge weak cases by highlighting the lack of corroborating evidence, pointing out inconsistent statements, and questioning why there was no prompt report.
Constitutional Violations
If cops violated your constitutional rights during investigation or arrest, we can suppress evidence or get charges dismissed. Illegal searches. Coerced confessions. Failure to provide Miranda warnings. These violations can kill the prosecution’s case.
Alibi
If you can prove you were somewhere else when the alleged crime occurred, you’re not guilty. Alibis need documentation—witnesses who’ll testify, receipts, video footage, cell phone location data, work records showing you were at the office. We gather and present alibi evidence to create reasonable doubt.
Mental State Defenses
Some sex crime charges require proof of specific mental states. If you lacked the required intent, or if you reasonably believed certain facts—like the alleged victim’s age or that they consented—you might have a valid defense.
Penalties for Sex Crime Convictions in California
Sex crime penalties in California are brutal.
Rape (PC § 261): 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison. If the victim was a minor, sentences go up significantly. Aggravating factors can push it to 9, 11, or 13 years.
Child Molestation (PC § 288): 3, 6, or 8 years base. If force or fear was used, it’s 5, 8, or 10 years. If the child is under 10, the sentence jumps to 15 years to life.
Sexual Battery (PC § 243.4): Misdemeanor charges mean up to one year in county jail. Felony charges mean 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison.
Child Pornography (PC § 311.11): 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years per image. Sentences run consecutively. Possession of multiple images means decades in prison.
Beyond prison, convictions mean lifetime sex offender registration under California Penal Code § 290. You can’t live near schools or parks. You lose professional licenses. Non-citizens get deported. And the social stigma never goes away. According to California’s three strikes law, many sex crimes count as strikes, potentially resulting in 25 years to life for subsequent felonies.
The Investigation and Arrest Process
Sex crime investigations start when someone reports an alleged offense to law enforcement. Cops interview the alleged victim, collect forensic evidence through sexual assault examination kits when applicable, and try to interview you—which is where most people screw up.
Never talk to police without an attorney. Ever. Innocent people think they can explain things. Instead, they say stuff that gets used against them at trial. Cops might seek search warrants for your home, computers, and phones. We challenge illegal searches through suppression motions.
Once cops think they have enough, they arrest you. Bail in sex crime cases is typically high.
What to Do If You’re Accused
If you’re accused of a sex crime in Redwood City, follow these steps:
Don’t Talk to Police
Exercise your Fifth Amendment right. Everything you say will be used against you. Say you want a lawyer. Then shut up.
Don’t Contact the Alleged Victim
Any contact gets characterized as intimidation or witness tampering. Even if they contact you first, don’t respond.
Contact a Sex Crimes Lawyer Immediately
Time matters. Evidence needs to be preserved. Witnesses need to be interviewed. Call us for a free consultation.
Preserve Evidence
Save text messages, emails, social media communications, photographs, videos—anything relevant. Document where you were if the alleged incident occurred on a specific date.
Follow Court Orders
If the court issues protective orders or bail conditions, follow them exactly. Violations mean additional charges and you’re back in jail.
The Legal Process for Sex Crime Cases
Arraignment: Happens within 48 hours of arrest. Judge reads charges, you enter a plea, court sets bail. Having a criminal defense attorney in Redwood City at your first appearance matters.
Preliminary Hearing: For felony charges, you get a preliminary hearing where prosecutors present evidence to establish probable cause. We cross-examine the alleged victim and other witnesses. This lets us lock in their testimony and spot weaknesses.
Pretrial Motions: We file motions to suppress evidence, dismiss charges, or exclude testimony. These can result in dismissals or significantly weaken their case.
Negotiation: Some cases resolve through negotiation for reduced charges or dismissal. But many sex crime cases must be tried because the consequences of conviction—including registration—are too severe.
Trial: You have a right to jury trial. Prosecutors must prove every element beyond reasonable doubt. We cross-examine witnesses, challenge forensic evidence, present expert testimony, and argue for acquittal.
Appeals: If convicted, we can pursue criminal appeals challenging trial errors or constitutional violations.
How We Build Your Defense
Our approach is methodical and aggressive. We start investigating immediately—interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, examining the alleged victim’s background and credibility.
We retain expert witnesses when needed. Forensic experts to challenge DNA evidence. Psychologists to testify about false accusations and how memory actually works. Other specialists depending on what your case needs.
We investigate the alleged victim thoroughly. Background. Prior false accusations. Mental health history. Motivations for lying. Inconsistent statements. We analyze all forensic evidence—DNA, rape kit results, computer forensics, cell phone records. We look for problems with evidence collection and chain of custody.
We file motions to suppress evidence from illegal searches, exclude coerced confessions, and dismiss charges based on constitutional violations. If your case goes to trial, we prepare extensively—developing our defense theory and preparing thorough cross-examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I’m falsely accused?
Don’t panic. Don’t contact the accuser trying to straighten things out. Don’t talk to cops. Contact an experienced sex crimes lawyer immediately. False accusations can be defeated, but you need skilled representation from the start.
Can I beat a sex crime charge if there’s no physical evidence?
Yes. Lot of sex crime cases rely entirely on the alleged victim’s testimony. We challenge credibility, expose inconsistencies, present alternative explanations, and create reasonable doubt.
Will I have to register as a sex offender?
Most sex crime convictions require it. Registration length—10 years, 20 years, or lifetime—depends on the specific offense. Fighting to avoid conviction is the only way to avoid registration.
What if the alleged victim wants to drop charges?
Doesn’t matter. The state prosecutes sex crimes, not the victim. Even if the alleged victim recants or refuses to cooperate, prosecutors often proceed anyway. But an uncooperative victim significantly weakens their case.
Should I take a polygraph test?
No. Polygraph results aren’t admissible in court, but anything you say during the polygraph can be used against you. Plus polygraphs are unreliable and often produce false results.
About Morales Law Firm
Christopher F. Morales started this firm with one focus: defending people accused of crimes. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley and Santa Clara University School of Law before being admitted to the California State Bar in 1991.
Since then, he’s defended thousands of clients in criminal cases throughout California, including sensitive and complex sex crime cases. He’s certified as a Specialist in Criminal Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Less than 1% of California lawyers have this certification.
He served as Chairman of the Private Defender Committee for the San Mateo Private Defender Panel in 2005. He was also on the Board of Directors of the San Mateo County Bar Association from 2006-2009. This provides unique insight into how the San Mateo County criminal justice system operates.
Mr. Morales is a former National Boxing Champion (1984). He brings the same determination to defending clients in court that he brought to the ring.
Important Local Resources for Redwood City Sex Crime Cases
San Mateo County Superior Court – Criminal Division 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 261-5100 https://www.sanmateocourt.org/court_divisions/criminal/criminal.php
San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 363-4636 https://www.smcgov.org/da
California Sex Offender Registry (Megan’s Law) https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/
California Courts Self-Help Center https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm
Contact Morales Law Firm
If you’re facing sex crime allegations in Redwood City, CA, contact us immediately. These accusations spread fast and damage your reputation before you’re even charged. We offer free confidential consultations.
We’re available 24/7.
Sex crime accusations are devastating. The penalties are severe. The social stigma is permanent. But you have defenses, and we know how to use them. Attorney Christopher Morales handles cases personally—you get representation from a Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 30 years of experience.
We serve Redwood City and all of San Mateo County. Our office has convenient access to the courthouse at 400 County Center. If you need a sex crimes lawyer Redwood City, we provide experienced, discreet representation.
Don’t talk to police or investigators. Don’t try handling this yourself. Your freedom and your future are too important.
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Contact us today to discuss your case with an experienced Redwood City criminal defense lawyer.
