Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Clinton, MO. Accused of an internet sex crime in Clinton? You might think that these charges are less serious than molestation or sexual abuse, but depending on what you’ve been accused of, you could be facing a life sentence.
These accusations are serious, but you have a path forward. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in Clinton, MO, Combs Waterkotte. We have extensive experience fighting for clients accused of internet sex crimes. No matter your circumstances, we’re ready to craft a staunch defense.
Continue reading to learn about the types of internet sex crime accusations you could face in Clinton, MO, and why it’s essential to work with a talented criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. If you need expert advice for your case, call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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On This Page
- How an online sex crimes lawyer will give you assistance
- What to look for when looking for a sex crimes attorney
- Internet sex crime charges our firm defends in Clinton, MO
- The role of Federal law in your case
- What to do if you’ve been accused of an internet sex crime
- Different ways our attorneys fight online sex crime accusations in Clinton, MO
- The penalties you can face if you’re convicted of an online sex crime
- How to contact a Clinton, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer now
The Role of Your Clinton, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Your Case
If someone’s accusing you of committing an internet sex crime, speaking with a reputable Clinton, MO, sex crime defense lawyer should be your first step. The right attorney will defend you in the legal realm as well as the court of public opinion.
On the legal side, your attorney starts their job while the police are conducting their investigation. This usually involves communicating with the police on your behalf and advising you on what to say. In the meantime, they will look for exculpatory evidence.
Online sex crimes often hinge on either consent or how evidence was found. Your attorney should build a strong legal defense that examines the legality of the state’s investigation and/or whether the alleged victim consented. In doing so, you can examine the motives behind the accusations, rather than take them at face value.
Additionally, your criminal defense lawyer will help you protect your reputation. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma that’s uniquely negative, and that can have a wide-reaching impact on your life. An attorney can promote your side of the story and protect you from the spotlight.
Top Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Qualities
For many reasons, you need a local Clinton, MO, internet sex crimes attorney when facing these charges. But there are many options available, and it can be hard to figure out the right one for your case. When you’re evaluating your options, look for someone which can give you the following:
- Experience: Ideally with the exact crime you’ve been charged with.
- Client-Centered Approach: When you meet with your attorney, they should listen to you with compassion.
- Positive Reputation: Check reviews to see what people think of this attorney.
- Trial-Ready Strategy: Even if you end up taking a plea deal, a trial-ready strategy maximizes your chances of a positive outcome.
Combs Waterkotte’s online sex crime lawyers embody all of these qualities. We are dedicated to providing our clients with quality legal representation. 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 …
Clinton, MO, Internet Sex Crime Allegations Our Lawyers Fight
Missouri has a wide variety of laws governing sexual conduct on the internet. Here are some of the most common ones:
Possessing Child Pornography
Statute: § 573.037
Description: Possession of child pornography is when a person has sexual images or videos of a person under the age of 18, or who appears to be under 18. The alleged offender has to have them either on purpose, or recklessly.
Penalty: Typically a Class D felony. In certain circumstances, like possession videos instead of a still picture, it is a Class B felony.
Promoting Child Pornography
Statute: § 573.025 | § 573.035
Description: Promoting child pornography typically refers to giving it out. There are 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 occurs when an adult who’s 21 or older uses the internet, phone, or other electronic device to try to get someone under the age of 15 to have sex, or a similar act.
Penalty: Rather than fitting into a felony category, this statute has its own sentencing guidelines: 5-30 years imprisonment, with a minimum of 5 years before parole or early release eligibility.
Stalking
Statute: § 565.225 | § 565.227
Description: Stalking can occur online, either in second- or first-degree. Second-degree stalking is more general, and includes cases where one person disturbs or follows another person, causing emotional stress. First-degree stalking covers more advanced cases, like making threats to the alleged victim and/or their family.
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.
Whether it’s one of the allegations above or another one entirely, Combs Waterkotte is ready to defend you. We will tell your side of the story, look for holes in the prosecution’s case, and keep you in the loop for any/all updates.
The Intersection Between Federal Charges and State Charges for Internet Sex Crimes in Clinton, MO
The local district attorney isn’t your only opponent if you’re facing internet sex crime charges in Clinton, MO. 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 are more likely to get federal attention because the internet is not bound within a given state.
You probably don’t want to face federal criminal charges. The prosecutors are often more experienced and have stronger teams behind them. By yourself, your chances are slim. With the right attorney, you get a fighting chance.
Your Clinton, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who stops when the federal government gets involved. You need a team who isn’t scared to go up against the best. 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 Clinton, MO, you need to take the right steps to defend your innocence. Small mistakes early in the process can have large effects later down the line. But by preventing them, you’re more likely to get a positive outcome.
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 interact with investigators, come up with a defense strategy, negotiate with the district attorney, and more. It’s never a good idea to try to handle things yourself.
Don’t: Talk to the Police On Your Own
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 FIfth Amendment Rights
You might find yourself in a police interrogation before your lawyer arrives – don’t talk. State that you are invoking your Fifth Amendment rights and politely ask to see your attorney.
Don’t: Contact Your Accuser
If this is all some sort of misunderstanding between you and the alleged victim, it’s possible you’re thinking about contacting them. But this can get you in even more trouble. Even if you don’t mean it, reaching out could be seen as intimidation, hurting your case.
Do: Gather and Preserve Evidence
Your internet sex crimes lawyer will talk with you about any evidence that can be used to protect you. Before anything can be lost or deleted, take screenshots or other steps to save the evidence. And don’t keep anything from your attorney – they’re there to help.
Don’t: Delete Evidence
Deleting incriminating evidence can worsen your situation. Similar to contacting the alleged victim, in the end, this can make you look guilty.
For expert internet sex crimes lawyer advice, use this document to make sure you’re not missing anything: What to Do if You’re Accused of a Sex Crime.
Common Defenses Our Lawyers Use Against Internet Sex Crime Allegations
Your case 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 defenses your Clinton, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer might use to defend you:
- Lack of Intent: Some cases can hinge on intent. For example, if you purchased a used phone without knowing it had child pornography on it, you never intended to possess it.
- Rights Violation: Evidence against you needs to be collected in a legal manner. If you weren’t read your Miranda rights before a statement, or evidence was collected without justification, we can push for suppression.
- Consent: Consent applies in cases where someone agreed to an action – while it doesn’t always apply, this often legalizes it. Note that this does not apply to offenses involving minors.
- Mistaken Identity: Unfortunately, you could be a victim of identity theft and impersonation. 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 will work to raise reasonable doubt as to why your accuser might be making these allegations.
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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
Like most other crimes, internet sex crime convictions can result in a prison sentence. How long you could be sent to prison for is determined by . 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.
In addition to the prison sentence, you’ll have to register as a sex offender. This could be at the federal and/or state level. In Clinton, MO, there is a path for some people to remove their name from the sex offender registry, but this requires you to wait 10 or 20 years, without any other related convictions. In the meantime, violations are also treated harshly.
Finally, you’ll have to deal with the informal consequences. You can face career consequences, there are restrictions on where you can live, and you could lose custody of your children. Additionally, people will likely treat you differently if they find out about your conviction.
Because of this, it’s critical that you fight for your freedom in court, with an experienced attorney at your side.
Don’t Wait: Call Now for an Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Clinton, MO
Combs Waterkotte is here to help. We’re not going to make false promises or sugarcoat your situation – we’re going to come up with a plan to help you get out of it. 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.
- Experienced investigation capabilities to support your legal defense.
If you need an internet sex crimes lawyer in Clinton, MO, reach out to our team today at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a confidential consultation.
