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In late September, a researcher at UC Santa Barbara was arrested on child pornography charges. According to the Santa Barbara Independent, the researcher, who was charged with felony possession or control of child pornography, has been put on leave and banned from UC Santa Barbara’s campus pending the outcome of the case. The researcher, who is 42 years old and was a part of the Psychology and Brain Sciences department, has denied the charges. He has hired a criminal defense lawyer to help him clear his name.
Can I Lose My Job If I’m Arrested on Child Pornography Charges in California?
In some cases, employees can lose their jobs if they are arrested on child pornography charges in California. California is an at-will employment state. In at-will employment states, employers can fire employees at any time for any legal reason or for no reason at all. This means that many employers here have the right to fire employees just for being charged with a crime.
Even if an employee has a contract, they may still lose their job if they’re arrested. Some employment contracts include clauses regarding character or criminal charges, which give the employer the power to fire employees if they are arrested.
Discuss Your Situation with Our Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers in Santa Barbara Today
At Appel & Morse, our criminal defense attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experienced helping clients facing sex crimes charges, including child pornography allegations. Our experienced sex crimes defense lawyers know how to guide clients through the process of having the charges against them reduced or dismissed.
Call us at (805) 467-6060 or reach out to us online today for a free consultation with our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Santa Barbara.