Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Peculiar, MO. Internet sex crimes are some of the most serious accusations you can face in Missouri. You might think that these accusations are less serious than rape or sexual assault, but depending on what you’ve been accused of, you could be facing a life sentence.
You need help if you want to maximize your chances of a positive outcome. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in Peculiar, 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 Peculiar, 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 use our online contact form to set up a free case review.
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On This Page
- How an online sex crimes lawyer can protect your freedom
- Key qualities to think about when deciding which attorney to work with
- Internet sex crime charges our firm defends in Peculiar, MO
- The intersection between online crime charges and Federal law
- Steps to take if you’re facing internet sex crime allegations
- Tactics our team uses to defend online sex crime allegations in Peculiar, MO
- The penalties you can face if you’re convicted of an online sex crime
- How to contact a Peculiar, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer now
What Your Peculiar, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Does for You
If you’ve been accused of an online sex crime, your first step should be, speaking with a seasoned Peculiar, 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 speaking to law enforcement on your behalf and advising you on what to say. While the police are looking for evidence to convict you, your lawyer will look 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 possible motives behind the accusations, rather than accept them uncritically.
Finally, your criminal defense lawyer will help defend you from slander. Sex crime accusations carry a stigma that others don’t, 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.
Essential Qualities in Your Peculiar, MO Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
For many reasons, you need a local Peculiar, 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 a firm with the following:
- Experience: Your attorney should know the ins and outs of the law you’re accused of breaking.
- Client-First Approach: When you meet with your attorney, they should listen to you with compassion.
- Positive Reputation: You want someone who’s well regarded, both amongst clients and peers.
- Trial-Ready Strategy: Whether or not your case goes to trial, preparing for trial gives you an advantage throughout your case.
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 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 …
Peculiar, MO, Internet Sex Crime Allegations Our Lawyers Fight
Missouri has a wide variety of laws governing sexual conduct on the internet. Here are a few of the most common charges we defend against:
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 possession normally has to be intentional.
Penalty: Ordinarily 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. Selling or giving such material away breaks 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 is when a person creates child pornography, whether on purpose or out of carelessness. 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 refers to situations where 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 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 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 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 Peculiar, MO
The local district attorney isn’t your only opponent if you’re facing internet sex crime charges in Peculiar, MO. 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 are more likely to get federal attention because the internet is not bound within a given state.
Federal criminal charges are often even more serious than state charges. 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 Peculiar, 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 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 Peculiar
If you’ve been charged with an online sex crime in Peculiar, MO, you need to take proactive steps to defend your freedom. In many cases, you making mistakes can lead to a conviction. But avoiding them can help your case immensely.
Here are the main Do’s and Don’t’s to be aware of 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, avoid future mistakes, negotiate with the prosecutor, and more. Trying to clear up the accusation on your own is always a bad idea.
Don’t: Speak with Investigators On Your Own
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’re not required to say anything without a lawyer.
Do: Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent
If you’re arrested, you might be put in an interrogation room before your attorney is there – don’t talk. Invoke your right to remain silent 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 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 need evidence to build an effective defense. Before it’s lost, take screenshots or other steps to save whatever you have. As you find it, be sure to share it with your attorney.
Don’t: Delete Information
Attempting to hide or delete information can hurt your case. Similar to contacting the alleged victim, in the end, this can make you look guilty.
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 case is unique, and your defense should be built on a solid foundation. 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.
Here are six of the most common tactics your Peculiar, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer might use in your case:
- Lack of Intent: Intent doesn’t matter for every internet sex crime, but for many, it does. For example, if you bought a used phone 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 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 found your wifi password and used it to distribute obscene images of a child.
- 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). 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.
Penalties for an Online Sex Crime Conviction
Like most other crimes, internet sex crime convictions can result in a prison sentence. The specific penalty is determined by what law you’re accused of violating. 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 Peculiar, 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. Regardless, violations are also treated harshly.
Finally, you’ll be up against a very negative public opinion. You could lose your job, there are restrictions on where you can live, 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.
Don’t Wait: Call Now for an Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Peculiar, MO
Our team has what it takes to defend you. 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. When you hire us, you’re getting:
- A team with over 80 years of combined courtroom experience.
- 24/7 availability if you have questions or need an update on your case.
- Prior experience with the prosecutor’s office, and insights into how they build their cases.
- An investigation team lead by a former law enforcement officer supporting our attorneys.
If you need an internet sex crimes lawyer in Peculiar, MO, reach out to us right away at (314) 900-HELP or send us a message for a confidential consult.
