Category Archives: Sex Crimes

Buying Sex in Texas: Solicitation of Prostitution and Law Enforcement Focus on “John Stings”

It’s all about supply and demand.  Consider this:  Las Vegas will host Super Bowl VVIII on Sunday, February 11, 2024.  However, “football’s biggest week” really begins the prior Monday with Super Bowl Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium with the only public appearance of the two competing teams until they take the field for the big…


Thirteen Significant New Texas Criminal Laws Effective in 2023 

Arrests in Texas can be based upon actions or investigations by either state or federal authorities or by a combination of the two in joint operations.  From a criminal defense standpoint, the choice of law upon which the arrest is made is key. This is because criminal cases move through two entirely independent justice systems…


Witness Corroboration When Defending Sexual Assault Charges in Texas

Witnesses are very important in any criminal trial.  If what they have to say isn’t significant, they would not be called to the witness stand.  Their statements, sworn under oath, are either proof of an element in the prosecution’s case or a component of the defense’s challenge to it. All witnesses give evidence at trial. …


Solicitation of Prostitution or Sex Trafficking? Overzealous Prosecutions of Johns in Texas

Earlier this year, national headlines announced that the Department of Homeland Security had made almost four dozen (46) arrests for felony sex trafficking here in North Texas.  However, it was soon discovered that those arrested on federal felony charges as traffickers were actually individuals who thought they were dealing with sex workers (prostitutes) for consensual…


Encryption and Law Enforcement Investigations: Police Access to Encrypted Data

Last month, Apple announced its new end-to-end encryption for data stored by its customers in iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage service.  It’s being heralded as “police-proof” in the media.  Read, “Apple Set to Launch New, Police-Proof, Full End-to-End Encryption,” written by the Associated Press and published in the Daily Sabah on December 9, 2022. Apple explains…


Online Child Pornography Arrests: Video Conferencing and Online File Sharing Services Targeted by Federal Investigators

It’s incredibly easy to chat or share photos over the internet today – for free.  Popularity skyrocketed for these online opportunities for business conferences as well as personal conversations with friends or family during the COVID Pandemic.  Now, video conferencing and online file sharing services are commonplace and their popularity continues to grow.  Read, “Videoconferencing…


Online Sex Crimes: Prostitution over the Web is Illegal in Texas

Internet prostitution is a very (VERY) lucrative enterprise here in Texas.  Consider this: in 2019, criminal justice research studies estimated that 80% of the illegal prostitution industry in this country was conducted over the internet. Why?  There are many reasons.  Pimps and traffickers are reported to prefer online prostitution because it is harder for them…


Child Sex Trafficking Arrest in Texas: Criminal Defense Overview

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) defines Child Sex Trafficking as “… a form of child abuse that occurs when a child under 18 is advertised, solicited or exploited through a commercial sex act.  A commercial sex act is any sex act where something of value – such as money, drugs or a place to stay…


Indecency with a Child Arrest in Texas 

In Texas, it is possible for the testimony of a minor to result in the conviction of an adult for a felony sex crime involving child sex abuse.  This can come with extended prison time as well as the serious social stigma for the accused (and his loved ones) that comes with being labelled as…


Plea Bargaining and Making Deals in Federal Felony Cases: Criminal Defense Overview

In both Texas prosecutions and federal criminal matters, many – if not most – arrests do not end up as a criminal conviction with formal sentencing after a full trial before a judge or jury, but instead are resolved out of the courtroom in what is called “plea bargaining.”  This involves attorneys representing both the…