Salt Lake City sex crime defense firm

Your Internet use is never as private as it may seem. In fact, the police regularly patrol the Internet. They pose as minors in chat rooms and they monitor activity on search engines. If they think you may be involved with solicitation of a minor or possession of child pornography, they will not hesitate to confiscate your computer and search your hard drive.

I am Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer Catherine Cleveland. At my law firm, I represent people throughout Utah who have had their computers seized and searched because the police suspect them of sex offenses. My clients are frightened and worried about the potential consequences they face. Often, the computers they use shared by friends and family members. They worry that another’s actions may have gotten them in serious trouble. Contact my Salt Lake City sex crime defense firm for answers to your difficult questions.

Defending Those Charged With Internet Sex Crimes In Salt Lake City

Many face charges relating to child pornography or chat room solicitation:

• Child pornography: Federal and Utah state laws prohibit the production, possession, distribution or sale of pornographic materials involving minors. Most child pornography cases involve the use of the Internet to share images and videos of children.
• Chat room solicitation: Chat room solicitation cases often involve alleged solicitation of a minor or of prostitution over the Internet on websites like Craigslist or Facebook, as well as other sites.

My clients are often people who were accused of sex crimes and have their email communications used against them. Others — especially young adults — are accused of “sexting,” sending sexual texts over their cell phones. I have the experience and knowledge necessary to help them beat these charges.

Should I talk to the detective? Many people are asked to talk with detectives, even before they are ever formally charged with a sex crime. If you choose to talk, anything you say can and will be used against you. That’s why it’s best to contact me — Catherine Cleveland — before you take matters into your own hands.

Utah takes sex offenses seriously, so even small infractions can mean legal trouble. People who are convicted of Internet sex crimes often face incarceration, fines and a mandatory sex offender registration requirement.

That is why it is critical to take matters seriously — even if no formal charges have been brought. If you have been contacted by a detective over the phone or in person, think twice about accepting an invitation to talk. Even if you think you have nothing to lose, you could be putting your freedom at risk. Getting a lawyer’s help is the best way to protect your rights and your interests.

I forcefully protect my clients from interrogations that put their rights at risk, I protect their computers from illegal search and seizure, and I protect their reputations by resolving matters as quickly and effectively as possible. This can mean preventing charges from being filed, having the charges dropped, negotiating favorable plea deals and having my clients found not guilty at trial. Hard work is the bottom line in every sex crime case I handle, and I am willing to do whatever it takes within the bounds of the law to protect your freedom.