A recent item about a minor sex crime caught the attention of our Redondo Beach sex crimes defense attorneys. The Orange County Register reported April 16 that Orange police arrested a man caught touching himself in the parking lot of a Stater Bros. grocery store. Responding to a phone call reporting a man masturbating inside a parked truck, police found Rick O. Gertonson, 54, performing that act. He was cited for lewd conduct in a public place and released to wait for a May 25 trial. This may have been Gertonson's second arrest for the crime, the Register said, because records show that someone with the same name was charged with lewd conduct in public in 2006.
Lewd conduct in public is a type of disorderly conduct charged against anyone "who engages in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view," or solicits someone else to do so. It is charged against people engaging in sex acts in public, including in a place exposed to public view, like a private car. Lewd conduct in public is a misdemeanor, which means it's punishable by up to a year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. For nonviolent crimes like this one, courts will typically arrange some alternative sentencing that keeps offenders out of jail. That was the case with the 2006 conviction, in which the defendant was sentenced to 10 days of community service and two years of probation. If Gertonson is the same person, he may face steeper penalties this time because it's a second offense.
This is not the most serious sex crime we see as Laguna Hills sex offense criminal defense lawyers, and by itself, it does not qualify the defendant for sex offender registration. (That would change if the defendant is also convicted of indecent exposure, which is often charged with lewd conduct in public.) However, that doesn't mean it's fun for the accused. For one thing, an arrest for lewd conduct in public can be extremely embarrassing and may cause trouble at the defendant's workplace. A conviction can mean jail, probation, work release, community service, addiction counseling, a restraining order or even testing for STDs. A second or subsequent charge makes jail and other more severe penalties much more likely. If you're accused of this crime or another minor sex crime, it can have real effects on your life. You should call an experienced sex crimes defense attorney right away.
At Howard Law, P.C., we prefer to start our defense of sex-related charges as early as we can -- even before an arrest is made, if that's possible. By getting involved early in the case, we can save our clients substantial public embarrassment and start building a defense right away. In fact, our Riverside County sex crimes criminal defense lawyers can sometimes take the case to prosecutors before they file formal charges, using the facts to argue for dismissing the case or reducing charges. In some cases, this may be conditional on completing a class or other obligations. We can also negotiate a plea deal that allows clients to plead guilty to misdemeanors that are not related to sex, such as trespassing. And of course, we are happy to mount a strong defense in a court of law whenever necessary.
Howard Law, P.C. offers free, confidential consultations to all potential clients. To set one up or learn more about how we can help you, contact us through the Internet or call toll-free at 1-800-872-5925.
