As Fontana sex crimes criminal defense lawyers, we were interested to see an item from the OC Weekly about implied wrongdoing. According to a July 14 post to the Navelgazing blog, Amy Frye, a secretary at Orange High School, was put on administrative leave two months ago for allegedly fraternizing with students. The information comes from a police report obtained by the Weekly, but Frye is not facing criminal charges. Rather, an Orange police spokesman said, police are "unable to prove the occurrence of any illegal activity" on her part, despite allegations that she was sleeping with an 18-year-old student. Nonetheless, students told school administrators that Frye had hosted 4-5 parties for students, at which she provided alcohol at least once and allowed it at other times.
The Weekly says a student at Orange High School told a counselor about the parties, which also included games of beer pong. When administrators interviewed more students about the parties, those students said Frye had hosted parties with alcohol four to five times between February and May, with at least six students attending. On one of those occasions, Frye provided the alcohol; at other times, a student's older brother was the source of the alcohol. After the parties, students reportedly would pass out in her living room and spend the night, so they could drive home sober the next morning. Students also told the school that there were rumors that Frye was sleeping with a student, but that student denied it. The unnamed 18-year-old said he had only been in her bedroom to use her computer. The Weekly said the police report mentioned photos of Frye at a campfire with a student over spring break, but did not elaborate.
Our Yorba Linda sex crimes criminal defense attorneys are interested in the police statement that they couldn't prove any law was broken. Providing alcohol to a minor does not carry serious penalties, but it is a crime. She could also be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor that could carry up to a year of actual jail time. Of course, far more important to Frye is that she is not charged with any crimes related to sex with students, which could carry serious penalties. If she had sexual contact with a minor under 18, she could be charged with "unlawful sexual intercourse," which is California's statutory rape law. This is a "wobbler" that may be charged as a felony and also carries a fine of up to $10,000, depending on the age difference. The police department's choice not to charge her suggests that they can't prove any of this, including that she provided alcohol, which makes us wonder about the credibility of the information in the article.
If you're charged with a sex crime, don't hesitate before calling Howard Law, P.C. for help. We represent clients who are accused of all types of sex crimes, including serious crimes that might attract negative publicity or attention. As this case shows, it's easy for the media to get hold of allegations, which leads to judgments by the public long before any case can be filed -- or even after police have decided not to file a case. This is unfortunately part of the nature of sex crimes, which is why our Leucadia sex crimes criminal defense lawyers prefer to get started on cases as early as possible. If we can get involved before an arrest is made, we can minimize negative publicity while also helping them through the difficult process of speaking to police. And of course, an early start gives us the maximum possible opportunities to build a strong defense.
Howard Law, P.C. offers free, confidential consultations, so you risk nothing by speaking to us about your rights and your case. To set one up, send us a message through our website or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
