Tallahassee Sex Offense & Child Pornography Attorney
Being accused of a sex crime can be devastating to one’s future, and can result in job loss, tarnished reputation, and imprisonment. Sex crimes in Tallahassee can include everything from electronic solicitation to indecent exposure, and possession of child pornography to crimes of sexual violence. If you were accused of any of these crimes, the best thing you can do to protect your legal rights is to obtain legal counsel immediately. At Zelman Law, our Tallahassee sex offense & child pornography attorney fights to ensure that any rumors or allegations against you are put to rest, and that your good reputation is restored.
A Sex Crime Conviction Can Ruin Your Life
Simply being accused of a sex crime, especially one relating to children, can cost you your job, family, reputation, and freedom. A conviction, on the other hand, can result in imprisonment and the required registration as a sex offender on Florida’s Sex Offender Registry. Such a conviction will remain on your record for life, and even when you are no longer in prison, the repercussions of such a conviction will continue to negatively impact your life. From being unable to get a job to finding it hard to make friends, convicted sex offenders never truly escape their past.
How Are Sex Crimes Proved?
Most sex crimes cases begin with the victim’s statement. Victim statements fall under one of two categories: Adult statement and child statement. If a child claims that they have been sexually assaulted or molested (in their own words), investigators will give extra care and attention to the case. Because of this, a Tallahassee sex offenses and child pornography attorney should do the same to defend their client.
Children’s cases are typically reported to the police, who then refer the case to professionals who are trained in the forensic interviewing of children. The interviewers will use drawings, diagrams and dolls to allow the child to express where they were touched and how. However, these professionals are not allowed to use leading questions or statements. If they do, evidence of leading can be used to defend the accused in a court of law.
Adult statements are taken and handled by the police. The police will record the victim’s statement for the prosecutor and defense to use.
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence is even more important than the victim’s statement, as without physical evidence, there is no sure way to prove that the accused and the victim had any interaction whatsoever. Physical evidence can include:
- Hair samples;
- Fingerprints;
- Bedding;
- Clothing;
- Pictures and/or videos;
- Biological materials; and
- Other relevant objects.
Biological materials are usually gathered by medical professionals at a hospital. While nurses and doctors are specifically trained to carefully gather, store, and document bodily evidence, there are instances when evidence becomes contaminated, or when it is not documented properly. This is another thing that the defendant’s defense attorney should investigate further, as it could mean the removal of certain physical evidence.
Other evidence must be collected with a search warrant by the police and investigators. If obtained without a search warrant, the evidence becomes void and cannot be used in a court of law.
The Possession of Child Pornography
The possession of child pornography or any “child sexually abusive material” is a very serious crime in all 50 states, and is a felony offense that can result in lengthy prison time and hefty fines. In Florida, it is a crime to entice, persuade, or coerce a child to engage in any of conduct that would be considered “sexually abusive,” and to subsequently record this behavior in video, photo, or any other type of material that can be distributed and/or viewed.
Your Defense to Sex Offense Accusations and Possession of Child Pornography
Charges of sexual assault or possession of child pornography are extremely serious crimes in Florida, and can negatively impact all areas of your life. If convicted, you will carry those charges around with you for the rest of your life, even after you have served your prison time and paid your fines. If you were wrongly accused of a sex crime or of possessing child pornography, it is imperative to your future that you call the Tallahassee sex offense & child pornography attorney at Zelman Law right away. You can call our office at (850) 765-5948 between 8:00 and 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, or, if it is after hours, contact us online to reserve your appointment.