Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Pleasant Hill, MO. Accused of an internet sex crime in Pleasant Hill? You might think that these convictions are not as bad as rape or sexual assault, but the penalties for a conviction are often felonies, leading to years in prison.
Don’t try to fight these allegations alone. Work with the leading internet sex crimes lawyer in Pleasant Hill, 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.
On this page, you’ll learn about common online sex crime charges in Pleasant Hill, MO, and why it’s important to find an adept criminal defense attorney to defend you. If you’re facing charges and need help now, call us at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to set up a confidential case review.
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On This Page
- How an online sex crimes lawyer will help you defend yourself
- What to look for when deciding which attorney to work with
- Internet sex crime charges our lawyers defend in Pleasant Hill, MO
- The intersection between online crime charges and Federal law
- Do’s and Don’t’s if you’ve been accused of an internet sex crime
- Tactics our team uses to fight online sex crime charges in Pleasant Hill, MO
- The penalties you can face if you’re convicted of an online sex crime
- How to contact a Pleasant Hill, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer now
How Your Pleasant Hill, MO, Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve been accused of an online sex crime, your first step should be, contacting a reputable Pleasant Hill, MO, sex crime defense lawyer should be the first thing you do. The right attorney will listen to your story and build you a defense around it.
On the legal side, it’s never too early to call an attorney. They can even protect you while detectives are investigating the allegations. Typically, this means communicating with the police on your behalf and supporting you during interrogations. In the meantime, they will look for exculpatory evidence.
The two major factors in most online sex crime charge defenses are consent and the legality of evidence. Your attorney should talk to you about both of these options to discover what’s right for you. Any defense should also look at possible intentions behind the accusations, rather than accept them without question.
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 who’s comfortable speaking in front of the press can defend your reputation and protect you from the spotlight.
Essential Qualities in Your Pleasant Hill, MO Internet Sex Crime Defense Lawyer
If you’re facing internet sex crime charges, you need an internet sex crimes attorney in Pleasant Hill, MO, who’s experienced with those 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 offers 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.
- Strong 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 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 …
Internet Sex Crime Charges We Defend in Pleasant Hill, 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. Below are some of the ones we defend in Pleasant Hill, 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 alleged offender has to have them either on purpose, or recklessly.
Penalty: Normally 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 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 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 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 engage in sexual activity.
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 could be any of a number of different actions, depending on the circumstances. 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, dissect the state’s case, and fight for the best outcome possible in your case.
The Intersection Between Federal Charges and State Charges for Internet Sex Crimes in Pleasant Hill, MO
The local district attorney isn’t your only opponent if you’re facing internet sex crime charges in Pleasant Hill, 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 in particular are affected by this, since the internet goes beyond Missouri state borders.
You probably don’t want to face federal criminal charges. Federal prosecutors are often some of the best at their jobs. It’s easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed when walking into federal court to defend yourself.
Your Pleasant Hill, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer can’t be someone who only fights in state court. 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.
Do’s and Don’t’s of Internet Sex Crime Accusations
If you’ve been charged with an online sex crime in Pleasant Hill, MO, you need to take the right steps to defend your innocence. In many cases, you making mistakes can lead to a conviction. But if you avoid them, you’re maximizing your defense’s power.
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 an Attorney
This should be the first thing you do once you find out about the accusations. An attorney can help you interact with investigators, come up with a defense strategy, negotiate with the district attorney, 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 Right to Remain Silent
If you’re arrested, you might be put in an interrogation room before your attorney is there – don’t talk. State that you are invoking 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, your might be thinking about talking with them to figure things out. But this can have serious, negative consequences for your defense. Even if you don’t mean it, this contact could be seen as intimidation, leading to additional charges.
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. And let your attorney know about anything you find.
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.
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 Pleasant Hill, MO, Internet Sex Crime Lawyers Use in Court
Each case is unique, and you deserve a defense that’s tailored to your situation. At Combs Waterkotte, we provide clients with defenses designed to fit best into their situation. We pick out an appropriate strategy and customize it to your situation.
Here are six of the most common tactics your Pleasant Hill, MO, internet sex crimes lawyer might use to defend you:
- Lack of Intent: For several accusations, you can be found innocent if you didn’t intend to commit the action. For example, if you bought 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 illegally, 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: Unlike physical crimes, it’s easy to impersonate someone else on the internet. 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 couldn’t have committed the crime because you were elsewhere at the time.
- False Allegations: Unfortunately, some people will make false allegations of a sex crime in order to hurt others. 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. 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 Pleasant Hill, MO, it’s sometimes possible to remove your name from the registry, but this requires you to wait 10 or 20 years, without any other related convictions. In the meantime, 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, 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.
Defend Your Innocence: Call Combs Waterkotte Today for a Leading Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer in Pleasant Hill, MO
Our firm has what it takes to defend you. You shouldn’t settle for anything less than Missouri’s leading criminal defense law firm. 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.
- Insight into how the state builds its cases, from prior prosecuting experience.
- An investigation team lead by a former law enforcement officer supporting our attorneys.
If you need an internet sex crimes lawyer in Pleasant Hill, MO, get in touch with an attorney now at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a confidential consult.
