Category Archives: Sex Crimes

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…


Buying Sex in Texas: Texas is First State in USA to Make Solicitation of Prostitution a Felony Offense

The term “john” is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as “a man who pays money to a prostitute for sex.” In some parts of the world being a john, i.e., buying sex, is legal – although that has never been the case in Texas.  For instance, just a few hours’ drive south on IH-35…


Internet Sex Crimes: Criminal Defense Overview of Texas Online Sexual Offenses

Internet sex crime charges can be filed in Texas based upon either state or federal law.  These cyber-crime sexual offenses frequently involve serious felony charges, where those convicted of online sexual offenses face lengthy incarcerations as well as fines and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Considering how heinous even a rumor that someone is…


Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child:  Texas Penal Code §22.021

Perhaps no criminal prosecution is pursued more aggressively by Texas prosecutors than cases involving allegations of the sexual assault of a child.  Today, more and more arrests and charges are being pursued by law enforcement regarding crimes involving child sexual abuse than ever before.  Correspondingly, statistics report that in the State of Texas, 1 in…


Online Solicitation of a Minor: Texas Penal Code §33.021

One of the many consequences of the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic has been the skyrocketing use of the internet by minors, since remote schooling for many required the ability to access the web.  More children in the United States are online than ever before.  Read, “Growing up on screens: How a year lived online has changed…