A Fullerton man convicted earlier this year for twice ejaculating in a co-worker’s water bottle for was ordered to pay $27,000 on top of the jail time for battery, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Charges of battery in Orange County can be serious, as can allegations of sex offenses. Both can require time in jail or prison as well as possible registration as a sex offender or sex predator. These types of charges require the services of an experienced Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer, who can scrutinize all evidence the state intends to use in its prosecution.
According to the newspaper, the 32-year-old man was recently ordered to pay the woman $27,410.80 to cover lost wages, therapy and medical expenses, including the money she paid to have the tainted water tested.
The man was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of battery in February after he left semen-laced water on his co-worker’s desk at the Newport Beach office they shared on two occasions. The woman drank from the bottles both times. She threw the first away after detecting an unusual taste. She saved the second to test it. The man’s DNA later matched the water bottle.
Depending on the circumstances, it may have been possible for the state to charge him with some type of sex crime. In California, convictions for certain sex crimes can require the defendant to register as a sex offender for a period of time and sometimes for life.
These sex offender and sexual predator registries are viewable to everyone. In California, people are required to notify law enforcement when they move so neighbors get notices telling them a person has moved in nearby. It can be very intrusive for people, which is why an aggressive defense is necessary.
Obviously, sex crimes can vary. They can range from indecent exposure, which many times is accidental and charges aren’t warranted, to a forcible rape. Failing to register as a sex offender is also a crime.
The same goes for battery. Battery charges are different than assault charges. Assault is an attempt or threat of violence against a person. Battery is actually physically abusing someone, therefore the charges are more severe. In this case, the man was charged with battery.
Much like sex crimes, battery charges vary depending on the circumstances. The amount of harm done to another person and whether a weapon was used — such as a knife, gun or baseball bat, for instance — can determine the possible penalties.
And while restitution is typically reserved for white collar crimes that include stealing money, a judge determined it was applicable here. The victim in the case apparently lost time at work, had to go through counseling and had to pay to get the water tested at a private laboratory, which all cost money. And because the man was convicted, a judge ordered him to repay the costs.
The criminal justice system is complex and there are many things to take into consideration when defending charges that threaten a person’s liberty. Between defense strategies, determining if restitution is applicable and many other considerations, an experienced and aggressive Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney must be consulted in order to work on getting the best possible resolution for the client.
Contact an Orange County criminal defense attorney at (714) 705-6701 as soon as possible if you are charged with a crime. Protecting your rights and setting up an aggressive defense at the beginning stages is critical in defending against criminal charges.