Court Decides California Sex Offender Law Unconstitutional

Penal Code sections 4852.01 and 290.5 allow certain sex offenders to obtain a certificate of rehabilitation and then request that they no longer have to register as a sex offender.  It is a controversial law that sparks strong emotions from sex offense victims and their advocates, but our legislature has recognized that people can change and, when this happens, they should no longer have to carry the lifetime burden of registering as a sex offender.

Condensed Version:  Court decides California sex offender law is unconstitutional by barring those convicted of misconduct with persons under 14 from relief from PC 290 Registration.

In 1998, John Tirey pled guilty to six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with two girls under the age of 14 (Penal Code § 288(a)).  The case was filed in Orange County.  Lance Jensen was the judge.

Judge Jensen sentenced Tirey to six years in state prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender under Penal Code § 290 for life.
Fourth Appellate district CA Court of Appeal
Penal Code § 290 (a)(1) also provides that someone required to register as a sex offender may ask to be relieved of this requirement, unless the person has a conviction under Penal Code § 288(a), (like Tirey).

Tirey had argued that the judge should grant his request because Penal Code §§ 290.5(a)(1) and 4852.01(a) were unconstitutional because they denied his right to equal protection as provided in the U.S. Constitution, made applicable to the states.  His argument was that 290.5 (a)(1) and 4852.01(a) allowed relief from 290 registration to persons convicted of Penal Code § 288.7, sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation or sexual penetration of someone age ten or less, but paradoxically deny relief to people convicted of 288.  The conduct prohibited by Penal Code § 288.7 is overly sexual and seemingly much worse than a violation of § 288(a).  Judge Jensen disagreed.

Tirey then appealed the trial court’s ruling up to the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District.  In People v. John Lynn Tirey (2013 DJDAR 15127), the appellate court reversed, agreeing with Tirey that the statues concerning the right to a certificate of rehabilitation were indeed unconstitutional and violate Tirey’s right to equal protection.

The appellate court gave a great discourse on what the constitutional guaranty of equal protection means and how a state can defend unequal treatment in a statute, depending upon the circumstances.

In Tirey’s case, the appellate court did address the prosecution’s argument that the unequal treatment of 288.7 verses 288(a) was permissible because the intent required to commit 288(a) requires a specific intent to appeal to or gratify the lust, passion, or sexual desires of that person or the child.  Penal Code § 288.7, however, does not require specific intent.  However, the reader should note that the conduct is most likely quite specific in intent (sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation or sexual penetration).      

However, the appellate court found Tirey’s arguments more persuasive.  It held that the statutory classifications of Penal Code §§ 4852.01(d) and 290.5(a)(2) result in a “rather startling statutory preferential treatment” for persons convicted of more serious crimes, all of which denies the latter persons of the equal protection of the laws.  The court cited to Newland v. Board of Governors (1977) 19 Cal. 3d 705, 708 and 712 as a prior case where statutory rape was discussed in the same 290 context.

The court of appeal then reversed the order denying the certificate of rehabilitation and the case was remanded (sent back) to the trial court to consider the petition on its merits.

It should be emphasized that the trial court could still deny the petition on other grounds, such as finding that Tirey had not established he was rehabilitated as required.


For more information about registering as a sex offender under Penal Code § 290, click on the following articles:

1. Enhanced Sentence Upheld on Appeal for Sex Crime Defendant Who Already Was a Penal Code § 290 Registrant
2. Appellate Court Denies Equal Protection Challenge of Lifetime Sex Offender Registration Requirement for Possession of Child Pornography
   

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