Public Sex in Ventura County, California Could Lead to Private Time in Jail

Posted on April 6, 2016

If your passions get the best of you and an intimate partner while out and about in Ventura County, California and you have sex in public, you could be charged and convicted for violations of California law.

Disorderly Conduct

California law makes it a form of disorderly conduct to engage “in lewd or dissolute conduct in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view.” California Penal Code Section 647(a).

The terms “lewd” and “dissolute” as used in the statute refer to the touching of the genitals, buttocks, or female breasts for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, annoyance or offense.

Under this definition, sexual intercourse or other sex acts between two people would clearly constitute “lewd” and “dissolute” acts under Section 647(a).

What is “In Public”?

However, having sex will only constitute a violation of this statute if you do it in a “public place,” a “place open to the public,” or “exposed to public view.” Even then, it may not be a violation if no one either saw, was likely to see, or was offended by the conduct.

The word “public” for purposes of this statute has been interpreted broadly and courts have found a wide range of places to be “public,” including:

• a private movie booth at an adult bookstore
• a parked car on a public street
• an apartment building hallway
• the area behind a store’s service counter store
• a massage parlor

But just as a tree falling in a forest may not make a sound if no one is around, sex in “public” may not be a violation of the law unless you reasonably should have known that someone would likely see you and be offended.

The California Supreme Court put it this way:

“[Penal Code 647a]… serves the primary purpose of protecting onlookers who might be offended by the proscribed conduct… [E]ven if conduct occurs in a location that is technically a public place, a place open to the public, or one exposed to public view, the state has little interest in prohibiting that conduct if there are no persons present who may be offended.”

Pryor v. Municipal Court, 25 Cal.3d 238, 158 Cal.Rptr. 330 (1979).

A violation of Section 647(a) in Ventura County is a misdemeanor that upon conviction can result in up to six months in Ventura County Jail and fines of up to $1,000.

In addition to being charged under Section 647(a), having sex in public in Ventura County can also be a violation of other California laws, including:

• Penal Code 647(b) – soliciting or engaging in prostitution
• Penal Code 647(d) – loitering in or about an open toilet to engage in or solicit lewd conduct
• Penal Code — indecent exposure

If you are facing criminal charges relating to having sex in public in Ventura County, there are defenses available to you, and an experienced Ventura County criminal defense attorney can work with you to fight the charges or have them reduced. Call us today to discuss your situation.

About the Author

Neil Shouse

A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, Court TV, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.