Federal Sex Crimes Defense Attorney New Hampshire

Federal sex crime defense attorney New Hampshire. Sex-related accusations leave a mark that follows people forever, often more than nearly any other charge. A conviction can mean years or decades behind bars, massive financial penalties, and lifelong restrictions on living, working, and traveling. If you were charged with a federal sex crime or were sent a target letter, it’s crucial to contact a New Hampshire federal sex crimes lawyer immediately to defend your future, your freedoms, and your name.

Combs Waterkotte‘s New Hampshire federal sex crime defense attorneys bring more than 60 years of combined experience protecting the accused, including in complex federal sex crime matters. Whether you made a mistake you regret or are facing false allegations, we believe you deserve the dedicated, aggressive defense that is your constitutional right. We never judge our clients, no matter the charge, and every consultation remains fully confidential.

Contact our New Hampshire federal crime defense lawyers at (314) 900-HELP, or reach us online, and start building your defense immediately.

On this page:

• How a sex crime becomes a federal offense and when federal authority steps in
• Common categories of federal sex crime charges and how prosecutors handle them
• The punishments and lasting consequences that follow a federal sex crime conviction
• The evidence federal investigators rely on and the ways it can be attacked
• Major defense strategies used in federal sex crime cases, including suppression, entrapment arguments, and mitigation
• How Combs Waterkotte builds federal sex crime defenses and the importance of choosing the right lawyer

What Is a Federal Sex Crime?

Sex crimes generally involve non-consensual acts (like rape) or sexual acts that are consensual but illegal in and of themselves (like prostitution, sex trafficking, or indecent exposure). Ordinarily, state authorities handle these types of charges.

Federal sex crimes include similar allegations but bring the power and resources of the federal government to bear against you.

Federal sex crimes are different from many other charges because the stakes are extremely high. People convicted of these offenses often face:

• Extended incarceration, often measured in decades
• Mandatory minimum prison terms in certain child exploitation and trafficking cases
• Lengthy post-prison supervision requirements
• Requirements to register as a sex offender
• Housing and employment restrictions that last for years
• Permanent damage to family relationships, reputation, and employment

When Does a Sex Crime Become Federal?

Ordinarily, sex-related charges are prosecuted at the state level. A sex crime becomes federal when it intersects with federal property, interstate activity, or national communication systems like the mail or the internet.

A sex offense may fall under federal jurisdiction in New Hampshirevvvvv for reasons such as:

• Crossing state lines while attempting or committing sexual offenses
• Using the internet, social media, or apps to commit or attempt to commit a sexual offense
• Using the mail or other interstate services to send illegal material or communicate with victims
• Offenses on federal property, such as a military base, federal prison, national park, or federal building
• Crimes that involve federal interests, involving actions connected to federal employees or federally administered programs

Who Investigates Federal Sex Crimes?

Federal sex crime investigations are often handled by agencies with specialized units and large resources. Common investigating agencies include:

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• United States Postal Inspection Service
• Investigators from the military alongside other federal agencies

If you are contacted by one of these agencies about a sex offense, the situation is more serious than it may appear. Do not participate in questioning, make statements, or approve searches until speaking with a seasoned New Hampshire federal sex crime defense attorney.

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Types of Federal Sex Crimes We Defend in New Hampshire

Title 18 of the U.S. Code contains numerous federal sex crime statutes. Our New Hampshire federal sex crime lawyers defend them all, but the charges below appear most frequently:

Sexual Abuse and Aggravated Sexual Abuse

The federal statutes on sexual abuse and aggravated sexual abuse cover situations involving coercion, physical force, or victims legally unable to consent

• Acts of sexual violence or threats of harm
• Conduct involving victims who are incapacitated or unable to give consent
• Sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults in certain federal settings

Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Pornography

Federal prosecutors treat child exploitation offenses with extreme severity. The most frequent offenses in this category include:

• Sexual exploitation of children, sometimes known as child pornography production
• Distribution and receipt of child pornography, which may involve transferring files digitally
• Possession of child pornography, regardless of whether content is on a device or remote storage
• Involving a minor in producing explicit images or live broadcasts

Production offenses almost always carry mandatory minimum prison sentences. Even possession alone can lead to long prison terms, lifetime supervised release, and sex offender registration.

Online Enticement and Internet-Based Offenses

Federal law includes numerous internet-based sex crime offenses beyond child pornography. Common charges include:

• Coercion and enticement of a minor through online messaging, texting, or digital communication
• Traveling with intent to engage in illegal conduct with someone believed to be a minor
• Sending sexually explicit material to someone believed to be a minor
• Attempt-related offenses arising from undercover federal investigations

Undercover officers frequently impersonate minors in these investigations. Charges may still be filed even if no real minor exists, based solely on the belief of communicating with a minor.

Sex Trafficking of Adults and Minors

Sex trafficking laws at the federal level are expansive and impose extremely harsh penalties. Sex trafficking generally includes:

• Using force, threats, or coercion to make someone engage in sexual activity in exchange for money, shelter, drugs, or anything of value
• Moving, recruiting, or controlling a person for sexual exploitation
• Sexual activity with a minor involving any exchange of value, even absent threats or force

Federal trafficking charges in New Hampshire often bring decades of imprisonment plus lifetime registration.

Kidnapping and Transport for Sexual Purposes

Federal sex crime charges may stem from interstate movement or unlawful restraint. Examples include:

• Kidnapping linked to sexual exploitation
• Crossing state lines with someone for illegal sexual acts
• Using threats, fraud, or force to move victims for exploitation

How Is a Federal Sex Crime Different from a State Sex Crime in New Hampshire?

Federal sex crimes are different from state sex crimes in New Hampshire because they are handled in a different court system, involve different rules, and often carry much harsher penalties.

Key differences:

• These matters are heard in federal district courts rather than local state courts
• Federal rules of evidence and procedure are generally more complicated and demanding than the rules in New Hampshire state courts.
• Federal agencies have greater resources, more sophisticated digital tools, multi-agency cooperation, and broader investigative powers than state authorities
• The United States Sentencing Guidelines typically impose far harsher sentencing ranges and strict mandatory minimums, and enhancements may apply depending on the victim’s age, force used, quantity of victims/images, and various other aggravating factors.

Penalties and Consequences in Federal Sex Crime Cases in New Hampshire

Federal sex crime punishments often include long prison terms, with consequences that continue long after someone leaves prison.

Prison Sentences and Supervised Release

Federal sex crime statutes often include:

• Very high statutory maximum sentences
• Mandatory minimum sentences that limit a judge’s flexibility
• Long periods of supervised release, sometimes for the rest of a person’s life

Supervised release often includes strict rules about movement, internet use, treatment programs, and close monitoring by probation officers.

Sex Offender Registration and Restrictions

Most federal sex offenses require registration as a sex offender. Registration typically causes:

• Your case details being made public
• Limits on where you can live or work
• Frequent reporting and verification requirements
• Difficulty in finding work and housing because of background checks

Collateral Consequences

The impact of a federal sex crime conviction reaches far beyond prison time or fines:

• Immediate or eventual job loss
• Loss of professional licenses and certifications
• Harm to family ties and possible custody or parenting problems
• Immigration risks for non-citizens, potentially leading to deportation
• Long-lasting social rejection and reputational harm

What Evidence Is Used in Federal Sex Crime Investigations in New Hampshire?

Federal prosecutors typically build these cases using digital records, witness accounts, and forensic testing. Understanding how this evidence was collected and how it is being used is a key part of building a defense.

Common Types of Evidence

• Digital evidence ranging from device data and cloud accounts to messages, emails, and online activity
• Image and video files, along with metadata, timestamps, and file origin data
• Forensic evidence covering DNA samples, fingerprint evidence, and medical forensic documentation
• Statements from alleged victims and witnesses, including interviews and recorded calls
• Undercover communications in sting operations, including recorded chats and calls with agents

How the Government Collects Evidence

Government agents typically gather evidence using:

• Search warrants for homes, vehicles, devices, and online accounts
• Issuing subpoenas to ISPs, social media companies, financial institutions, and others
• Agents posing undercover in chat rooms, apps, or websites
• Interception or recording of phone calls and digital conversations

How a Federal Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in New Hampshire Challenges the Evidence

Strong defenses frequently center on challenging the way evidence was seized and questioning its accuracy. A federal sex crime defense attorney in New Hampshire may:

• Challenge searches or seizures as unconstitutional
• Challenge the validity or scope of search warrants
• Question whether the government can prove who actually used a device or account
• Scrutinize the government’s forensic analysis and conclusions
• Expose contradictions or biases in witness accounts

Defense Strategies in New Hampshire Federal Sex Crime Cases

Every federal sex crime case requires a defense tailored to the individual situation and allegations. An experienced New Hampshire federal sex crimes defense lawyer reviews the evidence, the investigative process, and your background to pursue the best outcome.

• Challenging searches and seizures
  • Search warrants unsupported by sufficient probable cause
  • Officers searching areas or items not approved by the warrant
  • Consent or “walk-through” searches that were not truly voluntary
• Challenging statements
  • Interrogations conducted without proper advisements
  • Statements resulting from improper pressure or coercive tactics
• Challenging digital and forensic evidence
  • Whether prosecutors can prove who controlled the device or account
  • Whether digital evidence was preserved and processed properly
  • Reviewing the government’s work with independent experts
• Disputing intent, consent, and knowledge
  • Messages or conduct that do not show criminal intent
  • Situations where age or consent may legally be argued
  • If the accused understood relevant facts or legal implications
• Entrapment and government overreach
  • Agents encouraging actions the accused would not have otherwise taken
  • Undercover behavior that crosses legal or ethical lines
• Negotiating reduced charges or sentences
  • Working to eliminate or downgrade certain charges
  • Improving the sentencing guideline range
  • Using mitigation to reduce future supervision restrictions

It is completely understandable to feel intimidated when the U.S. government is on the other side, the New Hampshire federal sex crime defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte know how to fight back. We put ourselves between you and the government, working toward the most favorable outcome, including taking your case to trial if necessary.

Why Choose Combs Waterkotte for Your Federal Sex Crime Defense in New Hampshire?

Federal sex crime cases demand only the fiercest, most aggressive, and most experienced attorneys. Combs Waterkotte has built a reputation for taking cases other firms won’t even touch. When your future, freedom, and reputation are on the line, you need a firm that won’t back down, regardless of the stakes.

Our firm provides:

• Decades of combined federal criminal defense experience: Our team has years of experience in complicated federal cases featuring digital forensics, multi-agency task forces, strict mandatory minimums, and highly sensitive accusations.
• A team that knows how the government thinks: Our team includes two former prosecutors with experience on the other side of the aisle in violent and high-stakes sex crime cases, including crimes against children. We are familiar with the strategies and tactics the government uses in building federal sex crime prosecutions. One of our attorneys was selected as one of just 25 prosecutors nationwide to train at the The Secret Service National Computer Forensic Institute.
• Access to top experts and investigative resources: We partner with proven digital forensic experts, medical and psychological specialists, and investigators to dig into the evidence and support your defense.
• Clear, honest, client-centered communication: We keep you informed at every step so you understand what is happening and what comes next. We do not bill by the hour, and you receive your lead lawyer’s personal cell number so you can reach out day or night without extra fees.
• Relentless advocacy inside and outside the courtroom: We push for dismissals where possible, negotiate to lessen charges, and are always prepared to go to trial before a judge and jury to protect your rights.
• Complete discretion and confidentiality: We rigorously guard your privacy and approach every case with the respect and sensitivity it deserves.

When the rest of your life is at stake, choosing the right New Hampshire defense team matters. To federal prosecutors, you are one file among many. To many firms, your case may be just another folder in a pile. At Combs Waterkotte, you are why we do what we do.

Call a Federal Sex Crimes Defense Attorney in New Hampshire to Start Building Your Defense Today

If federal agents are investigating you or you’ve been charged with a sex offense, you must not handle it on your own. Time is critical, and even small decisions can have major consequences.

Reach out to a federal sex crimes defense attorney in New Hampshire as soon as possible to get confidential advice about your rights and your options. The earlier you get help, the stronger your defense can be, the more effectively evidence can be challenged, and the better your long-term future can be protected. You can call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free consultation.