Being convicted of a Los Angeles sex crime can change a person's entire life in more ways than one. Not only can it affect what one is allowed to do and not do, but it can also change a person emotionally and physically as well. Take for example, Ricky Blackman of Oklahoma, a Tier 3 offender on Oklahoma's sex offender registry. Blackman was a sociable, outgoing teenager, but that all changed when he was convicted for having sex with a 13-year-old girl he believed was 15. Blackman was 16 at the time and the sex offender followed him for years after the incident. This affected Blackman severely as he was unable to attend high school, go to his younger brother's football games or visit the town library. His mother, Mary Duval, says that Blackman is not the same person he was before the incident, “He was so fun-loving and just full of life. I mean there's no other word. Ricky was full of life and now he's definitely more cautious, more reserved." Blackman lived with the "sex offender" label for nearly four years, until a law that took effect in Oklahoma in November removed his name from the registry. After his conviction, Blackman's family moved to Oklahoma where he finished his probation and sex offender treatment. His record was expunged in Iowa, but the same was not the case in Oklahoma; Blackman continued to be on the sex offender registry there. Blackman had to comply with state residency restrictions that prevent registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care center and his attempts to enroll in high school were unsuccessful because he considered a danger to the rest of the students. Another aspect of Blackman's life that became difficult was finding a job. He was continually turned town by employers such as Wal-Mart, McDonald's and another fast food restaurants. "I know what I did was wrong and I deserved to be punished for it. But this destroyed my life. Took it away from me," said Blackman. Like Blackman, many sex offenders face the same hurdles in California. The stigma that follows sex offenders can take a heavy toll on their lives, but there is something you can do about it. If you have been charged with a sex crime, contact the Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney team at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP immediately. Our Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney team has more than 50 years of courtroom experience and will fight on your behalf to protect your rights. Tagged as: los angeles criminal defense attorney, los angeles sex crime defense attorney