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Sex Offenses in California - Defined

By Neil Shous, Esq.

Sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape are often used to describe a variety of sex crimes. Because these are ?legal? terms, their actual definitions are frequently misinterpreted. Unfortunately, celebrity tabloids, news sources and other media just add to the confusion. Below is a brief description of these commonly used terms. Sexual battery (Penal Code 243.4), in California, takes place when someone touches another?s ?intimate part? (a female?s breast or anyone?s buttocks, anus, groin, or sexual organ) without consent and for a sexual purpose. Depending on the circumstances, the crime may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. California looks at ?sexual assault? as sort of a catchall phrase that includes any type of offensive sexual contact...continue to full post

Full post as published by California Criminal Defense Blog on April 28, 2009 (boomark / email).