Many people think that stalking would never be considered a sex crime but in some cases, a conviction for stalking will indeed lead to having to register as a sex offender. It all rests on what the courts decide your motivation was for the actions you took.
California law makes it clear that stalking is defined as any type of willful contact toward one specific person where there is no reason to do so other than to annoy, torment, scare, or terrorize. None of that sounds like a sex crime, does it? Read on to learn why an individual case may be considered so, and then reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for help with your case.
Potential punishments for stalking
In California, a charge of stalking can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. It all depends on the specifics of the case. A conviction of misdemeanor stalking can come with up to 364 days in jail and fines of as much as $1,000. It’s also likely that you’ll be hit with a restraining order that prohibits you from making any type of contact with the victim for a period of time.
If you’re charged with a felony then you could be spending as much as three years in jail. At this point, you may also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. This is not automatically part of a sentence for stalking. However, the judge can add it if they think it’s necessary. This is just one of the reasons that you need an experienced attorney to fight this charge. Reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for help.
Why the judge may choose to make you register
There are a few things that could happen that would lead to a California judge requiring you to register as a sex offender. In most cases, they will do so if they look at your felony conviction and believe that your primary motivation was either sexual compulsion or sexual gratification. This is something that we can present evidence against in your trial.
Reach out to an experienced attorney today
If you’ve been accused of stalking then you need to speak to an attorney right away. Depending on the specifics of your case, Law Office of Michael L. Fell may be able to help in a variety of ways. We may work to have evidence thrown out, which could lead to the charges being dismissed. In other cases, we may work to find a plea deal. Ideally, we’d get felony charges reduced to misdemeanors. If necessary, we’ll also take your case to trial.
At Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we have the experience you need. You are not in this alone. You do have options. No matter how hopeless you may feel, or how worried you are about the future, there are choices you can make today. Reach out to us at (949) 585-9055 to set up a consultation.