Being accused, arrested for, or charged with an internet sex crime in St. Louis, Missouri is a high-stress situation. Not only are there high fines and long prison sentences to worry about, but a conviction also carries a very real possibility of having to register as a sex offender.
However, being charged is not the same thing as being convicted. The things you say and the decisions you make in the hours or days after your arrest can have an enormous impact on the outcome of your case.
At Combs Waterkotte, we’ve successfully defended hundreds of St. Louis clients against sex crimes of all kinds. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you should expect and everything you should do if you’ve been charged with an internet sex crime in St. Louis.
What’s in this blog post:
- What Counts as an Internet Sex Crime in Missouri?
- How Most Internet Sex Crime Investigations in St. Louis Begin
- The Biggest Mistakes People Make After an Internet Sex Crime Allegation
- What Happens After an Internet Sex Crime Arrest in St. Louis?
- How a Lawyer Can Help You Fight Your Internet Sex Crime Charges
What Counts as an Internet Sex Crime in Missouri?
Missouri law covers several sexual offenses with penalties that span anywhere from years to decades in prison. Some of the most common internet sex crimes we help defend against include:
- Child pornography — The possession or distribution of explicit sexual material involving minors
- Enticement of a child — Attempting to lure a child under 15 years old for sex (also called “grooming”)
- Nonconsensual sharing or private sexual images — A crime commonly known as “revenge porn”
- Threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images — A crime commonly known as “sextortion”
While every internet sex crime charge should be taken very seriously, online sex crimes involving children tend to carry the most investigative scrutiny and the harshest criminal consequences.
How Most Internet Sex Crime Investigations in St. Louis Begin
Between an alleged offense taking place and an arrest, there’s a lot of police activity that may lead law enforcement to you. Each case is different, but internet sex crime investigations in St. Louis tend to begin a few different ways.
Police May Contact You Directly
In some cases, police may contact you before an arrest or before even filing formal charges. Most often, they’ll ask you in for an interview, saying things like, “We just want to talk,” or, “Why don’t you just help us clear things up?”
While they may sound convincing, this is a lie. In a criminal case, police absolutely do not have your best interest at heart, and they are legally allowed to lie to you. You should never, under any circumstances, speak to law enforcement about criminal charges without a lawyer.
Don’t worry about “looking suspicious” or “seeming guilty,” either. It’s your right under the law not to speak at all and not to speak without an attorney present.
Search Warrants for Your Home or Devices
Other times, an investigation into an alleged internet sex crime will start with a search warrant. Police may be granted approval by a judge to search your phone, computer, email accounts, social media accounts, and more.
While you must comply with a search if you’re presented with a warrant, the scope of a search warrant may still be limited to certain areas or devices. A lawyer can review the warrant to ensure police don’t violate the legal parameters of their search.
Undercover Operations and Sting Investigations
In some cases, police officers may pose as minors in online chatrooms as part of their investigation. They can then use the messages or images they exchange with you as evidence against you.
Even if the officer on the other end of the screen is not actually a minor, it’s important to understand that you can still be charged with certain child-related internet sex offenses. Many Missouri statutes include instances in which someone interacts with someone they “believe to be” a minor.
CyberTipline Reports and Digital Evidence
Some internet sex crime cases begin with a tip submitted on the CyberTipline, a national, centralized reporting system for tips regarding sexually exploited children. Social media companies, Google, Apple, Dropbox, and other organizations may report you if you’re found to be allegedly breaking the law on their platforms.
The Biggest Mistakes People Make After an Internet Sex Crime Allegation
No matter how the investigation begins, in many cases, individuals charged with an internet sex crime in the St. Louis area often make mistakes after they’re arrested and charged. Here are some of the most common mistakes we see in these cases:
- Talking to the police without a lawyer — It’s very easy to make damaging statements by mistake that can undermine a future defense strategy
- Trying to explain messages or images — While it’s tempting to explain your side of the story, any communications with law enforcement or prosecutors are better left to a lawyer
- Deleting accounts, messages, or files — Attempting to get rid of incriminating evidence can result in additional charges and longer prison sentences
- Contacting the alleged victim or a witness — You should never try to contact anyone involved in the alleged offense as it may be misinterpreted as intimidation
- Waiting too long to hire an attorney — The earlier you hire a criminal defense attorney to handle your case, the better the odds of receiving a favorable outcome
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Charged With a Sex Crime? Common Defense Strategies in Sex Crime Cases
Combs Waterkotte is Missouri and Illinois’s leading sex crime defense law firm. Our team of expert criminal defense attorneys have handled over 10,000 cases – many just like yours – and have saved out clients from over 1 million days from jail or prison.
What Happens After an Internet Sex Crime Arrest in St. Louis?
After you’re arrested for an alleged internet sex crime offense in St. Louis, Missouri, your case can go a few different ways. While the process is different for everyone depending on the charge and their criminal history, here is how it typically goes:
- After an arrest, you may or may not be released on bond
- There will be a review of the evidence and your digital devices
- St. Louis City or County prosecutors will formally file charges
- There may be sex offender registry concerns depending on your charges
- The case could escalate to state or even federal charges depending on the severity
How a Lawyer Can Help You Fight Your Internet Sex Crime Charges
You absolutely do not want to face an internet sex crime charge in St. Louis on your own. St. Louis county prosecutors tend to pursue convictions in these cases aggressively, and without an attorney, you could face years in prison.
At Combs Waterkotte, we’ve helped clients take on sex crime charges in the St. Louis area before. Here’s what we can do for you if you’re facing an internet sex crime charge:
- Challenge illegal searches and seizures — We’ll investigate thoroughly to ensure your rights weren’t violated by police
- Question digital evidence — Digital forensics are complicated, and we can sift through the evidence and create reasonable doubt
- Argue access to shared devices — If you were not the only one with access to your phone or computer, this can raise reasonable doubt as to whether or not you committed the alleged offense
- Raise an entrapment defense — If police coerced you into committing a crime you otherwise would not have committed, we may be able to get your charges dropped
- Negotiate with prosecutors — We may be able to speak with prosecutors on your behalf to secure a favorable deal without having to go to trial at all
Whatever charge you’re facing, a good defense attorney can be the difference between staying free and spending years behind bars.
Speak with a St. Louis, Missouri Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Today
If you’re facing an internet sex crime charge in St. Louis, time is already working against you. Prosecutors may be building a case against you hour by hour, and the longer you wait to get a lawyer involved, the worse your situation can get.
Combs Waterkotte can protect your rights and help prevent you from making damaging statements to investigators. We can be present to speak for you during police interviews, negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf, and start building a clear, cohesive defense strategy before charges are even filed.
Don’t wait—your freedom and future could be on the line. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to our St. Louis lawyers online to see how we can help fight against your internet sex crime charges today.
