Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Lone Jack, MO. Don’t underestimate internet sex crime allegations in Lone Jack, MO. It can be tempting to think that these accusations 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 Lone Jack, MO, Combs Waterkotte. Our firm has handled hundreds of sex crime cases. We’re here to build you a strong defense, not to judge.
This page will go over some of the most common online sex crime charges in Missouri, and why you need a skillful criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. If you want to know what we can do for your case, call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.
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On This Page
- How an online sex crimes lawyer can work to defend you
- Key qualities to think about when deciding which attorney to work with
- Internet sex crime charges our lawyers defend in Lone Jack, MO
- The intersection between online crime charges and Federal law
- Do’s and Don’t’s if you’re being charged with an internet sex crime
- How our lawyers fight online sex crime allegations in Lone Jack, MO
- Formal and informal penalties for a conviction
- How to contact a Lone Jack, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer today
The Role of Your Lone Jack, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Your Case
If you’re facing online sex crime charges, getting in touch with a seasoned Lone Jack, MO, sex crime defense lawyer should be the first thing you do. The right attorney will defend you in the legal realm as well as the court of public opinion.
On the legal side, the first thing your attorney should do is protect you during the investigation. It’s common for them to help by communicating with the police on your behalf and advising you on what to say. They will also conduct their own investigation for exculpatory evidence.
It’s common for these types of cases to center around either questions of consent or the admissibility of the state’s evidence. Your attorney should build a strong legal defense that examines the legality of the state’s investigation and/or whether the alleged victim consented. It’s important to dissect the motives behind the accusations, rather than accept them without question.
Additionally, your criminal defense lawyer will help you promote a positive image. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma that’s uniquely negative, and that can have a wide-reaching impact on your life. An attorney should ideally help you handle yourself in public and protect you from the spotlight.
What to Look for in Your Lone Jack, MO, Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
If you’re facing internet sex crime charges, you need an internet sex crimes attorney in Lone Jack, MO, who’s experienced with those charges. But many people get lost when trying to pick the right person to represent them. 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: Look for someone who cares about your wellbeing, not just a paycheck.
- Strong 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 provide all of the above. 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 …
Lone Jack, 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 occurs when a person has sexual pictures or videos of a minor in their possession. The possession normally has to be intentional.
Penalty: Normally a Class D felony. In certain circumstances, like repeat offenses, 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 promoted to a minor. Second Degree: Class D felony, or Class B felony if promoted to a minor
Exploitation of a Minor (Producing Child Pornography)
Statute: § 573.023
Description: Exploitation of a minor refers to situations where a person intentionally or recklessly creates child pornography. 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 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: 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: Stalking can occur online, either in second- or first-degree. Second-degree stalking involves causing emotional distress to someone without a legitimate reason. First-degree stalking covers more advanced cases, like if you’d previously been convicted of a crime with the same alleged victim.
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 build you a defense. 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 Lone Jack, MO
Internet sex crime cases in Lone Jack, MO, aren’t just facing the state prosecutor. You may also need to fight federal sex crime allegations. Most criminal cases require special circumstances to get the attention of the federal government – usually this means the alleged act went across state borders. Internet crimes are more likely to get federal attention because the internet is not bound within a given state.
It can be even harder to defend yourself in federal court. Judges have a reputation for being harsher. It’s easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed when walking into federal court to defend yourself.
Your Lone Jack, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who stops when the federal government gets involved. You need a team who’s ready to fight in federal court. 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
As soon as you’re aware that you’re facing online sex crime charges in Lone Jack, MO, you need to take proactive steps to protect your freedom. Making mistakes early on can lead to a conviction. But avoiding them can help your case immensely.
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
This should be the first thing you do once you find out about the accusations. An attorney can help you make it through interrogations, come up with a defense strategy, negotiate plea deals, and more. Trying to clear up the accusation on your own is always a bad idea.
Don’t: Talk to the Police Without Counsel
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. Invoke your right to remain silent and politely ask to speak with your attorney.
Don’t: Reach Out to the Alleged Victim
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 will likely end up hurting your case. Even if you are polite and respectful, this contact could be seen as intimidation, leading to additional charges.
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 whatever you have. And don’t keep anything from your attorney – they’re there to help.
Don’t: Delete Information
Deleting incriminating evidence can worsen your situation. If you do this, you can face additional charges and extended punishments.
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 situation is unique, and you deserve a defense that’s tailored to your situation. 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 Lone Jack, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer might use in your case:
- Lack of Intent: For several accusations, you can be found innocent if you didn’t intend to commit the action. For example, if you purchased a used computer without knowing it had child pornography on it, you never intended to possess it.
- Rights Violation: There are rules for how the police are supposed to conduct their investigations. If you weren’t read your Miranda rights before a statement, or the police made a legal error while collecting evidence, we can file for it to be suppressed.
- Consent: Some actions are only illegal if the alleged victim did not consent. If we can provide compelling evidence that they did, it will erode the state’s case. 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 stole your credit card information and used it to purchase child pornography, or another person logged into your computer to stalk someone.
- Alibi: Related to mistaken identity, we can build a case that you are factually innocent because you weren’t accessing the internet at the time.
- False Allegations: Unfortunately, some people will weaponize sex crime allegations for their own means (for example, in a child custody battle). If the alleged victim is telling a false story, we can construct an alternative narrative to show your innocence.
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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
The first thing most people think of as a consequence is a prison sentence. 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 Lone Jack, MO, some individuals are able to request removal from the registry, but this can take a decade, or longer. In the meantime, violations are also treated harshly.
Finally, you’ll be up against a very negative public opinion. You can face career consequences, landlords may not want to lease to you, and you could lose custody of your children. Additionally, people will be quick to judge you after finding out about the conviction.
For all these reasons, you need to fight for your freedom in court, with an experienced attorney at your side.
Defend Your Innocence: Call Combs Waterkotte Today for a Leading Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Lone Jack, MO
Our team is here to help. We don’t take shortcuts or settle for bad deals – we fight for your rights and are here to support you. We bring the following to the table:
- A team with a track record of success.
- 24/7 availability if you have questions or need an update 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 Lone Jack, MO, call us now at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a free, confidential consult.
