Cal. Codes » Penal Code / PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS / TITLE 9. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON INVOLVING SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC DECENCY AND GOOD MORALS / CHAPTER 5. Bigamy, Incest, and the Crime Against Nature
California Codes

Cal. Penal Code § 288.3 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a)Every person who contacts or communicates with a minor, or attempts to contact or communicate with a minor, who knows or reasonably should know that the person is a minor, with intent to commit an offense specified in Section 207, 209, 261, 264.1, 273a, 286, 287, 288, 288.2, 289, 311.1, 311.2, 311.4 or 311.11, or former Section 288a, involving the minor shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for the term prescribed for an attempt to commit the intended offense.

(b)As used in this section, “contacts or communicates with” shall include direct and indirect contact or communication that may be achieved personally or by use of an agent or agency, any print medium, any postal service, a common carrier or communication common carrier, any electronic communications system, or any telecommunications, wire, computer, or radio communications device or system.

(c)A person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) who has previously been convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for five years.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 39 cases (23 in the last 5 years), 2008–2026 · leading case: Lo, Ex Parte John Christopher, 424 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
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Lo, Ex Parte John Christopher, 424 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “2011) (upholding constitutionality of Cal. Penal Code §288.3 , which provided: "Every person who contacts or communicates with a minor, or attempts to contact or communicate with a minor, who knows or reasonably should know that the person is a minor, with intent to commit an…”
United States v. Christy, 810 F. Supp. 2d 1219 (D.N.M. 2011). · cites it 4× “Carvo believed he had probable cause for the California crimes of: (i) child abduction- — California Penal Code §§ 278 and 278.5; (ii) illegal contact with a minor — California Penal Code § 288.”
People v. Cawkwell, 246 Cal. Rptr. 3d 744 (Cal. Ct. App. 5th 2019). “*1050 A jury found Rennard Cawkwell guilty of communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a specified sex offense ( Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a) ) and annoying or molesting a child ( Pen.”
People v. Medelez, 2 Cal. App. 5th 659 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016). “(b)(1) ) pending service of the sentence for luring (count 3, Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a) ). The superior court is directed to amend the abstract of judgment to reflect the modification and to reflect dismissal of count 4 (Pen.”
San Nicolas v. Harris, 7 Cal. App. 5th 41 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016). “The court found the Washington conviction satisfied the least adjudicated elements test for two registrable California offenses: contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense (Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a) (section 288.”
People v. Sigur, 238 Cal. App. 4th 656 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015). “He was charged with 11 counts of contacting or communicating with a minor (Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a); counts 1, 15-16, 21-22, 27-28, 33, 36, 39, 41), 1 one count of kidnapping for the purpose of lewd act upon a child (§ 207, subd.”
People v. Garcia, 165 Cal. App. 4th 1120 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008). “(Pen. Code, § 288.3, subds. (a), (c); see Prop.”
People v. Guzman CA4/1 (Cal. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “Prosecution’s Case The prosecution charged Guzman with four counts of misconduct against a minor: attempting to communicate with a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act with a minor under 14 (Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a); count 1); arranging and going to meet with a minor…”
(HC) Sigur v. Martinez (E.D. Cal. 2021). · cites it 3× “” CAL. PENAL CODE § 288.3(a). 4 That section provides for an additional term of nine years’ imprisonment where a defendant used kidnapping to effect certain crimes.”
People v. Ruiz CA6 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016). “(a); count 1 [describing lewd act as “inserting his penis into her vagina”], count 2 [describing lewd act as “touching” vagina], count five [describing lewd act as “rubbing her vagina with his hand”], and count 6 [describing lewd act as “kissing”]), one count of contacting a…”
People v. Mendez CA4/3 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016). “Facts In 2013, Mendez was convicted of contacting a minor with intent to have sex (Pen. Code, § 288.3), sentenced to eight months in prison, and ordered to register as a sex offender.”
People v. Cawkwell (Cal. Ct. App. 2019). “A jury found Rennard Cawkwell guilty of communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a specified sex offense (Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a)) and annoying or molesting a child (Pen.”
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— Cal. Penal Code § 288.3(a) — 2 cases
United States v. Christy, 810 F. Supp. 2d 1219 (D.N.M. 2011). “Carvo believed he had probable cause for the California crimes of: (i) child abduction- — California Penal Code §§ 278 and 278.5; (ii) illegal contact with a minor — California Penal Code § 288.”
(HC) Sigur v. Martinez (E.D. Cal. 2021). “” CAL. PENAL CODE § 288.3(a). 4 That section provides for an additional term of nine years’ imprisonment where a defendant used kidnapping to effect certain crimes.”
— Cal. Penal Code § 288.3(b) — 1 case
United States v. Christy, 810 F. Supp. 2d 1219 (D.N.M. 2011). “Carvo believed he had probable cause for the California crimes of: (i) child abduction- — California Penal Code §§ 278 and 278.5; (ii) illegal contact with a minor — California Penal Code § 288.”
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