Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in North Kansas City, MO. Accused of an internet sex crime in North Kansas City? You might think that these charges are not as bad as rape or sexual assault, but depending on what you’ve been accused of, you could be facing a life sentence.
Don’t try to fight these allegations alone. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in North Kansas City, MO, Combs Waterkotte. We have extensive experience fighting for clients accused of internet sex crimes. We’re here to help, not to judge.
This page will go over some of the most common online sex crime charges in Missouri, and why it’s important to find an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. If you need expert advice for your case, call us at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online to schedule a confidential consultation.
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On This Page
- How an online sex crimes lawyer can give you assistance
- What to look for when looking for a sex crimes attorney
- Internet sex crime charges our lawyers defend in North Kansas City, MO
- The intersection between online crime charges and Federal law
- Things to avoid if you’re being charged with an internet sex crime
- Different ways our attorneys defend online sex crime charges in North Kansas City, MO
- The penalties you can face if you’re convicted of an online sex crime
- How to contact a North Kansas City, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer now
How Your North Kansas City, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help
If someone’s accusing you of committing an internet sex crime, getting in touch with a respected North Kansas City, 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, the first thing your attorney should do is protect you during the investigation. Typically, this means speaking to law enforcement on your behalf and supporting you during interrogations. While the police are looking for evidence to convict you, your lawyer will look for exculpatory evidence.
Online sex crimes often hinge on either consent or how evidence was found. Your attorney should thoroughly investigate both of these avenues to see if they are viable defensive strategies. Any defense should also look at the motives behind the accusations, rather than accept them uncritically.
Finally, your criminal defense lawyer will help you protect your reputation. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma which can be hard to overcome, and that can affect you long before a conviction. An attorney should ideally help you handle yourself in public and protect you from the spotlight.
Essential Qualities in Your North Kansas City, MO Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
Working with a local North Kansas City, MO, internet sex crimes attorney is essential. 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 offers the following:
- Experience: Experience gives attorneys knowledge about which strategies work, and which ones don’t.
- Client-Centered Approach: You’re more than a case number, and your attorney should listen to your story, not build an impersonal defense.
- Positive Reputation: You want to work with someone who is known for getting positive results for clients.
- 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. 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 is ready for your case today.
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 …
Internet Sex Crime Charges We Defend in North Kansas City, MO
Internet sex crimes isn’t a formal category in Missouri – instead, it refers to certain sex crimes allegedly done in such a way that the internet was involved. Here are a few of the most common charges we defend against:
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 possession videos instead of a still picture, 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. Selling or giving such material away breaks 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 refers to situations where a person intentionally or recklessly creates child pornography. This becomes an internet sex crime if the material is put online.
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 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 is more general, and includes cases where one person disturbs or follows another person, causing emotional stress. First-degree stalking is similar, but includes 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.
Regardless of the internet sex crime allegations you’re up against, Combs Waterkotte is ready to build you a defense. We will learn your case inside and out, look for holes in the prosecution’s case, and keep you in the loop for any/all updates.
Why You Need to Know About Federal Internet Sex Crime Charges in North Kansas City, MO
The local district attorney isn’t your only opponent if you’re facing internet sex crime charges in North Kansas City, MO. You’re also potentially looking at 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 frequently involve the federal government, because they inherently go beyond state borders.
You probably don’t want to face federal criminal charges. Judges have a reputation for being harsher. It can feel unwinnable on your own.
Your North Kansas City, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who only fights in state court. 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.
What to Do if You’ve Been Accused of an Online Sex Crime in North Kansas City
As soon as you’re aware that you’re facing online sex crime charges in North Kansas City, MO, you need to take thoughtful steps to defend your freedom. Small mistakes early in the process can have large effects later down the line. 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: Reach Out to 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 plea deals, and more. Trying to clear up the accusation on your own is always a bad idea.
Don’t: Speak with Investigators 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, you’re not required to say anything without a lawyer.
Do: Invoke Your FIfth Amendment Rights
Whatever you do, if you end up in an interrogation room without a lawyer, don’t talk. State that you are invoking your Fifth Amendment rights and politely request to see your attorney.
Don’t: Reach Out to Your Accuser
If you’re falsely accused, something is being blown out of proportion, or if the alleged victim changes their story, it’s possible you’re thinking about contacting them. But this can have serious, negative consequences for your defense. 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 use whatever evidence you have to build your defense. Before it’s lost, take screenshots or other steps to preserve the evidence. And don’t keep anything from your attorney – they’re there to help.
Don’t: Delete Evidence
Attempting to hide or delete information can hurt your case. If you do this, you can face additional charges and extended punishments.
The following document provides a guide on how to handle sex crime accusations: 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 tailored defenses that maximize the chance of a positive outcome. We pick out an appropriate strategy and customize it to your situation.
Here are six of the most common defenses your North Kansas City, 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 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 evidence was collected without justification, we can push for it to be suppressed.
- 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: Unlike physical crimes, it’s easy to impersonate someone else on the internet. It’s possible someone stole your credit card information and used it to purchase child pornography, or another person found your wifi password and used it to distribute obscene images of a child.
- Alibi: To help show a mistaken identity, we can build a case that you couldn’t have committed the crime because you weren’t accessing the internet at the time.
- False Allegations: Unfortunately, there are sometimes false allegations of sex crimes, often as a part of interpersonal conflict. 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.
Penalties for 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.
On top of that, you’ll have to register as a sex offender. This could be at the federal and/or state level. In North Kansas City, MO, some individuals are able to request removal from the registry, though this is only after a 10 or 20 year period post-sentence. Regardless, violations can have harsh penalties in and of themselves.
Finally, you’ll have to deal with the informal consequences. 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, it’s critical that you fight for your freedom in court, with a skilled attorney at your side.
Defend Yourself: Call Combs Waterkotte Today for a Leading Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in North Kansas City, MO
Our firm 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 offer:
- A well-respected team which serves the entire state of Missouri.
- Help when you need it most, through our 24/7 support.
- 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 North Kansas City, MO, get in touch with our team today at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a confidential consult.
