Sex crimes do not have to involve a physical interaction between people. Online activity can lead to criminal charges in some cases, and successfully defending against this type of charge requires a skilled and experienced attorney.
I am a Pickerington internet sex crime defense lawyer with decades of experience helping people defeat serious criminal charges. Contact me if you are under investigation for, or charged with, a sex crime related to your online activity.
The internet offers a perception of anonymity, and sometimes people feel comfortable doing things online they might not consider doing in real life. Virtual communities also present opportunities for people to explore and share their sexual interests.
Some of the laws that restrict or prohibit online sexual activities are listed below. As the internet evolves, the justice system tries to catch up, and new laws are continuously being considered and enacted. It is essential to work with a Pickerington attorney like myself who has a practice in online sex crime defense and is up-to-date on all the most recent developments in this area of law.
Ohio Revised Code § 2907.04 prohibits oral-to-genital contact or any form of penetration no matter how slight, between an adult and someone under the age of 16. If you use the internet to arrange a meeting to engage in sexual conduct with someone who claims to be under the age of consent, you can be arrested and charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Using electronic communications like email, texts, or social media posts to harass or intimidate another person is illegal under Ohio Revised Code § 2917.21. Sending sexual content using electronic communications when the recipient has asked you not to do so can lead to a cyberbullying charge.
The law at Ohio Revised Code § 2907.31 prohibits you from exposing people under 18 to materials deemed harmful to them. The law is written broadly, and depending on the circumstances, harmful materials can include photos, videos, and links to websites of a sexual nature.
Ohio Revised Code § 2907.07 bars an adult from soliciting sexual contact with anyone under 16. The solicitation can occur online or via text or another form of electronic communication It does not matter whether you knew the actual age of the person you solicited.
Ohio Revised Code § 2907.321 makes it illegal to create, copy, disseminate or possess obscene material involving a minor or an incapacitated person. Material is considered obscene when sexual arousal is its only purpose.
Ohio Revised Code § 2917.211 makes it a crime to post an identifiable image of a person on the internet without their consent if the image depicts them nude or engaging in sexual activity.
Many internet or computer-based sex crimes are felonies that carry significant prison sentences if you are convicted. Even if you avoid a long incarceration, you must register as a sex offender which will impact every aspect of your life. It is critical that you present the most robust defense possible
I tailor every defense to the specific circumstances, but some defenses are applicable in most internet sex crime cases in Pickerington. For example, if the arrest resulted from a police investigation of your online activity, I will scrutinize the warrants the officers obtained to access your internet records. If there were online interactions involving an undercover police officer, I will carefully review the transcripts for indications of entrapment.
If the evidence includes data or images stored on your computer, I can look for evidence that others had access to your electronic equipment or passwords. When an alleged victim’s statement is important to the prosecution’s case, I will use my courtroom experience to elicit testimony that might question their credibility.
Any sex crime charge needs to be taken seriously. A conviction for most sex crimes will lead to sex offender registration, which will impact your family, housing, employment, and reputation in the community.
As a Pickerington internet sex crime defense lawyer with years of experience, I know how to develop and present an effective defense. Call me as soon as you learn that you are under investigation for your online activity.