Internet Sex Crimes
Internet Sex Crimes
The Internet has brought about fundamental and almost immediate changes to society as a whole. Information and access are now more available to anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world, and while this development has led to innumerable positives in general, it’s also led to an onslaught of new crimes and punishments that relate to the Internet and what society sees as deviance.
Internet sex crimes are becoming more prevalent than ever before, and the punishments associated with them are as harsh as any ‘off-line’ crimes with the same underlying acts and/or intent on the part of the accused. Below is a brief overview of Internet sex crimes, and if you’re facing this situation, contact our lawyers today to schedule an initial consultation.
Internet Sex Crimes — The Most Prevalent Example
The most common and, in society’s eyes, troubling example of Internet sex crimes involves children and enticing them to meet an adult. These meetings often lead to sexual abuse, and many of them begin in different chat rooms, which are largely anonymous in nature until those involved with the alleged acts meet.
If a person is convicted of sexual abuse of a child that began on the Internet, he or she faces similar consequences as if the original contact had not occurred online. Sexual abuse of a child is a felony in New York as it is anywhere else, and it can lead to many years in prison and the requirement to register as a sex offender when the defendant is released from custody.
Internet Sex Crimes — Other Examples
Sexual abuse of a child is not the only crime associated with the Internet and sex crimes. Other offenses include the possession or even the formulation and manufacture of child pornography, stalking and even online prostitution in certain situations. Child pornography in particular used to be a ‘fringe’ crime in terms of possession, but the Internet has seen an unfortunate ‘boom’ in the manufacturing, distributing and possession of this material.
Society calls for serious punishments for those convicted of any child pornography laws, and much like those convicted of sexual abuse of a child, those convicted of any form of child pornography can face many years in prison, substantial fines and the requirement to maintain current information on the relevant sex offender’s list for a period of years.
As you see, Internet sex crimes are serious offenses, and if you are facing the possibility of being accused, you need to build a defense immediately. Contact the Blanch Law Firm as soon as possible to get the process of building your defense started.