Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Odessa, MO. Internet sex crimes are some of the most serious accusations you can face in Missouri. It can be tempting to think that these accusations are less serious than molestation or sexual assault, but depending on what you’ve been accused of, you could be facing a life sentence.
If you’re facing these allegations, you can get help. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in Odessa, MO, Combs Waterkotte. Our firm has handled hundreds of sex crime cases. We’re here to help, not to judge.
Continue reading to learn about the types of internet sex crime accusations you could face in Odessa, MO, and why you need a skillful criminal defense attorney to defend you. If you want to know what we can do for your case, call our team 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 deciding which attorney to work with
- Internet sex crime charges our firm defends in Odessa, MO
- Why you need to think about Federal criminal defense
- Steps to take if you’re being charged with an internet sex crime
- Tactics our team uses to defend online sex crime accusations in Odessa, MO
- How a sex crime conviction can affect your life
- How to get in touch with a Odessa, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer today
How Your Odessa, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help
If you’re facing online sex crime charges, contacting a skillful Odessa, MO, sex crime defense lawyer should be your first step. The right attorney will listen to your story and build you a defense around it.
On the legal side, your attorney starts their job while the police are conducting their investigation. It’s common for them to help by 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 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 uncritically.
Additionally, your criminal defense lawyer will help defend you from slander. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma that others don’t, and that can affect you long before a conviction. An attorney can promote your side of the story and protect you from the spotlight.
What to Look for in Your Odessa, MO, Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
If you’re facing internet sex crime charges, you need an internet sex crimes attorney in Odessa, 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 deciding who to represent you, look for a firm which can give you the following:
- Experience: Your attorney should know the ins and outs of the law you’re accused of breaking.
- Client-First Approach: Look for someone who cares about your wellbeing, not just a paycheck.
- Positive Reputation: Check reviews to see what people think of this attorney.
- 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 embody all of these qualities. We are dedicated to providing our clients with quality legal representation. Our team is here to give you a top-quality defense.
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 …
Common Internet Sex Crime Charges in Odessa, MO
Missouri has a wide variety of laws governing sexual conduct on the internet. Below are some of the ones we defend in Odessa, MO:
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: Ordinarily 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 ages 15-17. 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 refers to situations where a person intentionally or recklessly creates child pornography. While this may be a physical act, it becomes an internet sex crime if the material is posted 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 over the age of 21 uses the internet, phone, or other electronic device to try to get someone under the age of 15 to engage in sexual activity.
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 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.
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 defend your rights/freedom against injustice.
Federal Charges: Why They Matter for Internet Sex Crime Cases
Unfortunately, if you’ve been accused of an internet sex crime in Odessa, MO, you may have to deal with more than just the local prosecutor. You may also need to fight 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 in particular are affected by this, since the internet goes beyond Missouri state borders.
It can be even harder to defend yourself in federal court. The prosecutors are often more experienced and have stronger teams behind them. It’s easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed when walking into federal court to defend yourself.
Your Odessa, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who only fights in state court. 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 doesn’t give up when the federal prosecutors enter the room.
What to Do if You’ve Been Accused of an Online Sex Crime in Odessa
If you’ve been charged with an online sex crime in Odessa, MO, you need to take the right steps to protect your innocence. Making mistakes early on can lead to a conviction. But avoiding them can help your case immensely.
Below are the main Do’s and Don’t’s to follow if you’re accused of an internet sex crime:
Do: Reach Out to a Lawyer
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 with the district attorney, and more. It’s never a good idea to try to handle things yourself.
Don’t: Speak with Investigators Alone
If the evidence against you is weak, you might think that an interview with the police is not a big deal. But that’s a mistake. Regardless of your situation, you could accidentally say something that makes you look guilty.
Do: Invoke Your FIfth Amendment Rights
You might find yourself in a police interrogation before your lawyer arrives – don’t talk. Invoke your Fifth Amendment rights and politely ask to speak with your attorney.
Don’t: Reach Out to Your Accuser
If you personally know the alleged victim, 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, making you look guilty.
Do: Gather and Preserve Evidence
Your internet sex crimes lawyer will use whatever evidence you have to build your defense. Before anything can be lost or deleted, take screenshots or other steps to save the evidence. As you find it, be sure to share it with your attorney.
Don’t: Delete Evidence
Trying to cover up evidence will only make things worse. 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.
Defense Odessa, MO, Internet Sex Crime Lawyers Use in Court
Each case is unique, and your defense should be, too. At Combs Waterkotte, we provide clients with a defense strategy designed to fit their situation. You’re involved at every stage, and we work with you to figure out the best approach.
Below are six of the most common tactics your Odessa, 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 bought 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 evidence was collected without justification, we can push for suppression.
- 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 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 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. 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 Odessa, MO, there is a path for some people to remove their name from the sex offender registry, though this is only after a 10 or 20 year period post-sentence. And while you’re waiting, violations can have harsh penalties in and of themselves.
Finally, you’ll be up against a very negative public opinion. You could lose your job, landlords may not want to lease to you, and your family could be torn apart. Beyond that, people will likely treat you differently if they find out about your conviction.
Because of this, it’s critical that you act fast and do what you can to avoid a conviction in the first place.
Get Help From Your Odessa, MO Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Now
Combs Waterkotte is here to help. You shouldn’t settle for anything less than Missouri’s leading criminal defense law firm. We bring the following to the table:
- A team with over 80 years of combined courtroom experience.
- Help when you need it most, through our 24/7 support.
- Prior experience with the prosecutor’s office, and insights into how they build their cases.
- A wide range of investigative resources, including a former law enforcement officer.
If you need an internet sex crimes lawyer in Odessa, MO, reach out to our team any time, day or night at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a free case review.
