There has been a lot in the news lately about sex trafficking and human trafficking. At Chambers Law Firm, we believe that everyone deserves an attorney who will be on their side from day one. We also believe that sometimes prosecutors charge more aggressively than they normally would when a topic is appearing more often in the news.
For this reason, we worry that people will be convicted of human trafficking or sex trafficking when they were committing a much lesser crime or no crime at all. Keep reading to learn what the state considers human trafficking and some of the defense options to fight it. Then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to request a free legal consultation.
The Definition of Human Trafficking
California Penal Code defines human trafficking as depriving someone of their freedom with the intent of obtaining forced labor or other forced services from them, depriving a person of their freedom with the intent to break the law related to pimping and pandering, child pornography laws, extortion or blackmail laws, or convincing (or trying to convince) a minor to engage in a commercial sex act with the intent of violating the above-described laws.
Potential Penalties for a Human Trafficking Conviction
In 2012, voters passed the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act. It greatly increased penalties for a person convicted of human trafficking. In this state, it is always a felony. If a person is convicted of trafficking persons to obtain forced labor, they could face up to 12 years in state prison and fines of half a million dollars.
A person convicted of trafficking in order to commit crimes related to commercial sex, child pornography, or extortion could face as much as 20 years in prison, fines of up to half a million dollars, and the requirement to register as a sex offender.
If a person persuades or attempts to persuade a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, they could face up to life in prison if they used force, fear, the threat of injury, or violence. They could also pay up to $500,000 in fines and be required to register as a sex offender.
Legal Defenses for Charges of Human Trafficking
We might work to show that you have been falsely accused and were not involved in the alleged crime at all. We might show that you did not deprive the alleged victim of their freedom or that you made a mistake of fact and are not guilty of the crime. The best defense will, of course, depend on the specifics of your case.
If you are ready to talk to a criminal defense attorney today, then we welcome your call to Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
