Child Molestation Attorney in Merced

Nearly Two Decades Standing Only with the Accused in Merced County

A charge under California Penal Code 288 is among the most serious a person can face. Accusations move fast, the prosecution is organized, and a conviction reaches into every part of your life. If you or someone you care about is under investigation or has been charged, you need a defense attorney who has handled these cases before and knows exactly what is at stake.

I offer free, confidential consultations, and I’m available 24/7. Call (209) 546-6192 to speak with me directly about your situation.

What Penal Code 288 Actually Charges

California Penal Code 288 makes it a felony to willfully touch a child under 14 in a sexual manner, or to cause the child to touch themselves, the accused, or another person, with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire. The law is written broadly. The touching doesn’t need to involve a sexual organ or bare skin; contact through clothing can still support a charge.

A related provision, Penal Code 288(c), applies when the alleged victim is 14 or 15 and the accused is at least 10 years older. That charge may be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances.

Prison Time & What a Conviction Follows You With

The sentencing ranges under Penal Code 288 are severe. Under 288(a), a conviction for a lewd act on a child under 14 without force generally carries three, six, or eight years in state prison. If the charge involves force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of injury, Penal Code 288(b) increases that range to five, eight, or ten years.

Beyond prison time, a conviction can count as a strike offense under California’s Three Strikes law, affecting any future case. It also triggers sex offender registration under Penal Code 290, with registration periods that may run from a minimum of 20 years up to lifetime depending on the specific charge and circumstances. These aren’t abstract possibilities. They are the concrete outcomes the prosecution may pursue from the day charges are filed.

Why Merced Defendants Facing Sex Offense Charges Come to Me

I’m Christopher Loethen. I’ve been practicing criminal defense in Merced for nearly two decades and have handled 10,000 cases, including serious sex offense charges, murder cases, violent crimes, and strike matters. I didn’t come from the prosecution’s side. I started as a public defender and have stood only with the accused throughout my entire career.

That background means your defense is built by someone who understands how the other side thinks and where its cases may be weakest. I prepare meticulously, take every case seriously regardless of how the charge looks on paper, and fight with a direct, no-nonsense approach that earns respect inside Merced County Superior Court and out of it. My reputation was built entirely through word of mouth because clients in the toughest situations found real results working with me.

I treat every client as a person with a life and a future worth defending. In cases like these, where the pressure to accept a bad outcome can be intense from day one, that distinction matters.

Start Your Defense Today

The earlier I get involved in a Penal Code 288 case, the more options may be available to you. I personally handle every case from the initial consultation through resolution and don’t hand clients off to someone else. Consultations are free, confidential, and available in Spanish. Virtual meetings are an option if that works better for you.

Call (209) 546-6192 to speak directly with me about your situation. Law Office of Christopher Loethen is available around the clock.