Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Blue Valley, MO. Don’t underestimate internet sex crime allegations in Blue Valley, MO. You might think that these convictions are not as severe as rape or sexual assault, but the penalties for a conviction are often felonies, leading to years in prison.
If you’re facing these allegations, you can get help. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, Combs Waterkotte. Our firm has handled hundreds of sex crime cases. We’re here to build you a strong defense, not to judge.
On this page, you’ll learn about common online sex crime charges in Blue Valley, MO, and why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight them. If you need expert advice for your case, call our team at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to set up a free case review.
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This Page Covers
- How an online sex crimes lawyer will give you assistance
- Key qualities to think about when looking for a sex crimes attorney
- Internet sex crime charges our firm defends in Blue Valley, MO
- Why you need to think about Federal criminal defense
- Things to avoid if you’re being charged with an internet sex crime
- How our lawyers defend online sex crime accusations in Blue Valley, MO
- How a sex crime conviction can affect your life
- How to contact a Blue Valley, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer now
What Your Blue Valley, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Does for You
If someone’s accusing you of committing an internet sex crime, getting in touch with a respected Blue Valley, MO, sex crime defense lawyer should be your first step. The right attorney will help with not only the legal aspects of your case, but also public perception.
On the legal side, it’s never too early to call an attorney. They can even protect you while detectives are investigating the allegations. It’s common for them to help by speaking to the police on your behalf and supporting you during interrogations. In the meantime, they will look for exculpatory evidence.
The two major factors in most online sex crime charge defenses are consent and the legality of evidence. Your attorney should talk to you about both of these options to discover what’s right for you. It’s important to dissect possible motives behind the accusations, rather than accept them without question.
Finally, your criminal defense lawyer will help you protect your reputation. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma that’s uniquely negative, and that can impact you regardless of the case’s outcome. An attorney who’s comfortable speaking in front of the press can defend your reputation and protect you from the spotlight.
Top Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Qualities
For many reasons, you need a local Blue Valley, MO, internet sex crimes attorney when facing these charges. But it’s not always clear who the right lawyer is for your case. When you’re deciding who to represent you, look for someone which can give you the following:
- Experience: Experience gives attorneys knowledge about which strategies work, and which ones don’t.
- Client-Centered Approach: Look for someone who cares about your wellbeing, not just a paycheck.
- Strong Reputation: You want to work with someone who is known for getting positive results for clients.
- Trial-Ready Strategy: Regardless of the charge you’re facing, having a trial-ready strategy is an important piece of leverage.
Combs Waterkotte’s online sex crime lawyers provide all of the above. When you choose us, you get a team who cares about you, has decades of experience, is known for success, and is always ready to take a case to trial. Our team won’t stop fighting till you get the justice you deserve.
Legal Videos
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
Too Intoxicated to Give Consent?
Missouri criminal defense lawyers Steven Waterkotte and Chris Combs talk about alleged victims being too intoxicated to give consent. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Most people …
Criminal Lawyer Talks About Representing Sex Criminals
Real Criminal Defense Lawyer talks about representing sex criminals. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: I always say probably what the public views as the most vile or despicable …
Your Word Against Theirs in Court
Are just allegations enough to get charged with a crime? When it's your word against theirs in court. Episode Transcript Chris Combs: And allegations alone will do it. Steve hit on this …
What Happens When You Are Charged With a Child Sex Crime?
What happens when you are charged with a child sex crime? Episode Transcript Chris Combs: If you're a tier three sex offender, you can only have approved electronic devices. You have to …
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
Too Intoxicated to Give Consent?
Missouri criminal defense lawyers Steven Waterkotte and Chris Combs talk about alleged victims being too intoxicated to give consent. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Most people …
Criminal Lawyer Talks About Representing Sex Criminals
Real Criminal Defense Lawyer talks about representing sex criminals. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: I always say probably what the public views as the most vile or despicable …
Your Word Against Theirs in Court
Are just allegations enough to get charged with a crime? When it's your word against theirs in court. Episode Transcript Chris Combs: And allegations alone will do it. Steve hit on this …
What Happens When You Are Charged With a Child Sex Crime?
What happens when you are charged with a child sex crime? Episode Transcript Chris Combs: If you're a tier three sex offender, you can only have approved electronic devices. You have to …
Blue Valley, MO, Internet Sex Crime Allegations Our Lawyers Fight
There are a wide variety of actions that fall into the ‘internet sex crimes’ category. Here are some of the most common ones:
Possessing Child Pornography
Statute: § 573.037
Description: Possession of child pornography occurs when a person has sexual pictures or videos of a minor in their possession. The alleged offender has to have them either on purpose, or recklessly.
Penalty: Normally a Class D felony. In certain circumstances, like having more than 20 images, it is a Class B felony.
Promoting Child Pornography
Statute: § 573.025 | § 573.035
Description: Promoting (such as distributing) child pornography is split into two degrees: First degree is for material that depicts someone under the age of 14, while second degree is for minors older than that. Providing such material to others violates this law.
Penalty: First Degree: Class B felony, or Class A felony if the recipient was a minor. Second Degree: Class D felony, or Class B felony if the recipient was a minor
Exploitation of a Minor (Producing Child Pornography)
Statute: § 573.023
Description: Exploitation of a minor is when a person creates child pornography, whether on purpose or out of carelessness. This includes photographing or taking video of a child in a sexual situation.
Penalty: Class B or Class A felony.
Solicitation (Enticement) of a Minor
Statute: § 566.151
Description: Solicitation of a minor is when an adult over the age of 21 uses the internet, phone, or other electronic device to convince someone under the age of 15 to have sex, or a similar act.
Penalty: 5-30 years in prison, with no possibility for probation or early release for at least 5 years.
Stalking
Statute: § 565.225 | § 565.227
Description: Missouri has different statutes that govern first- and second-degree stalking offenses. Second-degree stalking involves causing emotional distress to someone without a legitimate reason. First-degree stalking is similar, but includes more advanced cases, like an adult over the age of 21 stalking someone under 17.
Penalty: First Degree: Class E felony in most cases, Class D in more advanced cases. Second Degree: Class A misdemeanor in most cases, Class E felony in advanced cases.
Whatever type of internet sex crime charge you’re facing, Combs Waterkotte is ready for your case. We will listen to your story, look for holes in the state’s case, and fight for the best outcome possible in your case.
Why You Need to Know About Federal Internet Sex Crime Charges in Blue Valley, MO
Unfortunately, if you’ve been accused of an internet sex crime in Blue Valley, MO, you may have to deal with more than just the local prosecutor. You’re also potentially looking at federal sex crime allegations. Normally, for the federal government to be involved, the alleged offense needs to occur on federal property or cross state lines. Internet crimes frequently involve the federal government, because they inherently go beyond state borders.
Federal criminal charges are often even more serious than state charges. Judges have a reputation for being harsher. It’s easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed when walking into federal court to defend yourself.
Your Blue Valley, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who stops when the federal government gets involved. You need a team with the strength to take on the U.S. government. At Combs Waterkotte, you get a team of attorneys, support staff, and investigators who won’t back down, no matter who you’re facing.
Do’s and Don’t’s of Internet Sex Crime Accusations
If you’ve been charged with an online sex crime in Blue Valley, MO, you need to take the right steps to protect your innocence. Small mistakes early in the process can have large effects later down the line. But if you avoid them, you’re maximizing your defense’s power.
Here are the main Do’s and Don’t’s to follow if you’re accused of an internet sex crime:
Do: Contact an Attorney
Whatever your situation is, a lawyer should be your first call. An attorney can help you handle interviews, come up with a defense strategy, negotiate with the prosecutor, and more. Trying to clear up the accusation on your own is always a bad idea.
Don’t: Talk to the Police Alone
It can be tempting to think, “This is all just a misunderstanding; I can clear this up when I talk to the police.” But in reality, this is a dangerous trap to fall into. Regardless of your situation, a poorly handled interview can sink your case.
Do: Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent
You might find yourself in a police interrogation before your lawyer arrives – don’t talk. Invoke your Fifth Amendment rights and politely request to speak with your attorney.
Don’t: Contact the Alleged Victim
If you personally know the alleged victim, your might be thinking about talking with them to figure things out. But this can get you in even more trouble. Even if you don’t mean it, this contact could be seen as intimidation, hurting your case.
Do: Gather and Preserve Evidence
Your internet sex crimes lawyer will use whatever evidence you have to build your defense. Before it’s lost, take screenshots or other steps to save the evidence. And let your attorney know about anything you find.
Don’t: Delete Evidence
Trying to cover up evidence will only make things worse. If you do this, you can face additional charges and extended punishments.
If you’ve just been accused and are trying to figure out what to do, follow the steps on this document: What to Do if You’re Accused of a Sex Crime.
Common Defenses Our Lawyers Use Against Internet Sex Crime Allegations
Your situation is unique, and your defense should be, too. At Combs Waterkotte, we provide clients with a defense strategy designed to fit their situation. We pick out an appropriate strategy and customize it to your situation.
Here are six of the most common tactics your Blue Valley, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer might use to defend you:
- Lack of Intent: Intent doesn’t matter for every internet sex crime, but for many, it does. For example, if you purchased a used computer without knowing it had child pornography on it, you never intended to possess it.
- Rights Violation: Law enforcement and the prosecution have to follow rules when making their case. If you weren’t read your Miranda rights before a statement, or the police made a legal error while collecting evidence, we can push for it to be suppressed.
- Consent: Consent doesn’t apply to every defense, but for some, it does. For example, it can be legal to post sexual images of someone online if you have their permission. Note that this does not apply to offenses involving minors.
- Mistaken Identity: With internet crimes, it can be hard to properly identify who the person is behind the keyboard. It’s possible someone hacked into your social media account and used it to send explicit messages, or another person logged into your computer to stalk someone.
- Alibi: To help show a mistaken identity, we can build a case that you couldn’t have committed the crime because you were elsewhere at the time.
- False Allegations: Unfortunately, there are sometimes false allegations of sex crimes, often as a part of interpersonal conflict. We can investigate the accuser’s motives and use this to raise reasonable doubt.
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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.
Consequences of an Online Sex Crime Conviction
A conviction will lead to a prison sentence, in most cases. The length of the sentence depends on what you’re being accused of. A lighter allegation that’s a Class A misdemeanor has a maximum of one year, while a Class A felony can go up to 30 years, or even life imprisonment.
On top of that, you’ll have to register as a sex offender. This could be at the federal and/or state level. In Blue Valley, MO, some individuals are able to request removal from the registry, but this requires you to wait 10 or 20 years, without any other related convictions. And while you’re waiting, violations can have harsh penalties in and of themselves.
Finally, you’ll have to deal with the informal consequences. You could lose your job, there are restrictions on where you can live, and your family could be torn apart. On top of that, people will likely treat you differently if they find out about your conviction.
For all these reasons, it’s important to act fast and do what you can to avoid a conviction in the first place.
Talk To an Experienced Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, Today
Our firm is ready to represent you. You shouldn’t settle for anything less than Missouri’s leading criminal defense law firm. We offer:
- A team with over 80 years of combined courtroom experience.
- Easy communication and regular updates on your case.
- Insight into how the state builds its cases, from prior prosecuting experience.
- A wide range of investigative resources, including a former law enforcement officer.
If you need an internet sex crimes lawyer in Blue Valley, MO, reach out to one of our representatives today at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a free, confidential consult.
