McKinney Internet Sex Crime Defense Attorneys

Lawyers Defending Against Online Sex Crime Charges in McKinney, TX

Over the past couple of decades, online activities have become an important part of most people's daily lives. This has created more opportunities for sex crimes that involve online activities or communications. Law enforcement officials have put more resources toward investigating and prosecuting sex crimes involving digital communications, social media, and the internet. Understanding when these types of charges may apply and what types of defenses may be available can be crucial for anyone who has been accused of an internet sex crime.

The lawyers at Texas Defense Firm provide representation for clients in McKinney, the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and other parts of North Texas in cases involving accusations of illegal online activities. We understand the technical factors that may be addressed in these cases, the legal issues that may affect clients, and the steps that can be taken to defend against convictions. We will work to ensure that cases can be resolved successfully while protecting against violations of a person's constitutional rights.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

A person may face criminal charges based on accusations that they have communicated with a minor in a sexually explicit manner over the internet, by email, through text messages, or using other forms of digital communication. Charges of online solicitation of a minor may involve attempts to engage in illegal sexual activities, such as by encouraging a minor to take and send sexually explicit photos, or a person may be accused of making arrangements to meet a minor in person in order to engage in prohibited sex acts.

One crucial factor that can affect these cases is the perceived age of the alleged victim. A person may be charged with online solicitation of a minor if they believed that they were communicating with a person who was younger than 17 years old. Even if the person was actually an adult, such as an undercover officer posing as a minor, criminal charges may still apply if a person allegedly attempted to engage in illegal sexual activities with someone they believed to be a minor.

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Child Pornography/CSAM Charges

Online sex crime charges may involve accusations related to the possession or distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which is another term for child pornography. A person may be accused of accessing or downloading child pornography from websites or online file sharing platforms. They may face more serious charges if they are accused of distributing child pornography to others by directly sending files through email, uploading files to cloud storage accounts or file sharing platforms, or otherwise making CSAM available to others online.

Revenge Pornography

The offense of unlawful disclosure of intimate visual material addresses what is commonly known as revenge pornography. A person may be accused of sharing sexually explicit photos or videos of another person online without that person's consent and with the intent to cause harm to that person. These offenses may involve accusations that a person uploaded photos or videos of an ex-partner to a website because they wanted to embarrass the person or cause them to suffer financial harm. In these cases, a person who shared or promoted revenge pornography may be charged with a state jail felony.

Deepfake and Computer-Generated Sexual Images

In recent years, artificial intelligence tools and other programs have provided people with the ability to create images and videos that appear to depict actual people. This has led some people to publish or share sexually explicit materials involving people who never engaged in the conduct being depicted. These materials are commonly known as "deepfakes," and laws have been passed to address the spread of images or videos that could cause harm to the people being depicted.

A person who creates or shares sexually explicit computer-generated materials that appear to depict an actual person without that person's consent may face criminal charges. This offense is typically classified as a Class A misdemeanor, although third-degree felony charges may apply if the materials depict a person who is younger than 18 years old.

Cyberstalking and Related Offenses

Some other types of online activities could lead to criminal charges. A person may be accused of cyberstalking if they repeatedly engage in unwanted contact with someone in ways that caused the person to fear for their safety. Charges of stalking or harassment may be based on accusations that a person repeatedly sent sexually explicit photos or videos to someone or engaged in other harassing behavior.

Some criminal charges may involve online impersonation in which someone is accused of creating fake online accounts or social media profiles using someone else's image or identifying information. This offense may be related to the distribution of revenge pornography, online harassment, or other charges. Overlapping charges may apply in some situations, and a person may face harsher penalties if they are charged with multiple criminal offenses related to their online activities.

Contact Our McKinney, Texas Internet Sex Crimes Lawyers

When a person has been accused of a sexual offense, law enforcement officials may review their online activities to determine whether they may be charged with internet sex crimes. Understanding the legal issues that may arise in these cases, the digital evidence that may be considered, and other factors that could affect a person's rights can be crucial.

At Texas Defense Firm, our lawyers can help clients understand how to address accusations related to online communications, the use of certain websites or digital tools, and information that has been shared with others. We will provide a strong defense against sex crime charges while working to minimize the ways a person's life may be affected. Contact our McKinney internet sex crime defense attorneys at 972-369-0577 to set up a free consultation.