Also known as indecent exposure, public indecency is a crime in every state, including California. Many people think of this crime in relation to flashers and they may think it’s a humorous thing. The reality is that the allegations can be very serious indeed. Not only can a person convicted of this crime go to jail and pay fines, but they could end up being required to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. If you have been charged with or accused of this crime then you should contact Chambers Law Firm right away.
The definition of indecent exposure
In California, the crime of indecent exposure falls under the portion of the penal code titled “Crimes Against Public Decency and Good Morals.” In short, it is illegal to expose genitals or buttocks and sometimes breasts are included in private parts. The statue makes it clear that it is only relevant in certain places. This includes both public and any place that a person is likely to be “offended or annoyed” by the nudity. As a result, even some seemingly private places could be included under indecent exposure laws.
Potential penalties for indecent exposure
In the state of California, indecent exposure is a misdemeanor. The maximum sentence is up to six months of jail and a fine of $1,000. However, there are a number of factors that can result in harsher sentences. For example, if you entered a home with the intent to commit this crime then you could be looking at a year in jail. If you are arrested and convicted of this crime more than once, then you could be looking at a felony conviction that comes with state prison time.
What’s often the worse part of this crime is that it can require those convicted to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. This can be true even if you did not touch anyone during the act. In some cases, you may only be required to register for ten years. This can make it difficult to get a job and to find a place to live.
Defense options for charges of public nudity
One of the best ways to fight these charges is to look at the specific terms in the statute and prove that they do not apply. For example, the statue requires that “private parts” are exposed, but it does not specify what they mean by “private parts. The statute also requires that you were either in public or that there were people who could have been offended or annoyed. We may work to show that you were simply changing clothes and did not know that another person was there.
Just the concern about having to register as a sex offender should be enough to encourage you to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later. Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 today for a free legal consultation.
